New York City Part one - 10th June to 12th June

The bus was crammed, immigration was as hard faced and cold hearted as ever and lack of sleep was inevitable, but all this did not matter, I was in New York. I left the bus with a young Chinese nurse, who had been good company for much of the journey, and we headed off our separate ways. I took a stroll into the Greyhound office to find out where I needed to be in a few days time for the journey to Washington before setting off to tackle the subway. The choice of tickets was the first challenge followed by which line to take. The subway did not seem as user friendly as some I'd used but that may have been due my weary eyes. I hopped on to the first train that stopped and found myself heading across Manhattan towards Lexington Avenue. Without to much hesitation I jumped off and took the street level approach. To get my bearings I headed into the nearest coffee house to grab some breakfast. I sat eating, spilling my coffee in excitement, as I watched New Yorkers go about their daily routine. On the corner the homeless handed out papers and suited workers hurried across the street with yellow cabs beeping at every opportunity, the faced pace city of New York was clear to see. After enjoying a coffee and a banana I took a walk towards Central Park, the weather was damp and murky so I was looking for an indoor activity for the day. As I entered the park, New Yorkers back garden, I watched joggers warm up around the reservoir and dog walkers stream through in their numbers. After about 15 minutes of walking I came through the other side, just as Ben Stiller had done in the 'Night in the Museum' and there in front of me was The American Museum of Natural History. I jogged up the steps and the guard ordered me to a halt and told me to return at ten but in anticipation I sat down on the steps to watch as the city raged.

As ten o'clock arrived the numbers of people who had arrived almost became uncontrollable but luckily I was near the front and could actually see Rexy through the revolving doors of the museum waiting to welcome us in. After paying for entry fee the day had begun and I felt like I was in a movie set, although that's not hard in New York. As I entered the endless corridors I admired display after display ranging from African animals to Asian legends. The place had a bubbly feel to it with the displays looking life like as their eyes followed you around the hall ways. After tussling my way through endless crowds of school children I headed down to the first floor where the rooms were large and exotic. I walked through the room of Bio Diversity and the Roosevelt Memorial Hall which gave me a glance into American History. As time wore on my timed entry ticket to the Ross Space Centre approached and after jogging up and down the stairs looking for the entrance I found it and entered the dome which was shaped like a planet. I took my seat, along with about 200 other people, and waited for the show to start. Above us the roof turned into the movie screen and we were shot through space and time as the theory of the big bang was played to us. The graphics were amazing and I felt weightless in my seat watching in ore at the way in which today's technology was used to portray the story. After being dropped back to earth I headed out for a quick bite to eat before making my way up to the third floor of the museum where I visited the evolution of man and was introduced to the famous Easter island statue, "Dum Dum". As I had no 'gum gum' I could not introduce myself properly although that was mainly due to the exhibition being closed but the view from the hallway was as good as any. With time getting on I finished my museum tour on the fourth floor where dinosaurs stand millions of years after they were extinct. Here the hallway walked me through the periods of time from when life evolved and adapted to earth from the beginning of time to where we are today. The museum had been everything I had hoped for and I hoped that New York would continue this way. As I exited I jumped for a photo in front of Rexy before heading out the revolving doors to walk the sidewalks paved with street vendours and pedestrians.

I caught the subway down 20 blocks to head for my hostel which was located just off 59th Street, Columbus Street. As the pedestrian lights turned green and the taxis screeched to a halt I crossed the road to 60th West and started looking for the doorway to my home for 4 nights. After a couple of blocks I spotted it, although it looked more like a fire escape, however once inside the place was much more spacious than it first looked. Unable to check in straight away I headed to the 2nd floor where I met a few other travellers and put my feet up to rest as the afternoon was getting away from me. Once checked in I headed to the supermarket to get a couple of supplies for the days ahead before spending the evening with a lad from London and a lad from Australia watching the basketball playoff before getting an early night ready for the days ahead of exploring.

The next morning the alarm went off around 7am and after a brief shower I wasted no time in getting myself out on to the streets of New York. After following the bread crumbs back to the subway station I watched as the rats of the city scurried around the train tracks shrieking at one another as they went. In the distance the rumble of trains could be heard from track to track and as a sub pulled in I hopped on and started to make the most of my weekly pass. However, as in NewZealand my directions were not the best so I managed to send myself across town instead of Downtown. Taking the street approach once more I came up for air at 7th Avenue. I started walking west and spotted the Grand Army Plaza with its iconic statue figure outside and next door one of the many swanky hotels of New York which had the red carpet rolled out for its guests. Across the street a glass cube rose from the ground and I could see it represented the future of the computing industry, The Apple Store. I tackled the New York pdestrian crossing once more, entered the cube and headed down stairs to marvel at the unaffordable items of the present day but what I would hopefully own in the future. I continued on my way but as the rain started to fall once more I dived into the Disney Store where I was greeted with a round of applause, now I know Americans clap everything but seriously… As I stepped back in time to my childhood I gazed around listening to the Disney theme tune with Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse looking over me . After the brief shower passed I left the store and made my way down town, now it was just me and my legs, they would carry me the next few days, through the blocks that make up Manhattan.

