Ice cream on a cold day in New York

Last week I wrote about the first part of my trip, leaving off on Monday, with the plans I had for Tuesday, forward. I am writing this column from Anastasiia and Kyle’s couch in Philadelphia. I have two birds, Petri and Loki, sitting on me as I type. (see picture)

 

Monday afternoon was spent at the Jefferson Institute in Philadelphia. Think Night at the Museum style building. Large, classic, beautiful. Imagine an interactive science museum with numerous presentations. The first presentation was ‘the night’s sky’ in their planetarium. (my first experience in a planetarium.) Following the very picturesque trip through the sky and cosmos, we went to the fourth floor for a presentation on ‘liquid air.’ (A presentation about liquid nitrogen.) We were the only three in attendance as it was the last show of the day, on a Monday afternoon. Watching the performance I felt it was best described as a performance/play. Afterwards the lady presenter said, unprompted, that it’s easier to teach theatre kids science, than teach science kids to perform. 

 

We walked through a large display of a heart, seeing up close all of the details as we went upstairs, walked through ‘arteries’ and were surrounded by the walls of the heart. Displays showed how AI is used in medicine today. Another section was entirely devoted to sports science. It was very fun, informative.

 

In the evening, following dinner in China Town, we went to Franklin’s Ice Cream shop, a famous shop with lines around the block… during the summer. We sat on the floor (They don’t have seating.) and enjoyed our Sundays and shakes. There was no one else in the store. To quote my friends, “I didn’t think ice cream on a cold day would be good. But this was worth it.” 

 

Tuesday we got up early and drove to New York. Since I was a small child, I dreamed of visiting the big city. Back then I thought it would be cool to live there. As an adult, that idea is a nightmare.

 

Nonetheless, driving into the city was breathtaking. I felt like a kid again, but all grown up. 

 

Our first stop was Battery Island and a ferry to Liberty Island to see the Statute of Liberty.

Another boat ride brought us to Ellis Island where so many of our ancestors entered the country. Standing in the same spots, lines, building as those people was humbling. 

 

On the ferry ride back, a 15-year old Turkish immigrant sat next to us, whose family won the “green card lottery.”

 

He could not believe I was 28-years old, thinking I must be a teenager. Additionally, he talked of his surprises coming here and the vast culture he was seeing in New York. He may or may not have asked about different racial terms he had never heard before. I described the interaction as a ‘teachable moment’ as we talked for about 15 minutes.

 

Next we walked to the 9/11 memorial. This is the quietest place in New York City. Two large pools of everflowing water lie where the Twin Towers once stood. Every name of every person whose life was lost that day sits engraved along the black edges of the square pools.

  

Walking around each large pool, we saw fresh flowers adorning numerous names. I was only three years old on 9/11/2001, but I remember my daycare lady coming in to shut off the TV. She told us a bad movie had come on the screen. My dad arrived soon after to bring me home. 

 

From the memorial we went to Times Square for a bite to eat. Joe’s Pizza, I was told, was where we had to go. The pizza was cracker thin, crispy, and good. I enjoyed a classic slice of cheese.

 

“The Outsiders,” a musical on Broadway, was the reason for the trip to Times Square. 

 

The show was perfect. Music, phenomenal. Story, just as good. I remember reading the book and watching the movie as a middle school student in Mark Domeier’s English class. My sister has the tattoo, “Nothing Gold Can Stay” on her back to honor her favorite quote experienced for the first time while reading her favorite book in that same English class.

 

I departed Philadelphia Wednesday morning and arrived in Davenport, Florida Thursday evening. My time visiting Kyle and Anastasiia has been filled recounting numerous moments, memories and life updates over this past week. Anastasiia’s parents, Ukraine refugees, live with them. Each meal is generally prepared by them, beginning with breakfast. 

 

Meals have included: traditional borscht soup; Herring Under a Fur Coat; and much more. 

 

Today, Tuesday, I have errands to run before leaving for Miami for my friends' Paul and Heather’s wedding. I am a groomsman. The Bachelor party, (We’re visiting an escape room.) is Friday, followed by dinner in the evening and the wedding on Saturday. I will spend Thursday exploring Miami with the two.

 

To recap, I have left Philadelphia after a wonderful trip, which included a great finale in New York, driven to Florida where I have spent the last few days visiting two of my best friends. Next up, a drive to Miami and a wedding. More details on the following week to follow next week. 

 

"A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles." - Tim Cahill. (In this case, both as my mile marker this trip is 2,700.)