Cat-napping (oops) Cat-reading

Ms. Furilla does revel in her beauty naps at all times of the day. 

BUT

Did you know that Princess is also an avid reader? She loves stories about herbs, especially catnip;  birds; gourmet cat food; and CATS. 

Before we left for another day's adventure, she told us all about a very special bookstore, Strands. It is near Union Square, not far she said. 

So we left her reading her latest book and headed UPTOWN on a beautiful, warm, sunny day.

We felt a tad guilty leaving, but we would bring her back a treat.

New York City STRAND BOOKS is a book lover's fantasy. The store advertises  18 miles of books!!!! The front is pretty inconspicuous, understated, only a few lookers, picking through old wooden shelves of books. Could have walked right past it.

 
Walk in and WOW this is a book store. Each floor specializes in different categories of used books and collectible/rare books. 

I headed for level 2 where thousands of books on art and photography are lodged. Packed would be a better word. The shelves are so full you can hardly pull a volume out!

There is a ladder to climb to the tipsy top of precarious shelves!! Personally I look "low."

 Because we knew we would be carrying anything we bought ALL day, we were prudent in our purchases. A lovely van Gogh book of selected letters and paintings for 15.00.

Van Gogh in Arles--4.95!

Wow what a bargain. Furilla was correct, it was a bookstore like non other.

All that work sent us straight to another hot dog vendor.

The really old fashion hot dog vendors are almost extinct. This is as close as I have found. Today most vendors are high tech, lots of ethnic food, and the size of a small kitchen on wheels. No nostalgia involved, not even chopped onion and pickles for one's hotdog.!

This photo is an ode to what used to be. Hope he is successful!

Princess wanted to make sure we attended mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. 

We knew we were close when we watched some nuns scurry across the street toward St. Patrick's.

 Perhaps a thousand people were in the cathedral. We stood at the back as we were late. Very difficult to get discreet photos, but we did want you to get a peek inside this beautiful cathedral, with such a rich history.

  

It was lovely to light a candle for someone whom we know is in need of special prayers. It was the only candle glowing and brought a feeling of peace.

Our thoughts while leaving  St. Patrick's was of gratitude that we had attended.

Going from the sacred to the profane in a few short blocks

we found ourselves in the Anthropologie flagship store!!!!

This is by far my favorite store of stores. I had already felt like I was in Heaven at St. Patrick's but this was floating on the clouds of imagination. Few stores are as clever, intriguing, creative and out-of-this world than Anthropologie.

Howard patiently waited while I took close to 40 photos. It is really quite amazing that security didn't stop me, but they let me be. Many photos will be uploaded to ofoto, let me know if you would like the link. Enjoy the following pictures and maybe float on a few clouds yourself.

....and the outside windows are unbelievable. 

Before we headed home we found the perfect present for Princess Furilla....which would you choose for her?

A Princess Chair or Jewels?

Ms. Furilla Day Two

Ms. Furilla slept well as a well bred cat should, took her tummy pills rather nicely then proceeded to take her beauty nap. We used the time to plot the day's activities.

Our agenda was larger than our energy and we did about half of what was planned. But that is okay, just leaves more for tomorrow.

First we found a Princess cup for You Know Who......PINK no less. I believe I forgot to tell you that Princess Furilla dines on china. So this Princess cup is perfect.
 

 Now if you are wondering why I have steam coming out of my head?

We were half way to Ground Zero at the World's Trade Center when I remembered I had left the camera batteries charging in the bathroom!!  Guess who walked all the way back to retrieve them?


Once the steam cooled down we couldn't MISS this huge metal sculpture.

To tell you the truth I have no idea what this is...what do you think. It looks different from various angles. Is Howard attempting to fly a huge helium balloon?

Speaking of helium balloons,  we spotted this woman looking way way high, we also had to turn and see what she was looking at.

This is the Number One building at Ground Zero. We were here two years ago and it was still a pit in the ground. The architecture will be different from the original building.

For nearly a year after the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, St. Paul's Chapel served as a relief mission for recovery workers at Ground Zero.  Over 14,000 volunteers worked in 12 hour shifts to provide solace, comfort and care for 2,000 workers each day. St Paul's Chapel became the spiritual home of Ground Zero. For many it was the first time they had ever volunteered, and they discovered that one individual's efforts does indeed make a difference.

