Multi-cultural Moments

So today was filled with adventure and new experiences, which I will most likely be saying often in the next few weeks!  This morning we walked a couple blocks to the nearest subway entrance to buy passes to take the subway south to catch a ferry.  I was unsure as to how to purchase the ticket and a nice woman jumped right in and helped me to purchase them.  Then was quick to say she hadn't eaten and could use a few bucks for food.  Everywhere we went in NYC was like this.  Most street people are very helpful as long as you are willing to give them some cash :)  We used the subway all day and it was very educational and not too stressful.  I found this great app for my iphone called Embark NYC and it was a life saver!  You plug in where you are and where you want to go and it gives you step by step instructions with maps.  SO AWESOME!




We took the subway south and caught the Staten Island Ferry (which is free BTW) and were able to see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and some NYC skyline.  Then we hopped back on and came right back! Great way to see these points of interest without spending a bunch of cash. Many people along the way from other countries - we heard many different languages! The Coast Guard escorted us the whole way so we felt very safe!

Stopped off in Chinatown and ate some Dim Sum... Rachel was a pro with her chop sticks :)  Randy and Tracie had chicken fried rice (flied lice - they really did say it like that. Reminded me of "A Christmas Story!) And then we walked about 4 blocks to Little Italy and had pizza at Lombardi's Pizza "The first pizza shop in America" and some NY cheesecake and canoli.  Rachel tried out some amazing crepes that were filled with strawberries, blueberries, cream cheese and yogurt. They were so good that we had more delivered to the hotel the next day by a delivery service. Think "Premium Rush" with Joseph Gordon Levitt when he delivers via bicycle.

  Then we took the subway all the way up Central Park and went to the MET - Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The price was $25/person, but before we had come to NYC I had read a blog about that being a "suggested price", and sure enough in small letters under the price were those very words.  I think most people don't know or read them though.  I had told Randy this so when he went to pay for our tickets and the women had put in the $25 prices, he said, "Hey I thought those were the suggested prices." She replied, "Oh they are. How much would you like to pay then?" And Randy said, "$5". It was great and such a classic Randy moment. We enjoyed the museum very much although we were only there for 3 hours (about $5 worth!) We saw the Greek/Roman/Hellenistic period, Byzantine, Medieval, Egyptian, Impressionists, Renaissance, and my favorite, an exhibit of the dresses by Charles James. (If you aren't familiar with Charles James, check him out online http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2014/charles-james-beyond-fashion

We then raced back to the hotel and quickly changed to go to "Wicked" on Broadway.  Randy chose to stay back at the hotel, so all the girls dressed up and went. It was incredible. The actors and actresses were so talented and the sets were so intricate.  We thought we did not have the best seats before we arrived, but I don't think there was a bad seat in the whole place.  It was stunning and their voices were phenomenal. We were all so blown away. It was by far our most favorite part of NYC. We then met Randy at a little mexican restaurant for a late dinner.  Most of the restaurants are open air so it was very lovely.

The next morning we met Randy's cousin Elena at a little breakfast restaurant called Galaxy Cafe.  It was so much fun to talk with her and share our stories - we hadn't seen her in probably 10 years. She lives in the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband Luis. She is delightful and so interesting to talk to. We had such a lovely time. We then took a rental SUV for an hour and a half to the airport, then another 3 hours of standing in wrong lines, riding between terminals, helping a little old Iraqi man check in (it was all digital and he couldn't read english) and getting settled on the flight. It was 7 hours to Paris, where we were interrogated by the Israeli airline before we could even board their plane. Then 4 more hours with a plane full of Israeli people and a meal of falafel, hummus, flat bread that they served to you with tongs from baskets, and some chocolate mousse, to the Tel Aviv airport. Then customs and finding our bags and riding an hour and a half with our friend Hunter to his home in the heart of Nazareth.

Two days of being around many other languages, culture, and food. Two days of artistic interpretations from so many different cultures and time periods.  When I was in the Byzantine section of the MET I started to cry at one point. Hannah pulled me aside and asked me what was wrong and I couldn't give her an answer. The Byzantine period is very religious. All the sculptures and artwork depict Jesus or Mary and were gilded in gold or silver and were very primitive yet gaudy. Randy referred to it as "Shabby Shit". It's funny, but I think I was really overcome by the influence that Jesus has had on the world. So many cultures, so many religions, so many ways to worship.  Jesus was the same then and is the same now.  The art warred with my own experience of Jesus and who He is - the personal and living and active relationship we have is so very far from primitive or gaudy. He is for all people and yet we all choose to worship and love Him differently, or even not at all. I was overcome with the beauty of who Christ is... that He loves Chinese, and Italians, New Yorkers and Parisians, Muslims and Christians and Jewish.  I tend to get so tunnel vision about my own experience of Jesus, and yet people all around the World experience Him. It is mind-blowing and makes me feel small, but yet special.  I am in a relationship with the Creator, the King of all things. That's a multi-cultural experience if ever there was one.