Christmas Present, Part 2

The best byproduct of Dan's Christmas gift is its in New York and 

we get to spend time with Courtney.

This morning we rambled through The Ramble.

First signs of spring!

We ate lunch at Viand, new for all of us then parted ways for home just as it started to rain.

Dan got us foot massage appointments at a Chinese Spa a block away.

We were a little surprised when they directed us to a regular massage room.

And they were surprised to come back in and find us fully dressed.

We had a bit of a communication error, but we were only too happy to have full body massages instead and will definitely be going back. The best kind of sore.

We met Courtney for dinner at Saravanaa Bhavan and tried some new Indian dishes:

Channa Bhatura--a huge puffed bread you tear off and dip into a chickpea soup.

It reminded us of a giant savory sopapilla.

Bosa--a humongous (think cookie sheet size) rolled crepe with potatoes inside.

The thin dough was crunchier than a crepe with a cheesy flavor. So good!

(You can see it behind the puff.)

With our Naan, we had three different breads, all with different flavors and textures,

and all three equally delicious.

We probably wouldn't order all three again, but how to choose which one?!

Courtney warned us we'd need to change clothes afterward (food smell),

so after dinner we went back home to get ready for the night I had been dreading,

joyfully looking forward to -- Dan's Christmas Present -- a night at the opera, Madama Butterfly.

Now Dan says All. The. Time. how he just loves the opera.

Our first opera together was in Argentina at the grand Teatro Colon--

we got a babysitter for Courtney and dressed up and both of us remember it being such a fun night.

Years ago Dan saw Carmen at The Met while on a business trip which only fueled his love for the art.

Then a few years ago I accompanied him to The Marriage of Figaro, (was that with the Bywaters?)

but let me tell you, I hated it. The storyline didn't make a bit of sense.

Later, Ann S. told me you go for the music, not the storyline. Hmm.

So I thought it was very gracious of me to 1) remember his supposed love of the opera for Christmas

2) Buy two tickets and attend with him. (Remember how I paid a babysitter to take Courtney to the Nutcracker when she was ten? I'm not above bowing out.)

Seeing a show at The Met was exciting and the theater is lovely.

(If we ever make a billion dollars, I'm donating a chunk to Abravanel Hall in install fancy light fixtures,

gussy up the gold walls near the stage, and also purchase prettier chairs for the orchestra.

It's a pet peeve of mine.)

We were there early enough to wander and take it all in.

And while we didn't recognize any of the music, the performance was beautiful.

I especially loved the puppeteering because I'd read about the dying Japanese artform

in the Playbill ahead of time and appreciated the technical difficulty.

However, the couple next to me clearly hadn't and they were bursting trying to not laugh out loud.

(It was actually pretty funny and at intermission I told them I was very impressed they kept it together.)

I might have had a short snooze during the First Act. 

And wished we weren't off sugar so we could enjoy a treat during intermission.

But I really did enjoy it. 

Not the storyline. That I didn't enjoy.

But not because it was poorly written (well, maybe a little unrealistic written by a man in the early 1900's

who thought a mom would just give up her son with the new wife's reassurance "I'll love him like my own." Don't get me started.)

BUT, thankfully we were prepared with the storyline ahead of time and knew it was a tragedy.

When it was over, Dan's first statement was, "Well, we survived."

No, sir. 

I survived. And even had a good time, I might add.

You, you have been talking about this for years. You just enjoyed a dream come true.

😂

I'd go back. I think I'll look for storylines I can get behind, however.