Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Stop 7 - New York
Arriving in New York after my 4 hour train journey and I will admit I was a bit dubious about what to expect, Id heard mixed reviews....but here it goes "big deep breath" and lets tackle NYC!
I hopped on the Subway (get me...subway haha) and headed for 103rd street....OMG was that subway cart hot....I was like r u messin.,..I said to this woman "are they always this hot" to which she replied "No, but there is always 1 hot cart on each subway"/......oh yes youve guessed it, I got on it!! After losing about a stone in sweat myself an my case struggle off...and to my surprise a man ran over and out of the blue picked my case up and carried it up the steps.....1st thing in NYC...I love it already (now if this would of happened at home, I would of though they wanted to nick it haha)
Arriving at hostel, checking in and needing a shower.....and I am sure by now you have guessed what I then went and done....YES BIG GOLD STAR to YOU...I went food shopping and walked around the hostel (its pretty big) and just got familiar...early night for me as tomorrow is my first day of exploring....hostel is amazing (see pics) and already the staff are so friendly and nice...very impressed so far
I will not apologise in advance for this blog of NYC as I was here for 12 days and it will be pretty long, lets be honest it accompanies nearly 700 photos...I make no apologies from here on about ur loss of hours of ur life....so lets break it down into days hey (not hours and minutes, I havnt got that much time) and write day by day what happened.....I like to be organised, as Im sure you know....anyways enough of the small talk...lets go!!!
Day 1: Plan was to run....but I was up all night being sick boooo....god knows what brought that on and my tummy felt awful so I left it and went for brekkie (Oatmeal...thats what we call it here is New Yorkians haha.....) and then off I go onto the Subway to start my adventure....I had bought a 72 hour hop-on hop-off bus pass before I came away (which also came with 3 passes/lunch vouchers for my stay) so I went to pick them up...I got off at 50th Station....just up from Times Square and bang in the middle of Broadway and OMG.....I was blown away, Ive seen piccies of this area from people before, but it really is true its not until you are here that it hits you...IM IN NEW YORK BABY!!!!.....I went around on the tour bus....full leg and seen stuff from the bus and took a mental note of things I wanted to see and explore tomorrow in full. I then went "Top of the Rock" and OMG what an experience.....the views from here where just unreal.....lots of piccies there!! I was then feelin a little better and also a little hungry so I went to a lovely little place in the Rock.....I then of course had to make 1 of my first stops Dakota Building and Strawberry Fields...now I will say this was NOT my plan for today....because this morning I was sporting my Abbey Rd Beatles Vest....yes I looked like a complete Superfan, I felt like I should of thrown a tantrum on the "Imagine" sign and sobbed for John!!.....I then walked 35 blocks back to my hostel....and to top off my first day there was Live Music on the ground of the hostel and I got to go for FREE....it was such a great day, if this is a sign of things to come...NYC is going to rock my world! (OMG only day 1....this is guna be a long 1)
Day 2: Went for a run today....how amazing is it that I got to run in Central Park and just like Pheobe ;-) haha I hopped back on the bus tour and got off to explore Greenwich Village (and maybe because it was a Sunday but I will be honest I wasnt that impressed...shocked really, maybe I need to go on another day/time to see the attraction?...I then went to SoHo (which actually stands for South Housten and NoHo is North Housten....OMG this Blog is like a educational lesson for FREE...Thank me in Haribos very kindly haha)..Soho is such a lovely little area, the shops are all quirky and lots of little boutiques.....and from here I went to ChinaTown....now I knew it was big and would probably be busy...but OMG, it was mental!! Now I dont wanna sound cliche here,....or slightly mental BUT I have never seen so many chinese people in my life, seriously I know its called China Town but haha....it was crazy, but this is the place to be for a bargain, u can barter them down on most stuff and there is so many stalls/food places and shops...it was an experience I will tell u that!!! Loved it though, so much culture and so much going on, yeh kinda different from ours at home haha....this also led onto Little Italy (and Little it is)....I feel sorry for Little Italy....cos its just this little street off china town with a few Italian Restaurants (obviously) but then chinese stalls outside...Poor Little Little Italy.....I then went in search of Magnolias Bakery....orders from back home and the promise I wouldnt be disappointed...and I wasnt!!! What a shop, the cakes are unreal and I treated myself to a lovely piece of Lemon Cake...OMG taste sensation (in the voice of Peter Kay when describing Garlic Bread on his Bolton Tour....by the way if u havnt seen this u will NOT get the pun)
