Today I checked out of my hostel, went to Union Sq and then came back.
No I did a bit more stuff in between but not much... it's been a quiet day.
I sent a package home to Mum, went to the supermarket to get snacks and also paid for the hostel.
Here, they charge for ATM withdrawals all the time, even when it's the banks own ATM... what a joke. I've enjoyed New York but I'm glad to be leaving tonight. It's exhausting and expensive here, and I can't wait to meet Emma and her family in Boone, it'll be an atmosphere I'm more comfortable with.
So at 9.30pm I get my Greyhound bus to start the 12ish hour journey to Greensboro, where I'll then have to hang around for 2 hours and wait for my connecting bus to Boone, where Emma's going to pick me up, bless her heart. I've stocked up on snacks and I still have the majority of 'Weapons of Mass Deception' to read, as well as that, travelling through the night hopefully means I'll sleep most of the way as I am pretty sleepy. On that front I'm armed with earplugs, travel pillow and sleep mask.
I've got a really good feeling about this next part of my journey. It will be more homely and more like a family, this is the kind of thing I love, and from what I can see on Facebook, Emma's two boys are so freaking adorable!
My finishing thoughts about New York are mixed. The people I've encountered personally are lovely, but on the whole the general public here are cold. I think New York is a lonely place if you don't know anybody. It's also an expensive place and a very hot place. I can find a lot of things I don't like about New York, but the things I do like hold more weight. I love Central Park, and I love feeling part of something bigger. I love that the city really does never sleep. The things I can say about my hostel are good. The truth is, it is in the ghetto. We're in Harlem on 111th/112th and 1st Ave (Google Map it), and it is dodgy. There are guys hanging around at all hours and blasting music. But on the other hand, there hasn't been any trouble. Every night I walk past these guys to my room and no one has ever said anything. I walk 4 blocks to the Subway every day and no one has ever said anything to me, even though I'm obviously foreign. The guys at the hostel say people as pale as me don't live in New York/Harlem. And I noticed that all the white people get off at 96th Street on the Subway. Someone here said to me that the majority of white New Yorkers just will not come here, plain and simple. In lots of ways I find that sad.
I think I've left a little mark here though. I was told I was the 'favourite customer'. And I know I know, they'll say it to everyone but still, made me smile. Plus, I gave Talib 5 British tea bags after he tried some real tea and liked it.
It's 7.18 now and I'm leaving in half an hour. I skyped Vicki earlier and it was awesome, miss that girl so freaking much; she's a star! I've spoken to Mum a lot to day which I love. I've really missed home today. I wish I could have a cuddle with Mum right now, but it's okay. I can see me being extra clingy when I get home though! (So watch out Mum!) I'm going to go have a quick freshen up now, and eat the last of my salad before I get a cab to the bus depot for around 23 hours of travelling all in all. I'll update when I can, love to you all!
Thursday 30 June 2011
Wednesday 29 June 2011
29/6/2011 - Day Seven
Today was a relatively slow day, as in I didn't do much. Managed to sleep until 9am, which was nice and stumbled on down to breakfast. After that I headed off to post some postcards. I know a few people are going to be all "Where was my postcard?!", well then send me your addresses fools.
I then went to this bookshop I read about called Strand on the corner of 12th and Broadway. The place has 18 miles worth of books, spread over 4 floors. The whole top floor is a 'rare books' section, whilst the outside has stands full of $2 books. Inside, the section are wide-ranging, and I got lost in the 'Political Science' section. It was amazing to see books by people I've studied. I bought '9/11' by Chomsky, 'Weapons of Mass Deception' by Rampton and Stauber and also 'The Da Vinci Code' because I still haven't read it. I also bought a journal because even though I'm keeping this blog, there's something special about the written word.
Then I went to Staples to buy a little box to send some unneeded things home in, and proceeded to have a white chocolate mocha in Starbucks whilst I wrote in my journal, skyped Nikki and emailed a little - ended up being there for three hours!
Made my way back to the hostel, ate some rice, skyped Joe, skyped Mum, read my book and now here I am!
Just one picture for you guys today, which sums up most of the Political Sciences section in the Strand. I think it says something about American politics.
I then went to this bookshop I read about called Strand on the corner of 12th and Broadway. The place has 18 miles worth of books, spread over 4 floors. The whole top floor is a 'rare books' section, whilst the outside has stands full of $2 books. Inside, the section are wide-ranging, and I got lost in the 'Political Science' section. It was amazing to see books by people I've studied. I bought '9/11' by Chomsky, 'Weapons of Mass Deception' by Rampton and Stauber and also 'The Da Vinci Code' because I still haven't read it. I also bought a journal because even though I'm keeping this blog, there's something special about the written word.
Then I went to Staples to buy a little box to send some unneeded things home in, and proceeded to have a white chocolate mocha in Starbucks whilst I wrote in my journal, skyped Nikki and emailed a little - ended up being there for three hours!
Made my way back to the hostel, ate some rice, skyped Joe, skyped Mum, read my book and now here I am!
Just one picture for you guys today, which sums up most of the Political Sciences section in the Strand. I think it says something about American politics.
