exploring Manhattan

New York, New York

4:01 PM

We're here. It's finally happening. We've been talking about it and planning for months and now it's here. This is real life.

We just completed Week One of GS training. I don't know what life would have been like if I had stayed behind in Utah like we thought I might. I miss Taylor while he's at work enough already that I don't think we could be alright hundreds of miles away from each other. 

Training is long and requires homework after hours of lecture. It's a lot like being back in school! 
We have been figuring out how to open a UK bank account without being present in the UK. It is very difficult (nearly impossible) but we're almost done and home free! Through an agent in the UK at CitiBank and Citi At Work, we have filed the application and paperwork necessary to activate an account. Though it was difficult and time-consuming, it's worthwhile so that we can get paid before September, ya know? Almost done with that!
The view of Manhattan from our balcony

Same spot on our balcony but over the Hudson River.   
The Hudson always reminds me of this movie moment (s/o to my fellow 'You've Got Mail' lovers). 
So...this is what I've been doing all week! 

World Trade Center tower (Freedom Tower)

Washington Square Park and Arch=prime people watching area

 I have been walking around so much that I thought my feet were going to fall off before the weekend. There is so much to see and so little time! There are recommendations galore and while I wish to see them all, I just had to start somewhere.

I hadn't ridden a subway 'on my own' since I served as a missionary in the heart of the capital of Buenos Aires. New York's subway system makes Argentina's look like child's play. So the first time I got on the subway in NYC I accidentally jumped on an express train and ended up somewhere in Brooklyn. Luckily I found some nice people to redirect me but that could have been disastrous. 

I found what I was looking for at TKTS in South Seaport. Discount broadway tickets! (Go here for everything EXCEPT: Wicked, The Lion King, Book of Mormon the Musical and Aladdin) You can get 40-50% discounts on same-day tickets and some matinee shows the following day. The South Seaport office opens at 11. I went with BIL (brother in law) Nick when he came to visit. We got there at 10am and could have been first in line but we sat and ate some breakfast and stood behind two groups at about 15 after. We got three tickets together to Les Miserables! Beautiful show! 

Dreams do come true. Saw the restaurant version on Guy's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and made a goal to try it. The restaurant is way out in Queens but this stand was on my way home one day! Woot!

Two tacos: one Nopalitos (cactus, but don't knock it before you try it. It's probably my favorite thing), one carne al pastor. AMAZING! The corn tortilla are super fresh and everything was delicious. The horchata is legit. 

Once upon a time, there was a flash flood warning and I took this video during the storm. You can click on the link and check it out if you follow me on Instagram. I couldn't figure out how to upload it here, sorry! 

It was just coming down.

But, my goodness, it was beautiful after the rain.
Dinner at El Vez night #2 with the great Bruce Larson. Pretty fantastic tacos! Dinner #1 with Bruce we went to The Palm and had the best chicken parmesan I've ever had. I ate it too quickly to snap a picture ;) 

I wouldn't mind living in a neighborhood like this! 

Dear Ashley sent me to her favorite spots from a food tour that she did when she was here herself not too long ago. Number one: Joe's Famous Pizza. THANK YOU! It was perfect, cheap and fast. Deliciously met expectations!
L O V E

Number two from Ashley: cute little place called Home Restaurant. I must have missed the real lunch rush because I was there completely by myself. I sat in the garden area and it was dreamy.

Amazing artisan bread from local Hudson Bread, fresh lemonade sweetened with agave and the most amazing Mac and Cheese that has ever passed my lips. I'm a pasta and cheese lover. I could probably eat it every day so this was the perfect lunch!

A close up. Just in case you weren't drooling enough. 

This was the first time I had ever tried macaroons in my whole life. Verdict: I LOVE them. Chocolate and raspberry from Sugar and Plumm, at least. I have heard that they can be bad if they aren't made well so I'm glad my first experience was a great one!
When on the east coast, one must eat bagels and pizza. Every day.
Not many people are going to appreciate this but this kalamata olive schmear was perfection on a non-toasted, hand-rolled bagel from Leo's.
Nick came to visit for a few days! We met Taylor for lunch in the plaza just north of One World Trade Center. These guys kill me. 
Nick and I walked over to see the 9/11 Memorial. It's beautiful. We stood in awe and looked over the names that line each side. Walking around invoked many memories of that fateful day. We plan on going to the newly-opened museum one of these evenings that Taylor doesn't have to work too late!
Once upon a time, I had to go to Jersey City to meet Taylor and copy and sign documents for the bank account we are setting up in the UK. I took the PATH train and thought I was going to fall over and tumble down the escalator. The lights, tunnel and angle of the escalator made me so dizzy that I had to stare at my feet on the stair.
Downtown NYC from the Jersey City side of the Hudson. It's a beautiful sight!

Thursday night we went to Les Mis! We got one of the understudy Jean Valjean's but he was still spectacular! I wonder what the normal guys is like... 

