Countdown to Triathlon - 256 Days, 36.5 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 22 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

                                                                        

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - 

 Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish.  Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.

  ~Francis C. Farley
                    

 That quote sure is the truth.  Don't we all seem to be friendlier and more loving during December than the other months?  Maybe it is because of the internal feelings we get from the Reason for the Season,  Jesus.  Maybe it's because of all the decorations and Christmas music. .  I know some of you reading this will say to yourself, "But I'm always friendly and loving."  Well good for you but the Christmas Spirt does seem to permeate the air during this time and causes people to seem nicer than usual. 


The Journey - Installment Twenty-Two

The Plaza Hotel at Central Park

After arriving in New York City and checking into the Plaza Hotel at Central Park, the three sisters reunited and had lunch downstairs in the hotel.  It was a very old hotel and often used in photographs advertising New York City.  Sandy and the boys went out by themselves for lunch and some sightseeing.   After lunch, Cindy had to go with the other runners to get registered and get her bib.  Patti and I headed out to do some sightseeing of our own.  Our hotel was in a very central location and within ten blocks we could see so many sights. We walked several blocks to Trump Tower, the 58-story skyscraper located at the corner of East 56th Street and 7^th Avenue.  It is a beautiful building housing such tenant notables as the Gucci flagship store, Qatar airways (22^nd) floor and Saudi Prince Mutaib who owns an entire floor of the building.  

            Patti and I headed toward Rockefeller Center.  When I have seen camera shots of the Center, usually while watching the Today Show, I never quite had the perspective of the layout.  I remember that the ice skating rink has been shown in many movies and on the Today Show, but I didn’t understand just exactly where it was.  Patti and I came upon what I would call a narrow corridor which goes from the sidewalk on which we were walking and ends at the skating rink.  The rink is encircled by flags. The little alleyway or corridor was decorated beautifully with gold and bronze colored Chrysanthemum hanging balls and arches.  It was quite a gorgeous sight and we took lots of photos. 

Patti under the arch with the red jacket.

That's me under the arch wearing boots that were killing my feet.

See how beautiful the flowers were?

The world famous skating rink at Rockefeller Center.