"Freedom nationally, virtue locally... or Socialism"
Tuesday 28 June 2011
28/6/2011 - Day Six
Goood evening everyone! It's 8:50pm here and I've had a jam-packed day!
Last night one of the girls mentioned that her and someone else were thinking of renting a boat in Central Park today and invited me along. So I went, and so did Roslyn, who I've met here and who is lovely! We got to Central Park and found that the boat place wasn't open, bugger. So we wandered to the fountain and I put my feet in the lake to cool off, and then we realised that we didn't see what time the boat place actually opened, if at all. Wandering back we found it had opened - bonus! So the four of us went on an hour's boat paddling. Well, I didn't actually paddle cos I happened to be sitting at the front, and if I tried to swap places, I'm pretty sure the whole thing would've capsized. But it was so beautiful and peaceful and lovely - with turtles everywhere!
After the Zoo, we went to M&Ms world - it was craziness!
After, we went to see Bridesmaids at the cinema, armed with M&Ms; it was so so funny! Made me a little teary at one part though, where she hugs her Mum and tells her she loves her for no reason, reminded me of me and my Mum! But then there was another joke and crying was avoided!
So we wandered out of the cinema and back onto Times Square, only to find a première was going on for Transformers 3. So we waited for agggesss and saw some celebs, who I didn't know who they were, but Buzz Aldrin was there!And Will Smith and family actually... it was an awesome atmosphere! I saw a BBC microphone and predicted that it belonged to an oldish, posh looking man. He was the only reporter over I'd say, 25, and looked distinctively upperclass. My prediction was correct. The photos aren't so good cos we were standing behind the press, rather than on the side of the actual audience people who were super prepared with handmade signs and had probably been there for hours!
After this, we wandered around a bit more, caught the subway back to 110th, grabbed a McDonalds and here I am! Tiring day. But a success in that I didn't get sunburnt! But I did get heat rash on my feet... bugger.
Last night one of the girls mentioned that her and someone else were thinking of renting a boat in Central Park today and invited me along. So I went, and so did Roslyn, who I've met here and who is lovely! We got to Central Park and found that the boat place wasn't open, bugger. So we wandered to the fountain and I put my feet in the lake to cool off, and then we realised that we didn't see what time the boat place actually opened, if at all. Wandering back we found it had opened - bonus! So the four of us went on an hour's boat paddling. Well, I didn't actually paddle cos I happened to be sitting at the front, and if I tried to swap places, I'm pretty sure the whole thing would've capsized. But it was so beautiful and peaceful and lovely - with turtles everywhere!
Then the other two split off and Roslyn and I went to the Central Park Zoo, but not before having a lush Spinach and Feta Hot Dog, yum! The Zoo was good, saw some tropical things, a polar bear, some penguins, seals and sealions and some mongeese.
After the Zoo, we went to M&Ms world - it was craziness!
After, we went to see Bridesmaids at the cinema, armed with M&Ms; it was so so funny! Made me a little teary at one part though, where she hugs her Mum and tells her she loves her for no reason, reminded me of me and my Mum! But then there was another joke and crying was avoided!
So we wandered out of the cinema and back onto Times Square, only to find a première was going on for Transformers 3. So we waited for agggesss and saw some celebs, who I didn't know who they were, but Buzz Aldrin was there!And Will Smith and family actually... it was an awesome atmosphere! I saw a BBC microphone and predicted that it belonged to an oldish, posh looking man. He was the only reporter over I'd say, 25, and looked distinctively upperclass. My prediction was correct. The photos aren't so good cos we were standing behind the press, rather than on the side of the actual audience people who were super prepared with handmade signs and had probably been there for hours!
If you look closely, you'll see this is the Chinese guy from the Hangover!
He was very funny when he spoke with the interviewer at the end.
He was very funny when he spoke with the interviewer at the end.
Monday 27 June 2011
27/6/2011 - Day Five
So today I spent a lot of the day in Chelsea, it's beautiful there. The sun has been shining all day and I spent the morning and early afternoon reading my book on the benches that are curved like beach chairs. There's also running water there that you can bath your feet in and just generally chill out. The whole place is on an old railtrack that's on a biiiiig bridge, so it's now a walkway type thing with benches and plants and it's all just lovely. I got sunburnt again though.
So I wandered around there four like 4 hours, and then found a taco cart and had a chicken and onion taco with cheese, was loovvvely, and a can of Sprite. Chelsea is known as the 'gay district' apparently, and a couple of nights ago gay marriage was legalised here plus it was the pride parade yesterday, and it was so great to see all rainbow flags and happy couples everywhere - so awesome!
After that I got back on the subway and meant to go to Bleaker as suggested by Lucy, but ended up on the wrong train, strayed onto Broadway and into Forever 21. Bought a dress, felt guilty, came back to the hostel to give myself a good talking to about budgeting and being a poor traveller and not just a holidaymaker. A man on the subway was spouting off about how he was God and the whole world is his, gotta love the crazies.
