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Well; we made it in one piece. New York New York. The last few weeks in lovely Rochdale FLEW. The stress of all the last minute organizing and farewells though definately seems worth it now. Had a great send off weekend and it was a big reminder about how much i was going to miss the family and close friends. Yes Kelly i'm on about you. So it was all a bit tough, but i'm here now...
After 3 days im finally over the 'jetlag' and just about finding my barings with this unbelievably huge city. I say jetlag; it was probably just the stupid session we had on the way out here. The session that resulted in Tom nearly wetting his pants on take off - he actually asked to go to the toilet as the front wheel of the plane had just gone airbourne. Priceless. Still, we went on to abuse the free bar.
So it started 'well'. The smug fella with the lisp at check - at manchester commented on the name of our hostel we were origanlly booked in. He must have known something we didn't...! Because after a gruelling day travelling and navigating the rush hour subway systems - we arrived on the streets of Harlem to find a derelict building instead of this hostel. Wasn't particularly funny at the time, but after power walking slash jogging a couple of blocks downtown, we actually managed to have a chuckle about it. You know the nervous kind of laugh. That said, i got my map out and drew a perimeter - i wouldn't be straying any further north of 125st. Im sure someone shouted "cracker" at one point...and it wasn't to be the last time either.
Usually im great with navigating and getting my barings in new places, turns out im not in NYC. Given up with it now and just follow Tom. And for added entertainment - try legging him up as he's walking. One of these days he's going to land on his face - but it'll serve him right for dicking about when im trying to get through a revolving door i guess. The subways are great. Bought a weekly pass for 20 bucks or so and it'll be by far the best-buy of the trip here.
So in 2 and a bit days we've done a lot and it really has been laugh-a-minute stuff!!! Fine form with the banter Thomas. We've covered a fair bit of the city and seen lots of amazing things...
Times Square is just breath taking and we're constantly up and down Broadway - it's like there's no escaping it. We got off at 42nd st for the first time and i must of ploughed into about 50 people within 100 yards. Simply couldn't take my eyes off all the bright lights above. We've had a brief mooch around the Rockerfella and today hopefully heading back for the NVC tour and Top of the Rock viewing platform at sunset - weather and visibilty permitting. And of course, to have a dabble at the ice skating... maybe see how Tom likes a body check or two. Haha. Ground Zero felt a little eery almost. I suppose knowing in the back of your mind what used to be there and what happened could give that feel to it anyway. We spent almost a full day walking the South Manhattan streets. Wall street is just incredible and home to the Stock Exchange and Tiffany's. Girls, it's not actually that exciting inside. But there are some phat rocks on some of those engagement rings. Was tempted to ask if i could try one on for the craic but the lady behind the desk looked a little wooden. We then ventured east to the Brooklyn Bridge to try and snatch a couple of pics. We made the snowman by the way when you see the photos, before moving on to Little Italy and Chinatown. Shredded dried squid and spicy dried grouper tasters went down great after the double bacon cheese burger and hour previous...
The whole place is contantly buzzing and we've tried not to let the bad weather hamper the sightseeing. It snowed for 2 days NON STOP. Resulting in lots of slushy puddles at crossings, wet clothes, Tom moaning about wet feet and the odd snow ball throwing at Tom. I threw one at his face today and told him it was a kid in the park...hahaha. Peach of a shot. Its great having a fellow childishly humoured travel bud. We spent a whole hour in Macy's (Dept. store 2 blocks long) playing on elevators and taking photos of 'normally' innocent looking displays. See pictures Later. We then went on to ride a ferris wheel inside Toys'r'us. The sign clearly said no rocking, would that really stop Tom?
The hostel is typically american sized. Enormous. Up on 103rd st west side. But it's full of french folk! And my francais is pretty merde. As Jean-Pierre later found out. If in doubt...talk about football right!? The room is a 12 bed dorm. Cosy. Don't think coming in lastnight absoloutly blotted and making a racket went down too well. The showers are pretty rank and the hassle of using a swipe card to get through every door in the building does start to grate after a while. BUT...it's all good fun and in the bigger picture, fairly trivial.
The majority of people are so friendly. If we're looking lost 9 times outta 10 we're ppointed back in the right direction. I've learnt that here, small means large and that in a snow storm, you should never walk too close the buildings. Earlier i was a foot away from certain death after an ice block fell from a skyscraper. Safe to say i was a little quiet for the following half hour. My accent turns heads and apparently a "twoilet" is actually pronnounced "bathroom". Give up saying cheers, they simply don't get it. Resorted to saying "Jizz" instead. Anything for a cheap laugh.
Strayed out for the last few nights, won't go into great detail about Toms gaydar. He managed to walk into a gay bar to have a 'look' on thursday and was later taking free pitchers of beer from a bartender further down the block. Always said he was a bit fruity. Im just miffed about the lack of free pitchers...Oh, and then there was Alyssa and her friend. Couple of New Jersey girls that insisted on showing us their sights. The joys of student bars! Friday night we hit Grenwitch and the ominous sounding 'meat packing district'...After stepping off the subway we darted across the road and Tom insisted in piling in this bar for a flier while we got our barings...again. I hung back a little while as he headed for the door before quickly realizing that inside; was a sausage fest! Unlucky son. So back across the road we skipped...again, i let Tom go ahead first. And again, he opened the door to find two mincers getting their freaks' on at the bar. So yes...we'd established that we were actually a couple of blocks lower than we intended to be. Eventually we found an Irish Bar and set about drinking away the embarassment of the last hour. A toilet-que-conversation with a chirpy cockney fella named Paul soon led to the introduction of the lovely Morgan and Alice and their other 4 friends whose names i cannot for the life of me remember. A great night followed, hence falling asleep on the 5am sub ride home. Oops.
So overall, first impressions are great...and there's even more to come. Canni wait like. I'll keep you all posted very soon...then it's Viva Las Vegas!!
- comments
pete your hostel isnt by any chance between a house and a chapel, chapel house chapel housechapel house x