Men, women, young and old shed tears,  visibly over come with emotion. When you walk on these hallowed grounds you feel the spiritual dimension of this horrific disaster. It is sobering.

 I love the symbolism of the cupped hands holding a chalice over what I interpret to be the twin towers. If we cupped one another this tenderly there would not be a world of conflict, war and despair.

 It took a sophisticated bit of subway map reading to work our way up to Greenwich Village. Emerging from the bowels of the earth (we were four floors under) into the flooding sunlight we were soon swallowed up in thousands of New Yorkers reveling in the warmth and the sun. Happiness was in abundance! Immediately we spotted  Sheridan Park, its few benches groaning with the weight of so many relaxing, facing  the sun. Howard even found a spot to sit, took a few minutes to relax and do a sketch. 


These sculptures reminded me of the dried cod we saw at Whole Foods yesterday, hard, rough, only human not fish. The life size sculptures were a monument to our gay men and women....the sculpted figures were seated and standing....mingling  with everyone on a warm spring day.

Gelato  what could be more perfect? We yearned for some coconut gelato, but  the lines were a bit off-putting. We opted out and headed for a bakery where we enjoyed creamed squash soup, a turkey sandwich and turkey quiche! 

Before heading home,  we desired to look for something very special for the Princess.

Don't you think this is perfect? Why, every Princess  should have jewels fit for a queen.

Adieu

Ms. Furilla's Invitation

Ms. Furilla, extended an invitation for us to come and visit her in New York City. 

Now that is a welcome invitation. Our home was sitting idly on the home market, taxes had been filed, paintings taken to a gallery;  what better way to use our new found time than to visit with Ms. Furilla, New York City, Princess.

Upon arrival she purred a welcome to her NYC pent house. She posed, strolled saucily past; but  was she subtly asking us if she could pose for a few photos. Happy to oblige. 

This is her regal pose, she knows she is a Princess!  The little striped stocking in the background belongs to her companion H.esq.  H. entertains her royally, and loves to snuggle and cuddle and pull her royal tail.

 Ms. Furilla loves to not only have HER  portrait taken, under kind lights, please, but also loves to see the sights of New York on the BIG SCREEN, ahem THE blog.

Again happy to oblige, here are a few of our first glimpses of New York, on a warmish day....we were dressed for Maryland's  cold weather in sweaters, jackets and jeans while many New Yorkers non-nonchalantly walked the streets  in shorts, short sleeves and the accoutrement ipod dangling from their ears!!! 

Okay, Ms. Furilla, Princess of New York City this is all for you.

Not wanting to leave the company of Ms. Furilla for too long, we took a little stroll. 

Spring time blossoms everywhere. And bouquets of PUSSY WILLOWS for Princess Furilla.

Don't you  love it, a few steps away is an ARTS SCHOOL for young and old alike. Shakespeare, writing, acting, you name it. Love the colorful Easter egg motifs painted at the bottom of the windows. This art exhibit was of 'psycho-metaphysical ' paintings.  Not sure what that means.

Have you ever been in a full city block size Whole Foods? The entrance is the size of our local grocery store back home!!

We were LOST in a maze of color, smells and textures after passing two aisles. We felt like we had fallen down Alice's hole into Wonderland.

Note the tawny eggs all delightfully tucked into a bed of straw.....the peppers with little green stems all pointing out, begging to be picked up, and miles of fresh fruit. 

But we were on a mission to find something delectable for Ms. Furilla

Bacalta Salted Cod?  Frankly I thought someone had cleverly dipped a whole fish into plaster Paris...couldn't resist touching it. Yes it felt like plaster Paris. No this wouldn't do, The Princess enjoys only soft foods. So looking further....

This is just what a Princess would love, two huge aisles of beautifully displayed FRESH fish. Every swimmy fish  one could dream of ever eating. 

Turning the corner we felt  we had stumbled upon a Provence market. Olives of every possible type, flavor, color, texture, saltiness and pungency...forget the fish this salty snack was perfect. Who could not photograph such a delectable treat UNLESS IT WERE FOR...................

PASTRIES

Howard knew we really were lost in Alice's world, as he stood, stared, indecisive as to what could be the best treat possible???????

The neighborhood HOT DOG STAND !!!!!!!

Until the next adventure

bon appetit