Apparently there were drones flying all around us, as well as the annual world-wide Santa-thon happening right in the heart of the city. Thousands of red figures supposedly blanketing the city. I guess we were too focused on watching where we stepped and avoiding Thoreau’s “mass of men.” It was a tad over-crowded this holiday season.
Imagine my disappointment upon returning when I read that Milan’s Via MonteNapoleone has claimed the title of the world’s most expensive retail destination? Here we went to NYC just to shop on Fifth Avenue, the now former world title holder. It rankles the nerves.
We have all alighted upon our separate abodes, luggage perhaps a little heavier than before, but not enough to set off alarms. The people we elbowed and followed like a raft of penguins crossing the ocean were all in good spirits, most laughing at the absolute absurdity of so many humans waiting in lines for bag checks at venues, restaurant reservations, banana pudding. It did give us a feeling of warmth being packed so tightly – literally. It was cold. Have I mentioned that before?
And then – I return to 50 degree plus weather – and the internal thermostat has to reregister. I’m like the pear trees. They shed all of their leaves a week ago in the cold, only to begin budding again yesterday. Thank you for the reversal, Mother Nature. I would have hated to have missed it!