Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made

Sorry again for ignoring the blog for so long! J & I just got back from a 9-day trip to New York City, my second city and second home. Only a 7 hour plane ride, we try to go back every time I start missing my friends like crazy. Since 2010 was such a busy year for us, this would be our first trip back since 2009. Nothing changed though, I still felt at home, I still chose a downtown hotel, and we still go back to Max Brenner even though we know how sick we feel after each time we eat there!

For those planning a major shopping trip, I highly recommend taking a trip to NY's renowned shopping outlet, Woodbury Commons. Many rent cars, but since we are not used to driving on the other side, I suggest taking a bus from Port Authority that costs $43 per adult. The trip is only an hour long, and the return trip is open and you get to choose when you'd like to go back to Port Authority. Don't forget to bring a little suitcase or a carry on bag to stuff all the shopping!

A NYC favorite of ours are little mini cupcakes Baked By Melissa. She has, literally, a "hole in the wall" stand in SOHO where each cupcake is sold for a dollar. (6 for $5.50 and 12 for $10). They are tiny, but oh so moist and tasty! My personal favorites are red velvet and mint chocolate chip. You must also checkout Shake Shack at Madison Square Park, where people can wait for hours just to get a bite of the juicy Shack Burger and their cheese fries.

I think I just may start a new blog just on New York! There are so many things to see and do, but I must say nothing would have been so awesome without my amazing friends! xxx

Photos by Me
Checkout: http://www.shakeshack.com/
http://bakedbymelissa.com/#
http://www.maxbrenner.com

Sainte-Chapelle

"The Palais de la Cité was the residence and seat of royal power from the 10th to the 14th centuries, and housed the Conciergerie and Sainte-Chapelle which are now part of the Palace of Justice, the new function of the building. The Sainte-Chapelle was built between 1242 and 1248, in accordance with the wishes of Louis IX to house the relics of the Passion of Christ. The most famous of these relics was the Crown of Thorns, acquired in 1239 for a sum that greatly exceeded the cost of building the Chapel itself."

France is a country with a rich history of Catholism, and therefore many beautiful cathedrals, churches and chapels exists till today. This one however, deserves special attention, for despite its small size, its beauty captivated me a little more than the rest. In the Lower Chapel, there is a 13th-century fresco depicting the Annunciation, the oldest painting in Paris. My favorite however is the Upper Chapel, with its stained glass windows that depict 1,113 scenes of the story of mankind from Genesis to Christ's resurrection.

You will find long lines to the entrance of Sainte-Chapelle, but J & I figured out a way to skip the line! You need to walk down to the Conciergerie which is on the same street. Here, there are less people and you are able to buy twin tickets to Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie. With the twin tickets, you are able to beat the line for the bag check, and again beat the line inside for entrance tickets.

Photos by Me
Metro: Cité