F is for Friends (Ch 9)

Your Easter offering this weekend is brought to you by the number NINE and the letter F… for FAO Schwartz and Fabulous Friends…

-000000-

 Welcome back, into the warm confines of a special building right by Central Park in Noo Yawk City (no, I realise that is NOT how you would spell it, but it IS how the locals SAY it).   If you recall from our last chapter, The Family had been brought into this haven by their Brand New (In Real Life Friends) – not only thaw out their frozen extremities but also to PLAY…

For the unitiated, FAO Schwatz is one giant toy store.  Filled not just with lollies…

And people, and signs…

But also an infinite number of stuffed toys…

And make-it-yourself Muppet-type toys…

And Barbie dolls… (please note that the Prince is indeed contemplating Ken dolls while the Princess observes the vast array of Barbies – he settled on something a little less passive in the end).

It was possible to dress one’s own Barbie and check out the result on the runway.  Very Edna Mode.

But of course, the one thing for which FAO Schwatz is famous beyond all other delights is this…

The giant piano, on which Tom Hanks danced into our hearts in the movie Big.

And on which visitors can line up to do the very same thing.  The Princess was game and kicked off her boots to see if she could make the giant keys light up and play…

We are unsure if any recognisable version of chopsticks ensued, but the smile on her face was sweet music nonetheless…

Many other sections of this amazing store were explored at length – with The Mother’s friend Debby’s version of this section of the story best telling of the Prince’s awful dilemma in choosing Just One Toy.  He has a little problem in the decision-making department (and this store’s infinite offerings very nearly did him in).

(The Princess decided very decisively at Barbie.  As you all knew she would.)

Then, all too soon, it was almost time to leave.  Time to rug up against the March winds with JUST enough time to pose with an entire menagerie of toys…

(We suspect the Prince may have been rethinking his toy decision at this point.)

And check out the kaleidescope of mirrors and coloured glass…

Before wandering back through the New York streets as darkness fell…

Bemused by the colour and neon-ness of the place…

Until we spied our hotel, near it’s important landmark, the M&M’s shop… where Someone Probably Famous whizzed by in a massive stretch limo…

Or a New York Taxi (the Mother was a little bit obsessed with yellow taxis which appeared to make up a good 70% of all New York traffic – she suspects no-one else is quite game to drive there!).

And so with a day filled with very many highlights – from laundry (?) to pizza to Central Park toystores and neon lights, the major highlight was most definitely….

The friends, who drove from another State to reach them, who took on tour guide duties, putting up with slow-walking, regularly-distracted tourists and who patiently waiting around each counter as the Prince vaccilated between Transformers and Some Other Violent Toy…

The Family were worn out and their fingertips and noses were chilled, but their hearts were warmed right through.  And they hugged their friends long and hard and said:

‘Pennsylavania – you do a very good New York!’

-00000- 

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL…

PLEASE STAY SAFE…

AND HUG THE ONES THAT GUIDE YOU WELL.

For those who missed earlier chapters:

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8