I had a chat with Mum tonight on Skype, I love Skype! I love being able to see Mum and having a cheeky little giggle. Uploaded some photos to Facebook and then found that one of the guys at the hostel is a weirdo, asking whether he could run his fingers through my hair. Creeped me out so I left the room.
So I'm sitting with the girls now, after Skyping Chaz and giving him a little tour of the downstairs of the hostel. Just going to hang out here tonight and watch a movie I think, New York at night scares me a little at the moment. Here are some other photos from today!
"My Mom calls it 'Bloomies'"
Sunday 26 June 2011
26/6/2011 - Day Four
Evening! To you guys, not to me. To me it's afternoon.
Days in NY: 4
Hot dogs eaten: 3
Times I've been asked out: 2
Comments on my accent: 1 million
Yesterday night, I had a crisis. But, last night I slept in a room in the hostel which isn't used, I can only assume it's unfinished so isn't sold yet, but the lovely people here let me stay in it. No joke, these people are so nice, I'm so glad to be safe here. Last night, we played Monopoly till 1am, I lost, badly.
So, today I woke up at 7am, naturally. Been doing this since I've been here, I do not like it. I'm going to assume that it's because at 7am local time it's midday in the UK; my normal waking up time. It's all about the biorhythms!
Decided this morning that I would go and pick up my Greyhound ticket for Thursday. I'm travelling overnight, with a transfer at 5.30am. (By the way, in America, for am/pm they just put a/p....took me a while to figure that out). So I'm hoping I can just sleep for the majority of the journey. So yeah, I picked up my ticket from the relatively difficult to find Port Authority Bus Depot and then aimlessly wandered, ending up in Times Square; so. many. lights. Not before being chatted up though. Some guy told me he was from Ecuador then asked me which way 42nd Street was. It would either be East or West so I guessed. He told me I was wrong, then proceeded to ask for my number. I fake numbered him.
Times Square was busy and noisy. But I saw where the ball drops on New Years (Dick Clarks' New Year's Rocking Eve, is it?) and all the flashy signs and things like that! Pictures below!
So then I went to Central Park! Also busy, but quiet, but massive! There's a zoo in there, that's how big it is! Craziness. And a few lakes, and roads through the middle, and loads of street acts. And a man dressed as a wizard. I don't think he was a street act, I think he just thought he was a wizard.
I spent about 3 hours in the park then made my way back to the hostel. I got sunburnt today again, even though I put on loads of sunscreen! (I did Mum, honest, I'm being good! I even bought a hat!) So I've put some after sun on, skyped Mum and Lucy, which was lovely and soon I'm probably going to order takeout and watch a movie, cos I'm really tired after the stress of last night, probably end up having an early night.
Oh, and here I am in Central Park! I look sad, not sure why, I was happy. Maybe it's cos someone had just come and asked me whether I was part of 'Ultimate manhunt' and I felt I was missing out.
Days in NY: 4
Hot dogs eaten: 3
Times I've been asked out: 2
Comments on my accent: 1 million
Yesterday night, I had a crisis. But, last night I slept in a room in the hostel which isn't used, I can only assume it's unfinished so isn't sold yet, but the lovely people here let me stay in it. No joke, these people are so nice, I'm so glad to be safe here. Last night, we played Monopoly till 1am, I lost, badly.
So, today I woke up at 7am, naturally. Been doing this since I've been here, I do not like it. I'm going to assume that it's because at 7am local time it's midday in the UK; my normal waking up time. It's all about the biorhythms!
Decided this morning that I would go and pick up my Greyhound ticket for Thursday. I'm travelling overnight, with a transfer at 5.30am. (By the way, in America, for am/pm they just put a/p....took me a while to figure that out). So I'm hoping I can just sleep for the majority of the journey. So yeah, I picked up my ticket from the relatively difficult to find Port Authority Bus Depot and then aimlessly wandered, ending up in Times Square; so. many. lights. Not before being chatted up though. Some guy told me he was from Ecuador then asked me which way 42nd Street was. It would either be East or West so I guessed. He told me I was wrong, then proceeded to ask for my number. I fake numbered him.
Times Square was busy and noisy. But I saw where the ball drops on New Years (Dick Clarks' New Year's Rocking Eve, is it?) and all the flashy signs and things like that! Pictures below!
So then I went to Central Park! Also busy, but quiet, but massive! There's a zoo in there, that's how big it is! Craziness. And a few lakes, and roads through the middle, and loads of street acts. And a man dressed as a wizard. I don't think he was a street act, I think he just thought he was a wizard.
I spent about 3 hours in the park then made my way back to the hostel. I got sunburnt today again, even though I put on loads of sunscreen! (I did Mum, honest, I'm being good! I even bought a hat!) So I've put some after sun on, skyped Mum and Lucy, which was lovely and soon I'm probably going to order takeout and watch a movie, cos I'm really tired after the stress of last night, probably end up having an early night.
Oh, and here I am in Central Park! I look sad, not sure why, I was happy. Maybe it's cos someone had just come and asked me whether I was part of 'Ultimate manhunt' and I felt I was missing out.
Night lovelies xxx
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