Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Up at a reasonable time for a final packup and cleanup. The basement apartment we stayed in was magic - we just needed to put it back in order (Beds everywhere). We lugged all the suitcases to the street (Chilly but not icy) and chatted to our host until the Taxi turned up. We had warned them about the volume of luggage - and the cavernouse Suburban car took it with ease. Those things are huge - three rows of seats and still plenty of space for luggage.
Our last ride through Washington took us along Embassy Row where all the impressive buildings were lined up with flags out the front.....and then there was the Australian one. Hmm. Functional? Then off to Union station to drag the cases around the platform. No stairs this time so we got off easy. Sarah and I tried to make a desparate dash for some booze, but we were foiled when the boarding call came in early.
We've found alchohol to be - Roghly the same as Perth in New York. Occasional things are cheaper. In Florida and California it is ridiculously cheap. Our yardstick is Smirnoff Vodka which is about $30 for 750 ml. Cheapest we found was $22 for 1750ml. The problem is carrying it..... Sarah and I made a dash for a liquor shop near the station, but never made it.
The train ride was pleasant, 3 hours long, plenty of space and similar country to what we saw on our Niagara trip. After walking from Penn to our new apartment, we waitied a short while for the keys to arrive. It was very chilly (about 0 + wind) but we were hot from our walk. The apartment was right near the Empire State Building. Sadly the apartment was up a few creaky flights of stairs so we lugged the lot up, knowing that we'd have to drag it down in the morning. As soon as wer were inside (The apartment is the guys own, so he just moved out for the night). Creaky, dodgy wiring/bathroon, but a spacious main room (With a baby grand piano!) and one bedroom. We didn't care - somewhere for the bags and somewhere to sleep.
Off to the nearby shops. The girls did H&M (Fashion), Macys (Worlds largest department store) and Victorias Secret. I found a place that sold tools, so at least had a short period of happiness! After exhausting the last dregs of the girls money, we headed to a feast at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square and came away with the obligatory tourist glasses. They had some great memorabilia there - the Beatles and many guitar greats amongst them (Eric Clapton and Slashs's guitars etc)
Home about midnight, a bit of pre-packing and fairly sudden snoozing!
- comments