Day 3: Last day of the bus tour for me....and I have been making the most of it (well you have to dont ya....haha) today I seen some more of the Upper East Side, through into Harlem and then when over and done a tour of Brooklyn....which was very interesting....and I will plan top go back on another day and actually see some more of Brooklyn. The views as we went over the Manhatten Bridge where amazing........skyline of New York City!.......After doing these 2 tours, I headed over to the 9/11 Memorial picked up some tickets and then waited about 30mins to get in....as you walk through and past the security, there are tons of pictures on the walls showing all scenes from when it happened and then as you actually enter the 9/11 site....it literally takes your breath away......its North and South Pool....the 2 sites were the twin towers where.....and the names of all the people engraved and slow flowing water.......its a very surreal experience and quite humbling.....its one of them "do I take piccies or not" but its hard not to resist....its caputuing a moment (probably the most serious my blog will ever get)....it really brings life into perspective! After you leave the site....you pass through a museum/shop and there they have a video playing of survivors and police/firemen/medical...and I'll be honest in the end I had to walk out cos I could feel my eyes welling up - this is probably an experience I will never forget and it doesnt even come close to what all those people and their families felt on this day! I also got to see Times Square today....oh god is this 1 mental place, I cant imagine it ever to be quiet, so many extrovert people on the streets and so much happening, you really just dont know where to look.
Day 4: I think this day has to go down as 1 of the BEST days I had in NYC......I was a complete kid all day and had so much fun...all on my little lonesome!! I headed for 59th street (with my weekly metro card in hand....see Im proper New Yorker now)...my first stop was FAO Schwarz, yes the shop from BIG (if you are my age/older you know what I am talking about)....I walked in and was like OMG...mouth hit the floor and I was like those kids when they go into the Willy Wonka Factory (Obv the original version....cant bare the crappy new 1).....its unbelievable and just like what u see in the films....I was running around and picking stuff up and so amazed....I stuffed my basket with Wonka Sweeties...yummmy treats for me....and then I made my way to...YES you have guessed it, the BIG PIANO!!!! and its FREE to have a go....I ran on kicked off my shoes and tickled those ivories....I had so much fun and wanted to stay there all day, got my photo taken before too and I bought it, its such a cheesey thing to do, but its sooo me ;-) what a fab shop...after this I rand over the "The Plaza" - the hotel from Home Alone 2 - Lost in NY......I went inside and it was like WOW.....just like in the film, shame about all the construction outside.....I then strutted (yes u read right...) down 5th Avenue (cos I am assuming thats how u do it haha) popped in the Lindt shop and a few others and then stopped for lunch (for one) in Planet Hollywood....it was YUMMY and one of my first treats.....The evening was fab too...I went out with 2 of my roomies (love that word...roomie....haha how cool) and we experienced Times Square at night....and all I can say is WOW!!! and I swear down if u didnt look at the sky, you would of sworn it was daytime.....so bright and overwhelming but soooo good!! Loved experiencing it of an night....still as busy and crazy of a daytime, people dressed up as Elmo (please how the frigg do they cope in this heat.....and the smell VOM) to people hardly dressed and painted pink...dont ask haha!...found some nasty bites on my leg....yes Ive been bitten quite a bit on my travels bu these had turned to blisters...eekk Im scared!