I followed my senses and it was not long before I arrived at Times Square where the bright lights, huge billboards, hoards of people and the sea of yellow cabs did not disappoint. Street vendours hollowed out trying to outdo each other, cameras flashed at every angle while street performers entertained passersby with loud music and dancing. Even the Mc Donald's looked glitzier than the Oscars. I slowly made my way to vantage points, joining the photo blitz, and absorbing my surroundings as people piled down Broadway watched all the way and shown on a giant screen above the M & M store. After eventually making my way to the bottom end of the square I took a right back towards the Port Authority where I came across Ripley's and believe it or not I entered at student price!

Inside I measured myself up against the world's tallest man and checked in with the worlds ugliest, but most likable, woman. I then headed up the stairs through the secret door hidden by a bookcase and then slowly walked around joining in with the many interactive displays and strange but true tales from around the world. As I rested for a minute on a couch a stags head turned down and looked at me while the Indian sitting next to me did not flinch. I rose back to my feet and waited at the door for two people to take a photograph although much to my embarrassment I realised they were two wax figures that had a sensor on a camera. I even apologised the first time I tried passing them thinking I had got in their way as passersby laughed at my blondness. Downstairs there were more of the same, strange but true items and tales that Mr. Ripley had collected over the years, including the shrunken heads of tribe's enemies… As I headed for the exit I passed through a revolving tunnel that turned my head inside out before watching people try to roll their tongue through a double sided mirror, "I must have looked a prat when I attempted it." On leaving the exhibition I headed across the street to a salad bar for lunch and from there I could see the New York Times building where no doubt journalists were working hard to cover stories from around the world.

After lunch I made my way back across town where I stumbled across the New York City Library. After taking a few snaps and reminiscing of the movie 'The Day after Tomorrow' I headed inside to find a grand hallway that was layered with monuments and carvings. I headed up the marble stairs, treading quietly as I walked past the heads of America, took a couple more snaps of the magnificant entrance as seen from the balcony and entered the library archives. The rows of books were endless and the grandness of the complex really hit home as I looked up to the ceiling which was covered by a master piece of art and creativity. Security was tight and my bag was inspected at every check point as I strolled through the corridors marveling at the old historic site before exiting back into downtown Manhattan. I crossed the road once more, now becoming a true New Yorker dodging traffic as it weaved around the scattering of taxis collecting fares in the middle lanes. I walked towards the river that connected Manhattan to Brooklyn and came across Grand Central Station. The name says it all about the iconic place as the doors opened onto a hall of marble greatness. I made my way to the top of the stairs overlooking daily commuters going about their lives and took photos of a huge American flag that dangled tenderly from the roof top. Leaving the cream walls of Grand Central I continued on my route towards the river where I passed and entered the Chrysler Building for a brief look before reaching the office building of the UN. All feelings aside the building was pretty drab and I would assume on the inside the chairs are just as drab but comfortable for those having to do their 9 - 5 shifts. Walking back towards downtown along the river front the sun started to beam through the clouds heating up the city in a matter of minutes.

Now back in midtown Manhattan I made my way to one of the more famous buildings in the city, 'The Empire State Building' where I just stood and looked up in wonder at the size of the place. After a few photos and a rest next to a New Yorkers on the street benches I continued on my marathon of a journey to Madison Square Park, made famous by the triangular building that splits the road in two. One of the unusual aspects of this park is that and area is cordoned off specifically for dog owners where they can let their dogs off the leash. I walked on to Union Square Park where on arrival I discovered the place was not as lively as Times Square but had its own sort of attraction. The square was surrounded by department stores, street artists and trolleys of cold drinks. I walked through the centre of the park calling in Whole Foods for a drink and supplies and then headed to the Subway to hitch a ride back up to 59th Street.

After tackling the underground network again I arrived back at the hostel to cook dinner and re charge my batteries before heading straight back into the thick of the action in Times Square. Having been Canadianfied by the Hockey I was aware that tonight was game 7, the final of the Stanley Cup and I was not going to miss it. I entered the ESPN zone bar and two ladies from Detroit asked who I was backing. I told them Pittsburgh and they jeered but then wound back and introduced themselves, "I must have a way with the older wome!!". After grabbing a drink on the third floor I made my way down to the 2nd and pick my spot in front of two giant screens in anticipation of the game. The place was packed and after the first period I jumped straight into the thick of it at the centre of the bar with a group of fans from Pittsburgh. A typical New Yorker introduced himself, although his mannerisms portrayed a white boy in Harlem as he 'got down with the lingo'. The guys from Pittsburgh were more than accommodating as they sang songs, drank beer and had a party. As the final horn sounded half the bar erupted with cheers as Pittsburgh had won. Dancing, hugging and cheering erupted and I was pulled into the action as I watched the Stanley cup lifted above Crosby's head. Making my way out onto Times Square the night lights of the place shone even brighter as the crowds marveled in the evening's entertainment. Not long after I called it a day and headed for the subway where I managed to ride up to 50th before walking the rest of the way. The New York journey had just begun and after a 17hour stint on the streets of Manhattan I wondered what the next few days would bring, and if I would be standing at the end.