![IMG_0148.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/50/138172687_86068674c9.jpg)
on monday, we went to the british consulate to apply for my spouse visa. as requested, we brought a binder full of personal information: passports, marriage certificate, financial statements, mortgage info, photos and cards to show that we have not entered into a sham marriage, letters of support from friends and family, print-outs of emails and blog entries. we discovered, however, that they only wanted the bare essentials (read: ridiculously expensive application fee) and it only took about an hour and a half from start to finish. HOORAY!
so, with a genuine spouse visa stamped in my passport (HOORAY!), we headed to the statue of liberty and ellis island.
![IMG_0161.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/48/138172870_afd9f63bc4.jpg)
after a rainy weekend, it was lovely to see the statue of liberty in all her dignified glory standing tall against the blue sky.
![IMG_0169.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/46/138172920_4c7baf65c3.jpg)
i love her foot. the gentle curve, the casual stance, breaking free from the chains of oppression, ready to stride out on her own path.
![IMG_0174.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/55/138172969_55efcc2af4.jpg)
i found it particularly poignant to visit ellis island after my own battles with visas and immigration in the past few months.
![IMG_0158.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/54/138172747_2c21d61490.jpg)
we didn't have time to look up my grandma's name in the database, but we enjoyed walking through the museum.
![IMG_0160.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/53/138172815_be9d1622bc.jpg)
tuesday morning we went to the top of the empire state building. everything looks so small from up there...
![IMG_0193.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/46/138173248_ed8f86679a.jpg)
no signs of king kong, though.
![IMG_0192.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/52/138173148_400a0fafda.jpg)
here is a confession: i have never particularly liked new york. it is crowded, noisy, stressful, claustrophobic with all those tall buildings surrounding you. but i had a very different experience there this time. i think that living in london for the past two years has changed my perception. i am used to walking everywhere and taking the tube to get across town. i am used to weaving through the human traffic and dodging groups and tourists. london has a population of 7 million; new york has 8 million. that one million does make a difference, especially since manhattan is more condensed than london, but i didn't find it as initimidating as before.
in fact, i enjoyed noticing the patterns from above.
![IMG_0211.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/47/138173391_7515e140d3.jpg)
![IMG_0206.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/27/138173331_f23f721238.jpg)
![IMG_0191.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/50/138173106_20401313f1.jpg)
now that i read so many craft blogs, i was thinking in terms of quilt patterns. too bad i don't sew!
and how could i resist all the delicious treats? we stopped for cakes on bleeker street.
![IMG_0217.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/52/138173528_c2c871d987.jpg)
![IMG_0215.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/52/138173456_a7380ac770.jpg)
and i enjoyed a cupcake in central park one afternoon.
![IMG_0227.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/53/138173743_47490c83e9.jpg)
![IMG_0232.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/53/138173779_c258fe83a5.jpg)
![IMG_0233.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/45/138173835_20c48c73d4.jpg)
***
we are now settling into life as mr. and mrs. d (!) by rights, i should change the name of this blog, but i still like the subtle pun on FCUK using my initials.
![IMG_0218.JPG](http://static.flickr.com/52/138173673_c6db9e75d3.jpg)
people keep asking how it feels to be married. we are having a good time so far!
No comments:
Post a Comment