Day 1: G'bye California...NYC Meet Lupe

This is all surreal. I'm in a layer of a dream within a dream. I can't believe I'm in New York!

It was very difficult to say goodbye to the family this morning! Throat was closin every time I even thought of sayin "Adios!" But I did, and even managed not to let too many tears go when, after turning around waving to my mom at the airport, I turn around for the 9th time, she's gone.

The plane ride was direct and after a mild freak out, I fell asleep, my head bobbing up and down in the usual Lupe fashion when I enter a moving vehicle of any sort.  Sleep was most certainly welcome considering I had slept only half an hour the day before, and was quite tired.  When I would wake up periodically, my view from the window would make me gasp.   The plane crossed a few of the great lakes and I couldn't help but feel so incredibly itty bitty!!!

Landing in NY was fine, but we had to wait for an hour before getting to the gate!!!! WHAT? Thank you Delta and JFK airport and why New York City, you are so nice! The weather was muggy and a bit rainy but seeing my sister was worth the wait and the bad weather.

I felt like such a tourist snapping pics of everything, but the most depressing sight as the crazy-fast taxi driver drove us (I experienced the wonders of the subway. It was very... efficient!) was the very visible divide between rich and poor as you passed 96th Street.  The infrastructure was kept up to attract as many consumers as possible before 96th.  After said street, buildings were run down, and those on the street were certainly not in the higher echelons of the societal ladder. I had only ever read about the differences between the rich and poor and the divide that occurred in the 40's and 50's (and the creation of the projects), the divide enforced by the U.S. government.  Anyway... read up on that.

Got to the apartment, went to Patsy's pizza and walked back. My sister lives in Spanish Harlem (It was just referred to as "El Barrio" hahaha!) and thats where the pic of the day comes from. My sister wants to own this building one day!  Walked to her apartment and I'm so tired that we decide to call it a night.  At Patsy's, I'm eating for the first time since the night before, and realize I'd been up for 32 hours...now its 34.5 hours that I have been awake...agh. Tired.

Got back and ate cake (yum) and then started watching Baby Face.  Apparently it was one of the last movies that Hollywood allowed before the code was created! Oh dang the movie is scandalous so far! Y'all should check it out! Okay well, heres the pic; sister and I just did an itinerary for tomorrow, it's gonna be packed but so awesome!

"There is a rose in Spanish Harlem..."