After picking up Ken, we found a liquor store to get the party started & headed back to the hotel to rest up. We were told that people started gathering in Times Square around 2PM, filling up the hundreds of corrals that the police set out for the revelers. All access to TS is blocked off by police & they only way we could even get into the hotel after 4 was with a room key for each person, a letter, a search of our bags & then a wand down with a metal detector. It was quite a journey just getting to our hotel and they let me snap a few pictures of the crowd as I was walking it. We decided to to relax & watch the crowds down below while having a few drinks & eating our dinner snacks. We tried scheming our way out of the hotel through a fire exit to get past the police, but those were all guarded too.
Around 10:45 we decided to suck it up & head downstairs. We were told that we’d be pushed out the side street & have to start walking up 6th Avenue until we could get to a corral that was open- probably somewhere around Central Park. Luckily, the police just let us hang out in this cordened off area on the side of the hotel. We could see into TS, hear all the music & feel the energy. It was a great compromise & I was satisfied being that close with very little effort. But about 11:30, one of the very nice officers (the one with a giant gun) from that SWAT truck, offered to escort us into a corral right in front of the hotel. I couldn’t believe it!!!! We were actually going to be inside Times Square & I could even see the ball just by being at the right place at the right time & being friendly to this cop.
If I peeked my head around the hotel overhang, I could see the ball waaay in the distance on top of the Toshiba tower. It was insane inside- so crowded, so electric, to happy. I don’t think I could have stood there 10 hours waiting, so I’m glad we sneaked in at the last minute. Everybody had their party hats & balloons, the sky was constantly full of streamers & confetti. We were able to watch the New Kids on the Block perform & a few others as we approached midnight.
And here’s the new year!
Within 5 minutes the crowds had cleared out significantly & we made our way into the middle of TS. We were still so excited just to be in there!
So glad to have celebrated a new year with my best friend on another adventure of a lifetime!
From our vantage point, we could also watch the fireworks over Central Park, which was very cool. We hung out in the street, dancing & playing around before fighting the crowds to get back to our room & make a plan for a very late dinner. It was amazing to see the mess left behind & that the crews were already working on cleaning it up (it was spotless by the morning). All in all, an amazing adventure & I’m so glad that I made the trek, even if hubby couldn’t make it. We had perfect weather (mid-30′s is as good as it’s going to get in NYC for NYE) & the perfect hotel. We got so lucky with the cop & I had a blast exploring the Big Apple with my best friend as we said good-bye to 2010 & reminisced about what a good year it’s been for us (the Houston marathon, my 30th birthday, our Pennsylvania trip, the Philly marathon).
GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: We are throwing my dad a 60th birthday bash at our house tonight!