Day 5: Woke up this morning and my bites had gone worse and 3 of them had turned into blisters....and these are not your normal "Ive been the gym" blisters....these where VILE and I am gutted (well I think I am) that I never took a pic of them...because its hard to explain them! I was getting a bit concerned....as it could be an infection so I popped the local Pharmacy...hoping they would tell me its ok...but she advised the medical centre...so off I went sweating and worrying to the Emergency Medical Centre......now of course I have insurance (Im not stupid) but you have to initially pay out...so $125 later I got to see the doctor.....turns out they needed draining, as they could be infected/reaction to whatever bit me...so they got drained and I was placed on anti biotics...3x a day for a week....to say I was scared is an understatement!!! Let me tell you this, the doctor who looked after me was just the best man ever, you know when u see doctors on movies and they are always dead cute and like placid and caring...in their white coats, this is just what he was like....made me feel at ease.....I then went off the Chemist to pick up my prescription, of course I treated myself to some sweets, you know for medicinal reasons" I'll be honest after this ordeal all I wanted to do was go back to the hostel and curl up in a ball...But Im in New York....noooooo I need to embrace it. So off I went to Grand Central Station, its a must see of course and I reckon the majority of people actually in the station where there just to take pictures, not actually to go anywhere, I mean as if ya would take pictures in Lime Street...LOL imagine! From here I made my way to Staten Island Ferry...(FREE wowsers) and when there and back and got some amazing piccies of Statue of Liberty, didnt fancy doing the Statue Tour...I mean just walk round the statue and leave? Ive got better things to do thanks!......I felt so drained, I had an early night! What a day....oooo funny cant believe I forgot to tell ya's this...I had my John Lennon vest on today and there was this man on the subway and he commented on it and then we got talking and I mentioned I was from Liverpool and I am not messin u would of thought I was made of diamonds....he was obsessed, proper embarrasing for his daughter.....so funny! I think he thought I lived next to Paul or John haha....
Day 6: Woke up this morning to a dull day, storms and rain! But maybe this was a blessing as I need a rest morning....and after yesterday and these antiobiotics are knocking me out an I feel sick, so I spent the morning curled up on the sofa with a book....ahhh and then it brightened up so I was like "right Im going out" but took my pac-a-mac (dont ya love these things, a mac that fits into a pocket...genius)......thought Id explore Macys and see what all the fuss is about, NEVER again ahah! This has got to be the worst layed out shop I have ever been in, they even give u a map when u go in, seriously...Im not doin orienteering, all I wanna do is look around.....it was an experience I will never do again, most over-rated shop ever! I rushed all the way to the 8th floor as it was advertised on the map as "Santaland"...only to get there and find out that Santa bloody comes back in November....Dear Mr Macy...please do not advertise this stuff :( if its not true...I got out of Macys as fast as I could...only to be met with rain, but fear not I had my Mac ;-) haha...I then found shelter in the Rockefeller centre and had some lunch and headed over to the NBC Store...this shop sells all merchandise from the american TV stuff like Friends...and OMG Saved By the Bell (remember that)....."its alright cos Im saved by the belllllll"......hilarious, Bayside High!!!...I then rushed back to the Hostel to get out of this vile storm/rain and ridiciously warm climate.....!! And dont laugh but I found out you can youtube Corrie episodes...so I spent a few hours that night watching catch up Corrie...hahah HILARIOUS, when in New York and that....
Day 7: Finally felt ok today....and managed a run and interval session (these antiobiotics and bites have left me feeling not 100% these last few days)...felt so good after doing this and ready to take on the day. I headed to Chelsea Market.....and had a mooch round and then up to the Highline Park....which is actually a park that is made from an old railway track.....up high above the streets and it was so lovley and lots of little pieces of art and stalls.....I sat here for a while and had some lunch in the sunshine...bliss!! I then braved Chinatown again....haha, had a little mooch around and it was just as busy as I remembered!! They have all stalls selling bags, watches, sunglasses, scarves and they are all bartering to get you there......Im surprised they havnt all had a fight its so funny!!! I then walked through Central Park and seen all the amazing things it has to offer (which by the way took me about 3 hrs) I seen the Alice in Wonderland Statue...the famous "Mall" thats in all the films, words (and even the pictures dont do it justice) of how beautiful and amazing this park is...it has a Zoo, Concerts, Baseball tracks (I know they are not called tracks but my brain isnt working haha)...so many amazing places to sit and just watch the world go by......tell ya what we dont have parks like this at home....just about get a pond...which is filled with trollies haha!! I love all the different cultures and people you see in this park, everyone just living for today and not having a care in the world!!
