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Hi All,
Well here we are - the last blog!! So when I last left off we were in Sao Paulo which even after a long walk around was still a dump! At night we got a cab to the airport and the guy went right past us when we stuck our hand out and then proceeded to reverse in a one way street in the centre of the city into a car behind him. The guy was out of the car and really annoyed and all our driver was worried about was getting bus in the cab and then it ended up with the guy pushing our driver and then our river pushed him off and got in the cab and the guy was kicking our cab and our driver just drove away, it was quite scary! It was horrible we were already petrified about our flight. I think it was because we had so long lying about to think of it so we had got ourselves in a right state about it. It was ok though quite a pleasant flight, Craig was ok as he had his vallium that he got in the chemist in Bolivia but I didn’t manage to sleep too well. It was so foggy in NYC we were watching the decent on the flight tracker thingy and I was thinking we must be almost down and I looked out the window and couldn’t see anything then I just saw the runway and we were down, so foggy. The taxi driver later told us they were expecting delays of up to 3 hours, so glad we made it in before that!
We got to NEW YORK CITY BABY early in the morning and got a cab to the hotel with of all people a Bolivian cab driver haha!! The hotel thankfully had our room ready and it was quite nice, clean and we had a sink and a TV but the shower and loo were down the hall but it did cost a fifth of the price of the Waldorf and was in a really good location. We went and had an hours kip and then got up and had a taco bell lol which was not as good as I remembered! Then we unpacked as we had the luxury of some drawers and the fact that we were staying 4 nights!! I had spoke to Steph and Jen who we met while doing our trek in West America and we arranged to meet them for dinner and drinks. They were late and then we went to Rodeo Bar for dinner an they had cider!! It was so nice to se them again and we also met Jen’s husband, it was a great laugh. I had steak yet again haha, it was quite loud for talking so after dinner we went to a different place, it was an amazing place, the 20th floor of a building with great views of the Empire State and the skyline, you could even wear bathrobes if you were cold, it was lovely. It was quite expensive though and they have all kinds of rules for drinking here its not like when you just go to a bar get a drink and sit down, you can only sit if you get waitress service so they get the tips or if you buy at the bar you cant sit etc so it’s a bit of a pain trying to get drunk lol! Next we went to a bar called Joshua Tree which was pretty cool, good music and we ended up just sitting and getting waitress service and even cider on tap, it was great, a really good laugh! Craig spilt a girls drunk and she tried to get him to get another which he was having none of lol and then we decided to call it a night as we were pretty gone lol, we ended up standing under a canopy as it was raining and the I was like “This is nothing compared to home” lol so we bolted for Subway. I heard an accent behind me and it was so like Robert de Niro, I was like oh you sound like him and he said people think he looks like Steven Segal and he actually did, it was so funny. We left after tipping the Subway man and got back to the hotel and had our sandwiches and went to bed. We have seen so many places to eat this time compared t when we were here with Chloe, I don’t even know where we were looking then!
We had planned to do absolutely nothing the next day so we got up and had Quisnos another sandwich shop we had been looking forward to but it was also not as good as remembered. We watched some films n bed and then we decided to go out, I just love this city so much, it has such an amazing vibe, I love all the streets, cabs, signs and random people walking about, it is impossible to stay in! We loved this Burrito place called Chipotle but we didn’t know if they had them in the east but Steph had told us there was one up near Grand Central so we set of to look for it lol! We have found this time that we know our way about so much more and that things are not as far of a walk as we thought. We found walking about that all the places we got taxis to with Chloe were like 5 minute walks, this time we also seemed to be able to read maps a bit better too. We walked up past Empire State which was only a few blocks, then along to have a look at Grand Central (although we couldn’t find the corners where you whisper into opposite ones and you can hear the other person), we saw the Chrysler Building and United Nations and then we took a sort cut along a street and found Chipotle!! it’s a great place, they make the burrito with anything you want in it and its so yummy and spicy! After I was talking about finding Bath and Body Works and then we looked up and we were outside - spooky, so we went inside and washed our hands lol! We walked along past the Waldorf Astoria and then up 5th Avenue to Rockefeller Centre and along to Times Square where I got 2 cool prints of Manhattan and then we walked home, we had done half of NYC in 2 hours!! The famous Aids walk was on this morning and there was a protest for gay marriage so there was people everywhere and lots of the roads were closed.