Like I said, eat lots of bagels. This was a lucky morning that I got to go out with Taylor (again, to print and make copies for this bank account dealio)

Nick and I did the tourist thing and got on the Statue Cruises to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. She's a pretty lady! #freedom

Audio Tour was included in the ferry price. Not too bad, educational but we just had to laugh about a lot of it.

Downtown NYC from the ferry. I just don't get sick of that view!

Ok, I don't know this kid's name but he is hilarious. He and his family were in line in front of us as we were waiting to get on the ferry back to Battery Park. He was obsessed with the Statue so as soon as he got the foam crown on his head, he raised his arms to mimic Lady Liberty and BOOM! He was a statue and he couldn't move on his own. His father had to walk back and pick him. That is until his mother bought ice cream and he took a quick acting break. I was dying laughing. 

A Yankee game with lots of friends! Glad to say that I got to see Jeter play at home in his final season! 

 The rest of the weekend will be in the next post. Don't want to overload you all! Thanks for keeping up with us and our goings-on. We have three more weeks here. Taylor has tests for work so we are full speed ahead. 

 T-minus 2 weeks for my sister's wedding and until we get to meet our nephew! 

Alaskan cruise

London Update

5:10 PM

I realize that people don't know anything about our most recent announcement other than the fact that we're moving to Europe. We made the exciting announcement via every social media network we could and then left you hanging!


Our big move to London, England is still several months away. Taylor will take part of the global Goldman training starting in July in New York. That's the beginning of our move eastward. After corporate training, Taylor will spend time with the group with which he was hired to work. We don't know how long that part of his training will take since they haven't had an analyst go solo to the London office before. 

We don't anticipate getting to London before August 2014, although we are both extremely anxious to get there! Our favorite hobby right now is LONDON. Learning about the city, seeing one of the coolest Instagram accounts about London (seriously, check out @london account. You'll cry), looking at flats to rent, and for me, planning outings to make the most of our time in what will be our home for a while. 

About how long we'll be there....hard to say. We're thinking at least a year and legally we can't be there more than 6 years without applying for permanent residency. So do not fret. We should be back...should be. 😉

We have connected with some wonderfully helpful people that try to answer all of our random questions that crop up as we prepare to move. We are so grateful for them and their patience. 

We have narrowed our apartment search to Zone One for transportation ease as we will not have a car over there. We have these high hopes to cycle to work. If we can brave the near-constant rain. I hope my time in Juneau, Alaska has prepared me this. 

We hope to live very near Hyde Park. Northwest, to be exact. 
 
Can you imagine this being our Sunday walk? Yes, please!
It's just too good to be true. I can hardly wait to be posting pictures I take personally of this beautiful place. 


Some of our dreams and goals for London are to go see what we can see and do lots of it. 

1. Get a view of London and the Thames river from the London Eye

2. Visit the LDS Temple in Surrey once a month. (That's about an hour and a half drive from central London)

3. Visit York! So pretty!

4. People watch in Trafalgar Square. 

5. Visit every single museum they've got! I might do most of this alone but I'm sure I could convince Taylor to come to a couple. Plus, they're free. Hello?! 

6. See where the Queen lives. And perhaps sneak a peek of the royal baby. Keira and Jilian will be extremely jealous. 

Many, many, many more adventures to be had. 

I can't be sure but I think this is part of the financial district that Taylor's office will be near. It really does look like Fleet Street. If you look down the street, above the woman's head, it looks like a sky ride connecting the buildings? I believe that to be two of three Goldman buildings in the area. 

We are very excited to see it in person. But there is so much to do before we get there! 

Taylor and I will graduate within a week of each other and then head off on a cruise (compliments of my grueling and difficult work as a tour bus driver for two consecutive summers in Juneau). 

Where shall the Princess cruise take us? Alaska, of course. Round trip from San Francisco. :) 

Bless you for making it all the way to the end of this long-winded post. If you have any questions, comments or requests for occupying our couch (that we might have to get with a pull out bed) in London, leave those below 😄




adventure

We Have Big News!

3:02 AM

We've been sitting on this information for a few days because it wasn't official but now it's time to share!

....I'm not pregnant. We've only been married for two seconds. Give us at least a minute....



TAYLOR GOT A JOB!

And guess where?



.....in their LONDON, ENGLAND office!

WHAAAA? No, really. London.

We're pretty stinking excited. After graduation we'll figure out where we'll be living and all that jazz and go to New York for training in July. London in the fall!
So many adventures and we are so happy to know where we'll be and what we have to look forward to in the next couple of years.
We have offered so many prayers and I know that our families have joined us in those prayers, so thank you! It's not quite what we were expecting but then again, we weren't too specific when we prayed for our Father in Heaven to bless us to be where we needed to be, for ourselves and for those that we could serve.

Stay tuned for updates on our adventures.
(Melissa, when you read this, I would love to talk to you about your life and how you do it!) :)

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