sssh!

 i played hookey

 yup

 took a day off 

literally 

in the middle of the week

 the occasion

 the excuse

my friend mary came to town

 it was her birthday

 last year 

we were in paris

 we had tea at the royal monceau raffles hotel

a sunset  - rain free - visit to the top of the arc de triomphe 

and 

 dinner at a small thai restaurant in the marais

 how could we top that

 well

 we started

 with

 breakfast

 at 

sarabeth's

a bus crosstown to the metropolitan museum of art

 there's an exhibit of

 charles james gowns

 works of art 

every

one 

you must go

 because 

not only are they amazing to see

 there's a high tech aspect

 i can't explain

 other than to say

 a video camera scans the gowns

 and

 on a screen

 there is a sort of read out that looks like an architect's drawing

 showing how the dress is constructed

 i dont do it justice

 its fascinating

mr james was also witty and wise 

we went 

to 

the roof garden

 which was not too shabby

 tho

 the skies were overcast 

and

 i had only my iPhone to shoot with

downstairs to the temple of dendur

 after a cup of coffee and a nibble

 we headed downtown

 9-11 memorial museum 

opened that very day

 to the public

 i will only tell you

 its an incredible moving experience 

my friend missy joined us

off to dinner we went

over to the bowery

 to a place that is hard to find

 'cause

 its literally down an alley

 its called

 freeman's

 fabulous food and drink 

mary said

 it was a perfect day 

and 

that's all anyone can ask for