This will by an introduction to several posts about my two trips to New York City in the past few years. The first trip was right before the pandemic hit. The second trip was in November 2021, just as things were reopening but still requiring proof of vaccination for inside seating. During the first visit, highlights included Belvedere Castle in Central Park, the show Drunk Shakespeare, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. During the 2021 trip, I got to see Hamilton!! I had tried to get tickets prior to the pandemic, but never could. AS SOON AS tickets went back on sale in August, I went on-line to find tickets! I also got to hear one of my MOST favorite entertainers ever, Marc Broussard, live at the City Winery!
Quick Health Update
My cryoablation went well, according to the electrophysiologist. I am in a lot of pain, but it is getting a bit better every day. We spent about 11 hours at the hospital and I had some bleeding complications. In fact, as recently as last night (2 days after) the wound in my groin was still bleeding some. I have been sleeping with an 8 pound kettlebell on my right groin. But it is over, and I am glad. I just hope it does what it is supposed to do.
NYC 2020
My pre-pandemic trip was in February/March 2020. Little did we know at the time what would happen just days later! On March 1, we were visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island; a week later everything was closed. Shortly after that, a hospital ship was in the very harbor where we had just been sightseeing! We also visited Belvedere Castle in Central Park during this trip. A few short weeks later there were hospital tents in Central Park! Needless to say, this was very surreal for me!
I had been to New York City and Central Park many times before, but I had never been to (or even known about) Belvedere Castle! It is a beautiful little castle in an idyllic setting on a pond. I enjoyed it immensely!
NYC 2021
As soon as I heard that Broadway was going to reopen in mid-September, I was on my computer trying to buy tickets for Hamilton. Seeing Hamilton live had been a dream of mine for years, and I immensely enjoyed it when it was released on Disney+. I was able to find tickets for early November, so I booked them right away! I made everything else work around that. As fate would have it, my favorite musician was also going to by in New York City that same week! Marc Broussard has been one of my very favorite singer/songwriters since I first saw him as a young man opening for Los Lonely Boys (about 2001 I think). Since then, he has matured as both an artist and a person, now being a father and husband. His soulful southern blues vibe is amazing, and never gets old!
To Be Continued!
I plan to do at least two more posts about New York–one about each trip mentioned above. Also expect reviews of some of the places I visited during each trip. Things have been slow going over the past two weeks with the cardiac procedure and aftermath of that, but I hope to be back in full swing next week! In the meantime, let me know if there is anything else you would want me to cover!