Back to New Jersey
After New York, we headed home to Cindy and Brent's apartment. They really have a nice house. I'm hoping someday I get to own my house too. 
We went to a driving range in the afternoon. Vince is really fond of golf (and many other sports). They carried their golf clubs and we off we go to Willowbrook. It was actually snowing lightly when we were walking towards the place after parking but it was gone soon. It was cold but its a good thing they have heated areas. Here's a picture of Cindy taking her shot. Vince tried teaching me also. I was able to hit the balls several times but they didn't really go that far and high. I really think I'll not gonna like this sport. Well...so much for my golfing...After golfing, we went to the cinema which is just close. Vince and I watched Failure to Launch, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and the hunk Matthew McConaughey. We enjoyed watching movies together because we like to get this big popcorn and nachos with cheese and share one big soda. It was an ok movie, but its more like I didn't like it. Ok, there were funny scenes and ang gwapo ni Matthew pero it was really predictable. And then, we went to Hooters for dinner. I've been craving for their wings for the longest time! It was soo sarap! This was taken inside hooters - with Cindy. 
More of NY please
Of course, I'm not missing St Patrick's day. Friday after work, I went to the Aberdeen station and purchased a $10 train ticket to NY. I met up with Vince at the NY Penn station. He thought of buying green shirts and so we shopped in Manhattan. Ang laki ng Macy's, grabe! But of course, we didn't buy there. He bought me a pair of jeans, jammies and St Patrick's day shirts (but I didn't end up wearing them haha!). Cindy, Brent and Vince were wearing green that night except me. We headed 
out to Mr. Dennehy's to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. It was packed. Good thing we were able to find a table. We were also able to meet up with another cousin of the Carlos' - Lex. After dinner, we hopped to another bar, few blocks across the street from where we were. There was a band that played acoustic hip hop music. It was fun but you won't get seated if you don't order at least 2 drinks. This is the view from Vince's apartment at 31st street. Yes, its the Empire State! Sweet! Vince stayed here for his 2-week stint in New York, and now its over. We checked out Saturday noon. It was really a nice apartment, fully loaded, new furnishings.It was actually a bright, sunny Saturday afternoon (pero malamig pa rin) and so we headed out for more sight-seeing.
Pictures from Central Park. There was an ice-skating rink on the other side of the lake. Gusto sana namin, kaso next time na lang hehe!
This picture was taken inside FAO Schwartz. I missed the 'show' where the people who work there were playing the piano using their feet, just like Tom Hanks in the movie Big. Yes, they shot that scene here. :-)
This is a picture of St. La Salle (Animo!) inside St. Patrick's Cathedral. We went to St. Patrick's Cathedral to light a candle for Vivien's surgery.
A weekend in New York
It was a very nice, sunny, warm (60's) first weekend in New York. I wanted to go out and wear my sandals and capris (it was actually still cold but what the heck!) Thus, off we (Vince and I) went to take a tour to the Ellis Island and Liberty (while Cindy and Brent are strolling around the city of Manhattan). It's my second or third time to visit NY but this will be the first time to take a boat tour plus the first time I'm visiting with Vince, so it was exciting. Before docking, we have to pass a security check. We were in a hurry because the boat was leaving very soon, I wasn't even able to put back my belt on until we were already inside. This pic was taken inside the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Background shows the luggages, containers, etc immigrants brought to the "land of dreams".
We have to wait for several minutes for the next boat to arrive that will bring us to the Liberty Island. But Vince and I didn't mind because we were enjoying the weather very much. It was good I remembered to bring my (cheap) shades. I've never been this close to the statue and so Vince and I were like scrambling to take a picture with the best possible view that we could get (while riding the boat). Not bad, huh? 
And this is a backdrop of Manhattan from the Liberty Island. Beautiful! We didn't go inside the statue anymore. Well, not really because Brent told us it stinks, but because it's already sold-out (buti na lang! haha!).From the Liberty Island, the boat docked at the Battery Park, on the tip of Manhattan. I saw again familiar paintings and pictures of New York being sold along the streets, impersonators of different kinds like the Statue of Liberty. Even if it was already getting cold, walking along the streets of Manhattan and seeing those famous buildings and structures (like NYSE, Trump, etc) was really fun. After all the walking, we hopped into one of the bars in Southport. We met up with Vince and Cindy's cousin and husband. We were quite surprised by the number of people in the area. Apparently, there was a pre-St Patrick's day celebration. No wonder people were wearing beads. It really took us time to have our orders. The place was packed and what made it worse was the service. But we enjoyed their nachos and beers. Thus, it was the first bar I went to in NY. And then off we went to Time Square. I miss this street! It looks so much alive, busy, lots of people, parties, events going on. But, it seemed all the people in NY were there that night (or maybe every night). 
All restaurants were also packed. We ended up in Planet Hollywood. I had tenders and a couple of Michelob Ultra (I missed this beer even if it tastes like water already). It was a light dinner for me and Vince (diet! diet!). Why? Because we were still hanging out to another bar afterwards. The night is still young and so are we. After all, we're in NY - the city that never sleeps! :-)
