P7050103, uploaded by amybaeder.

Cute as these shoes are (and they were free, too!), they were the WRONG shoes to wear to trot all around New York City. In this picture, I’m kicking up my feet in Bryant Park, right behind the huge Public Library. After we watched WALL-E on 42nd street, I ended up buying some comfy Sketchers bike-style shoes to replace these. Aaaahhh.

Cool Ghanian Bottlecap Hanging Sculpture, uploaded by amybaeder.

I went to the Met expecting to see all the classics, which I did (check out the rest of my flickr pics). I also came across this amazing bottlecap sculpture done by a contemporary artist from Ghana, El Anatsui. Imagine a wall-hanging of this as big (or bigger) than your bedsheets–glittery goodness!

Manhattan I, uploaded by amybaeder.

I love this view from the Empire State Building! Maybe I will make it my wallpaper….for my computer, that is.

Justin and Amy: Empire State Building, uploaded by amybaeder.

We made it to the top! After standing in a variety of lines and paying lots of $$, we made it to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building. Thank goodness it was breezy up there–we were toasty-hot after walking all around Manhattan. The skyline views amazed us as the city glittered that Tuesday night. I even got to hear some Southern accents, as there was a tour group there full of 65- to 80-year old Southern tourists.

By the way, don’t let the movies fool you–you will NOT be up there alone and it is not quick nor easy to get to the top!