on Nov 7th, 2006
Start Spreading The News…
…I’m blogging today…
…I’m gonna tell you all about…
…New York… New York…
…
…now:
Hello! Yes! I’m blogging! (So stop moaning in the comments! :-) )
Well, what a couple of days. It’s been very surreal!
Starting at 4am yesterday did indeed suck, but after a nice Wetherspoons breakfast in Heathrow Airport with my family I was feeling a bit more alive (of course, the drink I had to wake me up (a caffine free Sprite) didn’t *quite* do what I was hoping it to…).
Following a rather emotional farewell with the folks (it rather sunk in on saying goodbye to them that I was really going away for a year) I made it through security with surprising speed and easiness and managed to get a pint in before heading off onto the plane.
The plane journey was good actually, with nice comfy seats (I was on an isle seat with two free seats to my left, which was goodness), a bump-free ride and Talledega Nights, Pirates 2 and 3 rather awesome (and in some cases piss-myself-laughing funny) Radio Vobble shows to keep me company.
Once at the hostel (via a 50 minute taxi ride (which was a lot less insane/scary as I was expecting – I guess my trip to Rome a few years ago means no driving is scary anymore…)) I unpacked and then trundled for a walk to Central Park – wandering around the reservoir (yep, Central Park has a reservoir) I watched the sunset over the New York horizon, which was truly lovely (beats Pitsea Oil Refinery by sunset – who’d’ve thought it?):
After a nice walk around there I trundled back to the hostel (via Subway, ho yes (old habits die hard)) and crashed out in front of the telly.
I was fast asleep by 7:30pm (12:30am UK time).
Today, after a 13 hour sleep I grabbed some food from the hostel kitchen (free food for the win) and started my epic trek to the south of the island.
94th street to south of Wall Street in 3 hours, via a Virgin Megastore and Tower Records (both stores I went in and browsed before realising I have no CD player or DVD player for the next year) and, ahem, Maccie Dees.
Amazingly, McD’s portions were about normal… although they were about two-thirds of the price in the UK.
Apparently.
I didn’t eat anything there so I wouldn’t know.
No.
*looks left and right and scarpers*
Anyway, with tired legs I wandered into this lovely Burger King (no food, just using the net cafe)… ready to go up to Grand Central Station, have some Junior’s Cheese Cake on recommendation of Stu B and go up the Empire State building for sunset.
I think I’ll use the subway on the way back :-)
Right, enough typing.
Toodles,
Pat
10 Responses to “Start Spreading The News…”
I’m glad to see that ur allowing Squage to enjoy his holiday. . . .teeheehee!!! The photos are GREAT.
Wankel’s Hardware store is a lovely colour. Why can’t King’s Hardware store look so cool ?
We really are so boring here in little olde England with our paintwork.
We need to “brush up” on our ideas.
I can hardly believe you’re really there! Yet more evidence that America really exists and isn’t just a studio mock-up. No, digital photos can be easily faked so I still don’t believe in America!
Nice one. Good to see you’ve arrived in one piece… although not surprised that certain “eateries” feature heavily in the write-up ;-)
Wankel? he he…
Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to find the biggest plate of food you can possibly imagine, photograph it and then eat it. It can be like the Pizza Hut challenge all over again – the record was 15 slices wasn’t it?
It’s good to see you’re sticking to a healthy diet!
Hello Squage fans!
To answer your comments…
Jacqui – Oh yes – but he’s enjoying today’s rain a bit less.
Dad – let’s just “gloss” over the “matt”er shall we?
Rob – It’s all true! Trust me! I wouldn’t be sitting here in an internet cafe drenched in New York rain, unable to move much because of an enormous Hard Rock Cafe meal last night otherwise…
Grimmers – There’s a Pizza Hut just across from this net cafe actually…
Stoo – Sadly it was actually 23… and Rob nearly beat me (I managed to persuade him not to have the 24th). As mentioned above, there’s a Pizza Hut just across from the net cafe… ;-)
Hope all’s well in sunny England!
Pat
Oh and mum, of course I am! Every meal I’m stuffing my fa… oh, right, you said *healthy*.
Damn.
Was it really 23 slices o pizza? My god, you are my hero!
From your dad’s comments I am starting to understand where the inspiration behind punbelievable came from!
There is no documented proof of ur visit to the Empire State Building at sunset. . . .wdn’t they let u and ur little blue friend in for a gander!!!!!