Today has been a day of catching up on things. Catching up on being with the kids, cleaning, washing, exercising, emailing, blogging, cooking etc etc. It has been a great day.
Yesterday Isak got to try a festis for the first time. I probably don't need to say that he loved it. After drinking it all he carried the box around for hours trying to suck out the last drops.
Jane and John have left and the New York trip is over. Life is going back to normal. Isak starts dagis on Monday and I go back to work in a couple of weeks. We have had a great summer but it is nice to go back to normal routines again. We had a nice evening last night just the four of us. Jakob and Isak were going crazy in the new water sprinkler and Adam and I just enjoyed being home together all of us.
Yesterday the Australian flag hanging on the side of our house was taken down, Jane and John left in the afternoon. Their last day was sunny, like all the other days they have had the last four weeks so we had a nice bbq lunch outside before they had to go to the airport.
Last picture of Jane and John with Jakob and Isak.
In only a few days Jane is turning 60 but since she will be in Italy for her birthday we celebrated her the day before they left Luleå. First we had some drinks at home and she got some presents. Jakob had picked a tea mug for her that he was very proud of.
In the evening we went to BBB for dinner. We realised that it was the first time the 4 of us have been out for dinner in Sweden! Mum very nicely looked after Jakob and Isak so we could make this happen. We couldn't have picked a better night. The weather was beautiful and sunny and we had a great table by the water.
Being away from Jakob and Isak is always hard even though it is a nice feeling to miss them and nice for Adam and me to have some time together just us. Mum and Jakob picked us up from the airport and words can't describe how nice it was to see him again. I am dreading having to be away from them for 5 weeks when they go to Adelaide in November without me.
Isak was waiting at home for us and he gave me the nicest hug and biggest smile when he saw me.
After nearly a year of planning the day was finally here. Adam and I together with Zara and Micke were going to New York for 6 nights!! Jakob and Isak were left home with Adam's parents. We were so excited that we had to have a drink at Arlanda at 10.30 in the morning. It was great!
We probably overdid day 1 a bit. The city was extremly hot, over 40 degrees with now wind at all. We squeezed in 2 bus trips which was pretty stupid. The first one took us from the hotel in the middle of Manhattan to the southern end of the island. The second one took us on a two hours trip to Brooklyn. 
Ground Zero
I just love Harlem. I have been to Harlem once before and loved it. I felt the same this time. There is something about Harlem, can't put my finger on what it is but I just really like being there. Not that I have seen much more than the main street. But anyway. After walking around doing a some shopping Zara and I walked ahead of the slow boys to find the quite new restaurant Red Rooster owned by Marcus Samuelsson, a famous Swedish chef. Zara and I walked in and fell in love with the place. I didn't know much about it and had no expectations but all I can say is that it was great.
After a glass of wine in the bar the boys turned up and we got a table.
My hamburger was great and not at all like the one at Spotted pig (se later post). 
Adam had chicken.
We were probably not cool enough for the place especially since Micke got told off for showing his bum. At least we got a good laugh :-)
Zara and I ready for the Spice Market! A restaurant that serves Asian food and that is quite famous in New York. We made a reservation nearly a month ago.
Zara and Micke had lobster, spicy chicken wings, dumplings, and chicken dished shared with us.
The restaruant had a really nice feeling to it even though it was big and on two floors.
Adam and I had chicken skewers for entree and beef with pesto with fried ginger rice and it was delicious! one of the best meal I have had.
Sunday morning at the markets. Can't remember the name of it and can't be bothered looking it up right now. Was nice though and I liked the area, but small and not much to buy.
Chinatown...
Little Italy
One day Adam and I took the metro to the top of Central Park (interesting area by the way...), bought sandwhiches from Subway and sat down to eat watching some kids playing baseball. After lunch we walked in the rain to the southern end of the park, a really great walk! the rain just made it more special and it felt nice after days of extreme heat.
On one of our first nights we got recommende a restaurant by a local and on our second last night we went there since it was booked out the first time we tried. We ended up having on our best nights in this cosy little restaurant. The interior was really nice, the staff was great and the food was perfect! A few drinks and everyone in a good mood at the same time just made the night great!
The day before leaving we took the ferry to Staten Island and back. It is a nice trip with good views of the Statue of Liberty and of Manhattan but the highlight of the trip was talking to a couple from Israel. After having been to Israel and worked on kibbutz 18 years ago it was nice to hear about the changes that has happened in the country over the years.
On our last night we went to a well known New York pub called the Spotted Pig for dinner. Gettin a table is not easy and you can't make reservations. Since Tuesdays are not very busy we were quite lucky and only had to wait for about an hour. It may have helped us that the rain was pouring down outisde.
This photo was taken when having a beer at another bar while waiting for a table. 
This pub has been rewarded with a Michelin star so our expectations were quite high. We ordered the recommended meal: hambureger with chips. What do I say... we all started eating without talking too much... but after a while when sharing our thoughts we were all quite disappointed. The actual pub was great, really cosy with a friendly and cool atmosphere, but the food... We all ordered it medium rare, as recommended by the chef. Something I regretted. It was raw inside and as soon as I moved the burger towards my mouth I could smell uncooked raw mince. And even for a salt freak like me, the meal was just too salty. I should have ordered it well done but I am not sure if I had enjoyed it that much anyway. We all came to the conclusion that we should have tried something different from the menue. 
On our last day in NY our only plan was to have a nice brunch somwhere west of Centeral Park. We got off the tram in what we thought would be a nice area and we were right. We also managed to pick a great place with really really nice food. Without doubt the best breakfast we had during our stay.
Zara and me happy over our great holiday and that we will be home with the kids soon!
But also a bit sad that the trip we have been looking forward to for so long now is over. Luckily I am pretty good at living on memories from my travels!!