Next day I was up early for my trip to Woodbury Common, this time on my own, sniff! The bus is like $42 so we decided I would just go alone. So I walked to Port Authority to get the bus, not before I tripped up on Broadway over my flip flop and hurt my foot, it was so sore but it looked ok. The woman at the bus station was a pain, didn’t have change, didn’t take pennies, didn’t tell me the gate and the bus station is huge but I eventually found it. Once I was on the bus I realised that my toe was covered in blood and my toenail was all split, it was gross. I got to Woodbury and sorted my toe and had a wee shop. You get amazing discounts and then you get a booklet with the bus package and you get even more of, best of all 25% in Guess. I just wanted trainers, jeans that actually fitted and some work clothes and I got a few wee bits and bobs and some presents for Craig’s birthday. In the afternoon I was knackered and had a Subway and waited on the bus home, fell asleep on it and then got out of the bus station first time and tried to get a cab but if you are not going where you want they don’t take you so I had to walk a bit then got one back to the hotel where Craig had watched TV and got his new hoodie. We went to Chipotles for dinner again and then this time I had a burrito bowl which was good as I normally just eat out of the tortilla and then we went back and relaxed in our room.
Next day I wasn’t feeling that great and our money was running out so we decided to take a walk up to Central Park and attempt to find Strawberry Fields again, so we walked 50 blocks to Central Park and saw Columbus Circle and then had a walk through the park and found the Imagine memorial and we had been so close last time too! We got the last of our souvenirs and presents and I had to by knickers as there was no laundry lol! We headed back to the hotel and then went out and had Indian for dinner, the Little India bit was really near us and the restaurant was so good, I love Indian!! After we got a massive litre of Listerine for like £4 and headed back to pack!
Next day we got up and ready and checked out at 12pm and left our bags in storage at the hotel. This time we decided to walk Downtown and walked right down past the cast iron building, through Washington Square Park which was really nice, through Soho, China Town, along Canal Street which seemed really cool with lots of good stuff to buy, you always seem to need more money here lol, then down through the financial and court buildings and finally onto the Brooklyn Bridge. It was really cool and had great views of Manhattan but it had been a long walk and was hot the last few days so we headed back. We had lunch at Wendy’s, it was a good burger then we sat in Union Square where there was some really random people so we moved on and sat in Madison Square Gardens and got some sunshine on our skin before we headed back to not so sunny Scotland! We went back to the hotel got our bags (we had t get an extra wee bag for our stuff lol) and the airport shuttle picked us up and took us to Newark. At the airport we watched the planes take off and then immediately turn as the airspace is so tight and busy which looked so scary and scared us when we took off to Lima lol! People were so chatty here, we ended up talking to a couple from Bellshill and ripping the Scot guy who was the “always one” that has to moan and embarrass fellow Scots in a queue lol! The flight was actually ok and I loved watching all the lights as we took off although all the turning noises were a bit scary and there was a bit of turbulence but Craig was stoned again and I watched Friends then slept for a couple of hours and then we came over Ireland and I could see Scotland and then we landed at Edinburgh and we were home!!
My Dad and Chloe were there to meet us but they were busy looking at all “the sights” coming off the plane lol! It was lovely to be reunited but not too emotional since we saw them about 9 weeks ago. Dad took us to Arnold Clark to pick up our hire car and we had a cuppa at Dads while Craig filled in his job form for his work then we went and picked up Craig’s sister who again didn’t know we were home and went down to his mum’s work to surprise her as well. We walked in and she was at her till and when she saw I’m she was like “Aww Craig, my son” and started greetin’ a bit, it was sweet. We drove to Craig’s work and dropped in his forms and he spoke to his boss and then it was back to drop off Kelly and then down to my Granma’s who I hadn’t spoke to in 2 months as every time I called she was out gallivanting so it was lovely to see her. We had a couple of bowls of soup, how lovely it is knowing soup at J’s is back on the menu lol! We had some flans and salad and then Andrew came down and I gave them their Christmas presents, my boxes came from Oz the day after I left t go away again, typical lol! After a while Craig and I were really tired so we went and dropped Chloe off, picked up all our bags and some of my other stuff and headed to Emma and Huntly’s, our new home! It was lovely to see them and the room is great, they have cleared it al out and managed to get us a bed and some furniture and stuff and it is so much bigger than it looked before. We watched Hollyoaks and then I spoke to my Aunty Betty on the phone and then fell asleep in front of the TV so we went to bed.
