Y7 D96

I have a splitting sinus headache this morning. The humidity pressure building up outside compounded with the A/C in here is doing a number on me. Hence why I am up at 6 something when I don't have to be.

Yesterday was incredible. I mustered up the courage to head into the city alone. Started out by just hanging out at the hotel because I didn't want to get into the city too early. Nothing would be open yet. There's a driver who works out of the hotel and I had talked to him earlier in the week about driving me into the city. We left around 9:40. The drive in was even fun. Went through the Lincoln Tunnel, down Madison Ave, and then on to 5th and 82nd right in Central Park to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I got there a little after opening, around 10:10. I walked right in and bought a ticket. Their ticket prices are cool - they let you pay what you can afford with a recommended 'donation' of $25. I paid the full amount. You get a little sticker to wear all day because the place is so big that you go in and out of wings. The security (which is everywhere) needs to see that sticker to make sure you have paid at least something to be there. I asked the docent if you really could pay what you want and he told me their goal is to make the art accessible to anyone at any income level and yes, I could have given him a dollar if I wanted. Imagine being a kid living in that area and wanting to go every day. You could come up with $1 and spend the day in the museum. And let me tell you, what a museum it is.

I started with the Ancient Greece and Rome exhibit. I saw statues and armor and housewares that were from the 4th c BC. 2500 year old stuff. Some stuff was from 5th and 6th c BC. Amazing. Preserved perfectly. Some of the jewelry looked like it could be bought today. From there I was in the Oceana exhibit showing tribal art, weaponry, and boats from the 1700s through the 1960s. Some of these tribes never changed until the white man came in the 60s.

Off that area I started getting into paintings. Here's where I was blown away. For the next hour I saw paintings from Picasso, Renoir, Lautrec, Van Gogh, Matisse, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Rubens, El Greco, and many more. These are the pieces you hear about but never expect to be in the presence of in your life. I was just humbled. There was a 1930s section of household items as well as art. I tell ya, if left to my own devices, I would totally decorate a house in 1930s art deco. It still looks 'futuristic' and the lines are so clean. I loved the tea set and radio and oh my. Headed upstairs to the modern abstract gallery. Some cool stuff. Frankly some dumb stuff too, but hey, art is art. At that point I was hungry and overwhelmed and found the cafeteria. Overpriced, horrible food, but it is what it is. I had a hot dog with fries and a cupcake. Headed back up and found my self in Medieval Art, followed by a Faberge exhibit. Then somehow I ended up in All Things Hungary. Only one side done too at this stage. I headed to the other side where I was in Egypt staring at 4000 year old hieroglyphics. Um. Wow. They also have a partially recreated tomb which you can walk through. Up from that section was a special exhibit on China and Fashion. Original couture from Chanel, Dior, Lagerfeld, McQueen, Galliano, and St Laurent. I was texting the kid and telling her about it and she was so jealous.

Side note, today she leaves for burning man. 8 days in the desert. You go kid, have fun.

The last section I was in was the American Wing. Honestly the most boring.  Paintings of old rich white dudes mostly. The only one which impressed me was the iconic Washington Crossing the Delaware. That thing is HUGE. Like 20+ feet long and 10 feet high. HUGE. Passed through a 1800s western bronze gallery, and decided enough. It was about 1pm at that point. I hit the gift shop where I got B a canvas bag with the Met logo and a cat, a sketchbook for the kid, and a notebook for me for work.

Now came the big adventure. Getting back to NJ. My goal was the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 8th and 42nd. Remember, I am at 5th and 82nd. 40 blocks down and three over. Let's do it! I started walking and as a result of walking I got to see - a lot of Central Park, Carnegie Hall, part of Times Square, Broadway, and a lot of people. Too many people to be honest. But I did it. 2.7 miles later I did it. New York Port Authority Bus Terminal. The size of an airport with more levels.

Only took me about 20 minutes to figure out how to buy a ticket and find my station gate. I was on the bus and headed back. The ticket cost a whopping $4. Suck it driver! Of course I had a screaming baby next to me the whole time so there is that. Kind of sucked. I made it back to the hotel and was so exhausted I took a nap.

In between all this, B finally woke up. She was pissy because one of our friends was supposed to do lunch but then he sends her a message at 9 seeing if she wants to do brunch. Since she was asleep he went back home. She was pissed because he never responded after letting her know this and she cleaned an impossible to clean house for him.

I had dinner in my room around 6, watched a 'new' show called Luther, played a little Diablo (patch 2.3 is down with a new area), and went to bed around 11pm.

What a day.

In comparison, today's adventure is a walk to Walmart, followed by a walk to Kohl's. Whee! Soon enough I can go home.