Day 8: Today I decided to take a trip to Brooklyn Flea Market....some of the trains where off cos of work so I got off and asked the man at the subway station...BIG MISTAKE (done in a Pretty Woman Style)....Ive never met someone so rude an unhelpful ever.....I was so angry an upset I took his number down and reported him, sounds extreme I know...but for those of you who know me, I dont pity fools....if someone is rude to me they are going to know about it.....jeeeez! After I calmed down and carried on smiling off I went, this market had so much to offer....from food to antiques, such a lovely place and the sun was shining so it made it even better.....I had a little walk around and then explored Brooklyn a little, really nice place with lots going on. I then went to the Lincoln Centre and Julliard School.....lots of performances held here and lovely piece of grass (I know how bloody weird that sounds...Jen its just grass, but I had no other way to explain, u can see on the pics) and I sat there for a while, read a book, peopled watched and just had a bit of a day of reflection....I should never be left alone with me thoughts...really its a bad combo....so after this I got a grip and went to a shop called Century 21...WOW its like the best ever so much choice but even better its so cheap....so I treated myself to some new training gear...why not hey ;-) I needed something to cheer me up after my thoughts had ran away with themselves
Day 9: Rucksack-CHECK, Camera-CHECK, Packed Lunch-CHECK! I trotted (ay? Im not a pig......) off to meet my tour....I was doing the Movie/TV Film set tour today....it was 3 hours and we went past all the places and our guide was telling us what was filmed etc...but the highlight by far was going to the Friends Building.....(which let me tell u looks a lot bigger on TV......camera tricks apparently) but it was great...was like a proper super fan haha!! LOVE FRIENDS!! I then walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and it was a beautiful day for it, the views as you walked across are amazing....when I got to Brooklyn I went and wlaked along the waterfront.....and it was soooo good!! Views of Manhatten and the Bridges and just a lot going on (VMA's where getting set up as well...didnt know this at the time like).....there was another little Flea Market so I had a nose there....bought a Pretzel...was like the size of my head haha and then made my way across the Bridge back to Manahtten. I then went and found "The Dice"....its on my pics, its in the financial district and since I first seen it I was like "I need to get my pic too try to push/hold it up"...was like a life ambition haha...so off I went and asked some random man to take my pic *LOON ALERT*....but ya know when ya gotta do something ya gotta do it. Last Day taking my Antiobiotics too....soo glad!!!
Day 10: Today I took a walk to Harlem, a quirky little neighbourhood.....although I think I walked a bit too far into Harlem (ya know the bit where there is NO tourists).....a bit too gangsta for me...if you get my drift haha......Im not hip enough lol!!! I had my packed lunch already so Freddie and I went and sat in Riverside Park, overlooking the Hudson River and had some lunch and a little chill with my book....was nice to have a sort of relaxed day and watch the world go by and see this part of where I was staying.....I took a little walk around the park and then headed back the Hostel.......its my 2nd to last day so needed to start to chill myself out...its been 6 weeks of non stop exploring.
Day 11: LAST FULL DAY HERE :-( waaaaaaaaaa. I had decided to dedicate today to "CHILL AND RELAX" over the last 6 weeks, I have been up every day around 630/7am most mornings to train and then head out after brekkie to explore for the whole day...walking for miles so I thought I best have a chill day before I start to travel home.....otherwise I will need a break ahah!! I first though took myself off to the Emergency Medical Center that I was at last week to Thank the Doctor who looked after me, he was very overwhelmed but I feel people deserve recognition....after this I had a lovely protein Smoothie (Muscle Power haha) and then went to central park for the afternoon and literally lay in the sun...relaxing, reflecting, taking it all in and watching the world go by.....and I can tell you now my Body was thanking me for it!!! Just the perfect way to end my trip....in Central Park!!! Packing was at the back of my mind of course, the task we all dread, but I surprised and it was all done with no tears!!!....Yeh ok maybe the last day has been boring but hey what more do you want....Ive given you my best stuff here.
LAST DAY IN USA!!!!!
So here I am sat waiting for my shuttlebus to pick me up to go to JFK to start my journey home....mixed emotions and dont really wanna think about it yet!!!
Im packed, checked out and have some food to scoff before I get there........
I'll see you back in Blighty
Jen x
- comments