A Dream Honeymoon: Arthritically Navigating New York | PART 3

DAY 5: Boxing Day

We woke up in good time Boxing Day morning and headed downtown ready to explore the city and indulge in a delicious breakfast at the charming Hole in the Wall. I decided to treat myself to a delightful Eggs Royale (my liking to the strong coffee was still a work in progress), while Dan opted for a hearty breakfast wrap. We then had a wander to see the iconic Flat Iron building. As fabulous as it is, we were disappointed as it was covered in scaffolding and black netting. It was a let down not to see it in all its glory, but we made the best of it! It was a sunny morning, so we soaked in the rays on some of the chairs in the street. Next, we decided to satisfy our sweet tooth with a stop at Max Brenner. We should’ve shared but we both wanted different flavours – I went for the triple choc and Dan went for an Oreo one. Each sip was heavenly, but as we neared the end, they became quite rich and filling. I ended up with more than half of mine left, so I took it in a takeout cup, determined to savour it later. Yet, even then, I couldn't quite finish it all!

We strolled down to see City Hall and then made our way to John Street again to Carragher’s Bar for the Liverpool Boxing Day match. We booked in advance for this one as we didn’t know how busy it would be – lucky we did as it was very busy! We enjoyed plenty of beer and a good win! We shared the Nachos with added steak. Honestly, the best nachos I’ve ever had, and I’m still dreaming about them.

Later that evening, we headed back to the Tailor Pub to enjoy a drink and then went to try Dude’s Pizza which was fairly near the hotel. This one was a takeout only so we took it back to the hotel. The pizza was getting better each place we went. So at this point, this was 1st out of the 3!

A truly special Boxing Day, definitely different to our usual. It was a nice chilled day, with plenty of rests and not much walking so I was all good and felt rested for our big day tomorrow, off to see Lady Liberty!

Day 6:

This morning we decided to mix up our Liberty Bagels and head onto the subway first and go to the one downtown. It was massive! As soon as we walked through the door, we were greeted by a fabulous display of all the different bagels. And guess what? There was seating available—what a bonus! Something that we realised is more of a luxury in the city! Feeling nicely fueled for the day ahead, we stepped outside and were immediately welcomed by the iconic Charging Bull. I’ve never seen such a long queue just to snap a pic with a statue’s... well, let’s just say, its more *prominent* features! It was a sight to behold, and we decided we didn't need a picture of a bulls balls .. we can get that back on the farm if we were really desperate.

We carried on walking down just in time to get on the ferry for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Dan can get a little seasick, so he was getting nervous about the ride across. I must admit, there was something amusing about watching his nervous anticipation. Thankfully, we arrived at our destination without any mishaps—thank goodness for that! The morning was absolutely stunning, with the sun shining brightly as we wandered around Liberty Island. It was the perfect backdrop for our classic photo op with Lady Liberty herself! After snapping some pictures, we decided to relax at the café, where we enjoyed a refreshing drink while observing the chaos outside. It was quite a sight to see unsuspecting visitors getting attacked by greedy pigeons and seagulls eager to snatch their food! Next, we hopped back on the ferry to head over to Ellis Island. Unfortunately, part of it was closed for reconstruction so we couldn’t do the whole tour. But the bits we saw, the pictures, the old posters, the old personal items really took you in. I think if the whole thing was open it would’ve definitely been worth doing the full guided tour. As we boarded the ferry for the last time—much to Dan's relief—we felt a mix of satisfaction and nostalgia as we headed back.

Trying to figure out what to do, we thought seen as though it was good weather we would get the subway up to Chelsea Market and walk the High Line. I was so gutted that we still weren’t hungry from breakfast that we couldn’t indulge in any food from Chelsea Market!! It was such a lovely walk, so refreshing to escape the hustle and bustle while still soaking in the vibrant atmosphere around us. The artwork along the way was great to see and then we finished at Hudson Yards. I was really glad I brought my walking stick along—some sections of the High Line were quite narrow, especially with the crowds, I wouldn't have been able to hold on to Dan the whole way. And the anxiety of holding people up by walking so slowly is helped with having a stick, so people know why I'm holding them up – if that makes sense!

We popped into the mall, it was all very Christmassy and looked fab with all the lights. We started getting peckish so stopped in at Queensyard Food. It was very busy but we managed to snag a table. However, our excitement quickly turned to frustration as we faced incredibly slow service. It took nearly 20 minutes just to place our order, followed by another 20-30 minutes before our food and drinks finally arrived. The beer was decent, and we shared a burger that was truly delicious, but unfortunately, the overall experience left much to be desired. While I wouldn’t recommend Queensyard Food based on this visit, the day was still filled with beautiful sights and memorable moments that made it worthwhile!

We headed back to the hotel and I stopped off at a nail bar on the way back – Nails Forever Young. Back home, I usually just get my nails done by someone locally so this was a whole new experience. It was dead inside and I was their only customer. But there was a cat. I assume the owners cat. She let it out and it was literally jumping all over, from on top of the nail machine to on my chair to just sat on the table next to you. Is this a common sight in nail salons? Regardless, I left with stunning nails that sparkled Christmas!

After a busy old day, we opted for a cosy dinner at the hotel’s Italian restaurant - Trattoria Bianca. Ever since my last trip to New York, I had been craving the unforgettable Lobster Ravioli I savoured in Little Italy. So, when I spotted it on the menu, I couldn't resist! While it was delicious, it didn't quite measure up to that magical dish from Little Italy, and I found myself daydreaming about that one from over 6 years ago!

We honestly can’t believe that we are over halfway through our time in NYC at this point. We’re finally getting the hang of the subway and absolutely loving the electric buzz of the city around us. Each moment feels like a new discovery, and we can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Thanks for reading and the following days will be uploaded shortly,

Ali x

[Instagram reel Day 5 & 6: instagram.com/alidaggett]