Twin Cousins in NYC

Last weekend I gave Ben some study space and time and went up to NYC to visit my cousin!! I got to see her cute neighborhood in Queens, walk through some of her favorite neighborhoods, visit her very chic hotel where she works in the Lower East Side, meet some of her friends in Brooklyn, eat AMAZING Italian food and the best bagel of my life, meet even more of her friends in her old neighborhood, and spend a lovely, warm, lazy Sunday walking around the West Side. I am not sure if you are supposed to capitalize New York neighborhoods....and I am not even sure of half the neighborhoods we visited because she took me to so many. All I know is that it was so great to see her and see her life in New York. She moved out here almost five years ago without a job or a place to live, she just wanted to give New York a try. Within a week she found an apartment and interviews that led to a job. Since then she has made amazing friends, played a lot of soccer, landed a job she loves....I am so proud of her and think she is really brave! So thankful to live a 2-hour bus ride away so I could pop up for the weekend for a visit.

The amazing fruit and vegetable market down the street from her apartment

Washington Square Park

The new freedom tower where the WTC once stood

I miss you

Reminded me of home, kind of

This is the view from the top of the hotel where she works! That is the Empire State Building in the back.

Cute cousin!

My attempt at an artistic photo. At least we got a photo of the both of us!

One of the dining rooms at her hotel. The portraits are of people from the lower East Side.

Next we went to this outdoor food place in Brooklyn.

And got some homemade raspberry basil popsicles. Here the guy is making some snow cones out of that block of ice.

A glimpse of our dinner that night. Yes, that is fresh mozzarella. My mouth still waters thinking about it.

Central Park!

FAO Schwartz

Made me think of Ben

Rockefeller Center

St. Patrick's

Time Square

Delicious Melissa minis...s'more, peanut butter cup, mint chocolate cupcakes

This market reminded me of the Ferry Building

BRUNCH!

Lavender in railroad tracks at Highline Park

Cool idea for a picnic area

So long, NYC. I'm sure we'll be back soon. Thanks to my cuz for such a fun weekend!!

And P.S. Ben passed Greek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!