We tried...

to make our "First Annual Holiday Tree Viewing/Skating in NYC" trip today. Cousin Joanne, who came along for the ride, clued us in that skating at Bryant Park on "The Pond" is free. (Free? In NY?! )

Marilyn is dying to try ice skating. Joanne wants to skate and is happy to teach Marilyn while Chris and I watch them from the sidelines (and take pictures, lots of pictures). A major photo op/scrapbook-worthy event was about to take place. I charged the battery for the big camera & cleared the SD card. We got up early, picked up Joanne in Staten Island at 9.30 then drove into the city via the Brooklyn Bridge. (I would have taken photos of this pretty bridge but it was my first time driving over it and I was a little nervous. Besides, I was making Joanne nervous taking pictures while I was driving.)
So much traffic - who are all these people and why aren't they at their jobs?

(that's Cartier with the big red bow)

In an effort to conserve time and stay warm (it was 21 in NY today), we decided to do a drive-by for the Rockefeller tree then try to find and unfilled parking garage near the park. We parked. Scurried in the freezing cold to the skating rink, only to learn it was closed unitl 1 for a private event. (grrrrr!) Early lunch it is, then back to the rink by 1 to skate.
We thought we were clever while we relaxed over our nice long lunch - until we arrived back at the rink to find a line twisting and turning down the block. Apparently, lots of people were wise to this "free skating" thing. At least a 2 hour wait they said. Ugh. I took a few pictures while we tried to figure out Plan B.

(the New Year's ball is on that spire in the lower left)

(frozen fountain at Bryant Park)

(frozen fountain with frozen kids)

(kids that want to skate and a small

section of very long line at upper left)

(looking up)

Back at the garage we learn it costs $43 to park for 2 hours near Bryant Park. (So much for our free entertainment.) Not ready to give up and hoping to recoup some of our investment, we formulate Plan B: locate Wolman Skating Rink in Brooklyn at Prospect Park. Luckily, Joanne knows how to get there. The line there is long, too, and now it's getting dark. We decide instead to drive around the old hood. Checked out my old school and childhood home, which looks so much smaller than it used to when I was a kid. We did a little shopping then headed back to Staten Island.
I thought Marilyn would be really disapointed but she was fine. I had to promise to locate another skating rink closer to home. Chris was mad I didn't take him on a subway ride. I promised I'd make that up to him, too. I think they both enjoyed seeing all the new sights and hanging out with Cousin Joanne. I know I did.