On Friday we got up and picked up Kelly and her two dogs and then went and got Kirsty and drove down to Yellowcraig’s beach. It was a lovely sunny day and good to have a walk on the beach and have a good chat. We drove back and got a chippie in Port Seton but were quite gutted at the fact there was no chippie sauce but drove along to the grassy bit by the power station and ate our dinner sitting my the sea, it was lovely! Then we drove back and dropped Craig at Gary’s and Kelly off then picked up Chloe and went to Morrison’s for some alcohol and dropped Kirsty and back to the flat to try and find some clothes. You should have seen the state of the room, I just tipped out all my stuff and what is so bad is that I only have like a quarter of my clothes here and that is already far too much for the space, well for any space lol! After we went to Dad’s with Kirsty and sat out the back and had a drink and then some food and then lots more drink lol, Chloe’s boyfriend came and it must have been so embarrassing watching us all sing and dance round the living room lol! Eventually I felt a bit too drunk and had to go to be so said I was going to the toilet and went to sleep in Chloe’s be lol! I woke up at some point in the night and had to go and throw up, I am such a lightweight, I only had like 9 drinks, it must be because i have not drank a lot lately.
The next day I lay in Chloe’s bed all morning and Craig came down as he had stayed at Gary’s then we went to Craig’s sister’s and had Chinese then went back to the flat. We had a shower as we were still grossly in yesterday’s clothes and watched Britain’s Got Talent and Lee Evans and then went to bed.
On Sunday we got up and went to Craigleith for garden stones for my Dad and some things for my Grandad and then drove don to Galashiels to see my Grandad in the nursing home. He was ok and the home was quite nice, we took him out for a walk in his wheelchair and he moaned that Craig was not as good a driver as the person the week before lol! We had a wee chat and then drove back home and went to a Barbie at Dawn’s which was good, lots of yummy food as usual lol! We took Natalie up the road and got some food in Asda and by now it was feeling like we had not even been away lol! We got back and watch Susan Boyle get through and went to bed!
Yesterday we got up and got the shelf for the car from Kirsty and took the stones to Dad and then dropped the car off and got the bus to town and Craig dropped his forms of acceptance off at his work and I went home and made the long awaited fry up with chippie sauce lol! We then spent the afternoon sorting our room, I have far too many clothes but its not too bad we have managed to get most of the stuff away. Huntly came and got us and we picked up Emma at work and got Natalie then went to the carvery at Ratho, its amazing, £3.50! At night we race home for Hollyoaks lol!
Today we made sure we had everything done so we could relax so we got up late and then had breakfast and watched Goodfellas which we had been looking forward for ages! Then had my Hoops and Quavers and watched Jeremy Kyle lol! We have just had our dinner and are just relaxing tonight.
Craig goes back to work tomorrow and I will be job searching and sorting out all the aftermath of our trip which I am not really looking forward to as there doesn’t seem to be many jobs and I think I may have to take a drop in salary but something is better than noting I suppose.
So this is the last blog but I will pop on the Engagement Party photos in a couple of weeks. We hope any of you still actually standing enjoyed reading our blogs as much as we enjoyed making them. We have had an amazing time and cant believe the amount of things we have seen and experienced in the last year although it was a lot harder than we imagined it would be and a lot more expensive, if you are planning on going away do as they say and work out your budget and double it as that actually is what you need lol! We are quite happy to be home and are looking forward to saving up for our own house and of course I am looking forward to all the planning and lists I can do for the wedding lol! It is lovely to be back amongst normal food and of course our family and friends.
We thought we would do a list of our best and worst’s to round off the blogs;
Best Country - USA
Best City - New York, Las Vegas
Best Experiences - Trek America, Volunteering, when people came to visit us, border crossings, skydiving, safaris
Best food - Chipotle burritos
Worst Country - Bolivia
Worst City - Puno
Worst Experiences - potential rabies dog bite, street kids, constant bank errors
Worst Food - soup with half an egg and a chicken leg lol
Best bit of the year, not travelling - walking into Chloe’s party and surprising everyone - classic!
Well hope you all enjoyed reading!
Lots of Love
Eva and Craig xxx
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