travelswithalice

LUNCH

SHOPPING

Shopping is limited to basics at Gap and Uniqlo, where Djokovic has just launched his new sports wear. Have to get that for Edwin's birthday!

And speaking of birthdays, mine happens to be just a few days away, so shopping quickly revs up to a more exciting venue.

Cartier!

The excuse of course, is an urgent errand to have an old ring resized. So we sweep in through the door, and immediately in the elevator, up to the service area on the second floor. I pick up a chic tiny bottle of mineral water from the table. And a sweet from the bowl, a logo-wrapped candy. We sit on a leather sofa, awaiting our turn at the repair counter. So far, so good.

Errand accomplished, Stuart suggests we look around. Okay! We're off!

Everything's a blur now but some highlights remain. The pretty little wood-panelled salesroom with the ornate gilded desk. Can she bring us a drink? Champagne perhaps? No? She shuffles in and out, red leather tray in hand. I try on rings, earrings, bracelets. Stuart plays backgammon on his iPhone. Must be nerves.

We settle on a ring. The most beautiful ring in the world. From the Black& White collection.
The box goes in the bag with a box of cleaning items. The bag is enormous. It also contains a bottle of champagne. We walk out the door; I'm wearing my new ring. I'm walking on sunshine.


DINNER

Later, we have dinner at Eataly, an Italian gourmet-food market complex with several restaurants and a bar, located in the Flatiron district.  Yet another offering by Mario Batali, this new concept in dining, originated in Turin by one of his partners, is celebrating its second year in New York this week. It is spectacularly successful, as evidenced by long queues at "Seating Points" for each of the specialty restaurants for meat, fish, vegetables, and pizza & pasta.