Today Was A Beautiful Day

I was so excited to pull up in front of El Cerrito High School because I saw my best friend Shanti already there. The day was finally here. I was finally going to go to the East Coast for the first time. When everyone arrived, we all gathered together to weigh our luggages, final arrangements, and of course take a group photo. We received our final itinerary which was filled with so many things for us to do and see each day.  

Before we got on the plane, we all stopped for some breakfast. I had a simple breakfast sandwich with bacon which was definitely satisfying. After we finished breakfast, we made our way to the plane. My first plane ride was breathtaking. Even though I didn't get a window seat like I hoped for, I made the best of it. I was still able to see through the window and view the clouds. The sky has a strange way of calming me. I sat next to a Carson, during the ride and we mainly talked about how he knows a few people that live in New York. 

After seven hours on a plane, we arrived in New York. There was a bit of a problem getting out of the airport right away because our scheduled driver had gotten in a car accident and it would have taken up to an hour to send a replacement car. So while we were waiting, the funniest thing happened. A woman who worked at the airport was calling out for a group of five heading out to the city. Which we all saw as a miracle because we just happen to be group of five heading to the city. I believe that small coincidence was a sign that this day would be a day to remember.

There was a lot of traffic on our way to the hotel but it wasn't all that bad because we were able to entertain each other in the car with different topics that Shanti provided. We talked about what we were looking forward to during trip. We also shared some laughs about the funny lyrics on the radio. There was also a lot to look at while in the car. The buildings were like nothing I've ever seen. They were all so grand, it was hard not to get carried away.

When we reached the hotel, we were able to unwind for about half an hour before we went out for dinner. We ate at Senafina, a cute, little Italian Restaurant in the upper west side of Manhattan. It was a short walk from our hotel which was the icing on the cake. I ordered the Spaghetti All’aragosta. It was better than I expected primarily because I'm not a big fan of tomato sauce, but it was delicious. The plate came with half a lobster which was mouthwatering. I've never had lobster before so this was the best way to try it.

yummmmm

After Dinner, we went sightseeing. I saw Central Park for the first time. It's definitely the biggest park I've ever seen. There was a concert happening at the time but we couldn't find a way in. However, the band sounded great from afar. We stopped by the lake in the park. It was a beautiful setting. We were able to stand on some rocks which provided the best view of the lake. It felt like more than just looking at the lake; we were experiencing it. I would have loved it even more if it wasn't for all bugs around. Shanti, however, was very fascinated by the fireflies that were flying around the park. Carson even tried capturing a couple of pictures for her. 

Carson and Shanti enjoying the view

Carson in his natural habitat

Nightlife in New York is just as vivacious as Day life. People were biking, running, and even riding horse carriages. It was really cool to see but the smell wasn't that great. There were so many lights illuminating the city. It was truly a sight for sore eyes. We walked around for a bit and even stopped at Pinkberry for smoothies. I didn't get a smoothie because there wasn't a flavor, in my opinion, that was worth the price. Today was the best way to start off this amazing adventure and I can't wait to discover brings us. 

View From The Lake