It was that time of year again, time for what had become an annual trek to Jane Seymour’s art expo at the Javits Center in New York. As always I had made plans to go with a group of friends and this year I was looking forward to it more than ever. There was such a large group of us this year that we decided to stay at a timeshare in Queens, being assured that the trip into NYC each day wouldn’t be more than about 20 minutes. Twenty minutes by ‘cab’ that is- NOT NY subway; a big difference we learned when you only have 3 days to be together.

Our group of nine consisted of myself, Renea, Michelle and her mom, two friends from Germany, Marga and Romy, a friend from Belgium, Julie, and Pam and Dianne, both from California. Pam had been the founder of our DQ Times Magazine and we had known each other since I was was first introduced to the net. And Dianne, who had worked with us on the magazine, I had known nearly as long. We hadn’t seen each other in some years though and some of the others I hadn’t even met yet so my excitement was high from the beginning. Would we all like each other?  I hoped so, 9 women in an apartment that barely fit 8 would be a challenge as it was- but if they didn’t even get along?? No worries on that part. The minute we all met, it was instant connection. The “open heart club’ as we dubbed ourselves was ready to take on New York.

Romy and Renea on the NY subway

Our first sightseeing day, Friday we had planned to try to fit in as much as possible of the typical tourist attractions we had either missed in previous years (those of us who had been together) or never seen at all. Bright and early, nine women met the challenge of showering, dressing and ‘primping’ in 2 bathrooms. It was like living in a ‘dorm’ an international ‘dorm’  wonderful and chaotic. Our first stop after a quick breakfast was Battery Park where we would catch the ferry to take us to Liberty Island. Our plan was to take subways as much as possible. Note to self 'saving money is good, saving time is better.' While I’m used to Boston subways that are clearly laid out, I was not used to NY subways. It seemed to take forever to get to our destination as we wearily changed from the N train to the R train to…. Without Dianne, our human GPS, I am fairly certain, we would all still be somewhere  in the NY subway system like poor Boston “Charlie and the MTA,” Luckily, we did have Dianne with us and we did make it to Battery Park in time to catch the ferry.

Although rain had been predicted, the day was bright and sunny and afforded us an opportunity to get some wonderful pictures of the famous ‘Statue of Liberty’ from the top of the ferry. All my life I had seen pictures of the statue on postcards, in movies etc.  but never in person. It truly does take your breath away. Our guide asked us to imagine what it must have been like as a refugee to see that statue for the first time- to know what it represented. Suddenly, I understood better the meaning of the words “Give me your tired masses;” what a welcoming beacon that must have been. Those people were welcomed to America by “Lady Liberty’ herself, like a mother opening her arms to her children who have travelled so far to see her- You’re finally here. You’re safe now. It was a moving experience for all of us I think.


Coming to New York- view quicktime video

 

We toured Liberty Island which houses the statue itself and then Ellis Island, first stop for over 12 million immigrants who came to America. This last would have been fascinating to explore as it had several floors and a museum but, the day was so sunny and inviting we opted to just tour the ground floor so that we could ‘fit everything in”. Some of our group had plans to meet up with others for the day so there was little time to experience Ellis Island the way I’m sure it is meant to be.

 

Back together again that night we met up with dear friends of ours (although none of us had actually ever met in person), a couple from Switzerland, Therese and Otto. The hotel they were staying at which was near to everything (sigh) arranged for our entire group to have dinner at a place called ‘O Reilley’s nearby. The food there was excellent and though you were only able to converse with those in your vicinity at the table, we had a wonderful time. I’m sure those seated at the tables around us thought it was a UN delegation of some sort!

After dinner, while some had had enough fun for the day, a group of us decided to pay a visit to the famous or should I say infamous bar in the film “Coyote Ugly”. I was the only one who had not seen this movie but after extracting a promise from our ‘leader’ Dianne that the trip would involve ice-cream- agreed to go along. Coyote Ugly is – interesting, to say the least. It was crowded as any bar but it was the um “unique’ way it was decorated that struck us the most. Ironically though we all SAW the same thing, only Romy realized what we were actually seeing hanging from the top of the bar- a row of ‘bras’. I took pictures of the others (I have a reputation to maintain- or did anyway!) in this creative setting and completely sober we headed back on the subway- mission completed, off to find my promised ice-cream. Now THAT was the way to end the day!