The eighth day of our trip, we left our little apartment in Paris for the airport at 5:30 in the morning.
Every time we leave Paris I feel like crying. I did [from what I was told] actually cry on the plane, however. Apparently I was all doped up on sleeping aids and was laughing so hard about Frank Sinatra that tears were streaming down my face. I don’t remember any of this. As we left the city for Charles de Gaulle, we looked back one last time. Even the Eiffel Tower was still sleeping.
Our flight left from CDG to JFK and we arrived in New York around 11:00 am [we slept almost the whole way and woke up refreshed for a full day in Manhattan]. Because of the 6 hour time difference, we almost gained a day on this trip. An extra day to spend in the Big Apple.
We checked into our hotel and then went to grab lunch…at Shake Shack. That was my one meal request. Red meat has never tasted so good.
After our cheeseburgers we made our way over to SOHO for some post Black Friday shopping. Luckily, there were still some awesome sales going on. Last year, we spent all day of Black Friday in SOHO and the sheer amount of people was nauseating. This year, the day after Black Friday…was just as crowded. We shopped until we made our way over to La Esquina for our dinner reservation. Zach’s been wanting to try this infamous Mexican joint our last few visits to NYC, but we have never managed to make it. It’s always crazy crowded – and I even had to make a reservation 3 weeks prior.
It’s underground – with paintings of topless Latina women on the walls, great music, and phenomenal food. After indulging too much, we made our way to the coat check and up the stairs. As we arrived at the landing – there he was. Deron Williams. This is where it gets humiliating. When I was close enough to touch him…I did. I grabbed his arm. He said, “Oh sorry” [as if we ran into each other unintentionally] and I did not let go. I just continued to clutch to him until I told him we “missed him on the Jazz”. He was polite, but growing uncomfortable with me still holding his bicep. He responded “Haha, thanks!” That’s when Zach literally had to pull me away. My cool and collected husband shook his hand, explained we were Utah fans, and then we were on our way. Like a dream – he was in my life and then out in the next second. We didn’t even get a photo. My second ever celeb sighting in NYC – with no photographic proof.
We ended the night at Topman/Topshop and getting some sweets and sodas at the shop next to our hotel – we have a favorite that we stay at each time in Tribeca.
Canal Street was humming all night long. It felt so good to be back.