New York, New Yooork!
Aug. 9th, 2004 08:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luckykaaBrief recap for those not paying attention - I'm in New york for purposes of a friend's wedding and sightseeing.
The night before I got an urgent email asking me if I can posibly create a CD full of certain songs that were completely impossible to get hold of in New York. Thanks for giving me plenty of notice... I managed more or less thanks to the wonders of Gnutella.
Day 1
I made it. Plane was hijacked zero times on the outgoing flight, but the incoming flight was hijacked by someone needing to make an emergency diversion because of illness. Plus side, free food. Minus side, another couple of hours until I get there.
The plane was cramped, but modern. Seatback screens with a choice of channels. Quite nice. Food was terrible.
Eventually arrived. I HATE US IMMIGRATION. Am I the only person with that opinion? Was picked up by brother of the bride, and the groom-to-be. We went at 3mph down interstate 95. Arriving in this place by road after a long flight is not really the best way to appreciate it.
Eventually we arrived at the hotel. The room was roughly 3 miles away from the lift, and the size of a small suburban airport. Internet access via the TV, room service, and all quite nice really. Sadly, it's in White Plains, which means taking a cab to the station, and taking a train into the city. It would be okay if the hotel was within walking distance of the trains, but it wasn't. (I've since relocated to a cheap hotel in Manhatten.)
As soon as I got there, I hit the bar, met the rest of the party, and went straight into the city for the stag do (Groom-to-be is a fantastic singer and pianist). Sleep is for the weak! We went back in a limo. I assisted groom-to-be in emtpying the limo's bar, and then I woke up the following morning. I hear stuff happened in between. I really don't like not remembering.
Day 2
Wasn't feeling well. I think I had jetlag, hangover and managed to pick up a bug. I slept, swam, slept. Then the phone rang in the evening, inviting me to a meal. I was feeling okayish by then, so I went to join them. The directions were very vague. "Seaside Johhnies, near to Playland". So I got a taxi to Playland, and thought I'd walk. "Near to" is clearly relative. Seemed nobody had heard of it. After wandering around a lot, I eventually found the place. Mussels. Yum.
Day 3
This was the wedding. Very nice ceremony. Very nice reception. Very good food. Styill not feeling that hungry, and was too tired to really be my usualy witty sparkling self. I met some interesting people, including one woman with a ludicrously strong Brooklyn accent. I never realised people really spoke like that! The priest was on the same table as us. Very nice chap. Seemed a lot of the table, including him were big travellers. I'd like to travel more, but the whole air travel thing is such a turn-off. Maybe I'll do Europe next year.
Day 4
Went to the city. Saw Grand Central Station. Saw Ground Zero. Went on the Staten Island ferry. Might go the the statue of Liberty sometime. The queues are too long though. Grand Central is damn impressive. It's a hug building with a high ceiling, impressive 30's architecture. I could spent the whole time there!
Day 5
Decided to relocate to Manhatten. Booked a hotel from my room. Got off the train. Waited forever for a taxi to go past. He couldn't take me to the hotel. There was a parade in the way. I gae up and walked. I also managed to lose my very funky fold out map. Quite upset about that one.
Didn't do a lot after that. Wandered around Times square. Went to a Comedy Club in the evening. The comedy was a bit hit and miss. The warm up guy was very good. The others were probably trying some new stuff.
Day 6
Woke up. The air conditioning in the cheap hotel is like a fridge. I'll have to try soemwhere a little posher. Central location just off broadway is good, but the rest of it is just depressing. Would have been nice to have had the flexibility to move around a lot more, but I have 3 bags.
Will probably have a look at The Intrepid Aea-Air-Space Museum today.
Time for breakfast.
The night before I got an urgent email asking me if I can posibly create a CD full of certain songs that were completely impossible to get hold of in New York. Thanks for giving me plenty of notice... I managed more or less thanks to the wonders of Gnutella.
Day 1
I made it. Plane was hijacked zero times on the outgoing flight, but the incoming flight was hijacked by someone needing to make an emergency diversion because of illness. Plus side, free food. Minus side, another couple of hours until I get there.
The plane was cramped, but modern. Seatback screens with a choice of channels. Quite nice. Food was terrible.
Eventually arrived. I HATE US IMMIGRATION. Am I the only person with that opinion? Was picked up by brother of the bride, and the groom-to-be. We went at 3mph down interstate 95. Arriving in this place by road after a long flight is not really the best way to appreciate it.
Eventually we arrived at the hotel. The room was roughly 3 miles away from the lift, and the size of a small suburban airport. Internet access via the TV, room service, and all quite nice really. Sadly, it's in White Plains, which means taking a cab to the station, and taking a train into the city. It would be okay if the hotel was within walking distance of the trains, but it wasn't. (I've since relocated to a cheap hotel in Manhatten.)
As soon as I got there, I hit the bar, met the rest of the party, and went straight into the city for the stag do (Groom-to-be is a fantastic singer and pianist). Sleep is for the weak! We went back in a limo. I assisted groom-to-be in emtpying the limo's bar, and then I woke up the following morning. I hear stuff happened in between. I really don't like not remembering.
Day 2
Wasn't feeling well. I think I had jetlag, hangover and managed to pick up a bug. I slept, swam, slept. Then the phone rang in the evening, inviting me to a meal. I was feeling okayish by then, so I went to join them. The directions were very vague. "Seaside Johhnies, near to Playland". So I got a taxi to Playland, and thought I'd walk. "Near to" is clearly relative. Seemed nobody had heard of it. After wandering around a lot, I eventually found the place. Mussels. Yum.
Day 3
This was the wedding. Very nice ceremony. Very nice reception. Very good food. Styill not feeling that hungry, and was too tired to really be my usualy witty sparkling self. I met some interesting people, including one woman with a ludicrously strong Brooklyn accent. I never realised people really spoke like that! The priest was on the same table as us. Very nice chap. Seemed a lot of the table, including him were big travellers. I'd like to travel more, but the whole air travel thing is such a turn-off. Maybe I'll do Europe next year.
Day 4
Went to the city. Saw Grand Central Station. Saw Ground Zero. Went on the Staten Island ferry. Might go the the statue of Liberty sometime. The queues are too long though. Grand Central is damn impressive. It's a hug building with a high ceiling, impressive 30's architecture. I could spent the whole time there!
Day 5
Decided to relocate to Manhatten. Booked a hotel from my room. Got off the train. Waited forever for a taxi to go past. He couldn't take me to the hotel. There was a parade in the way. I gae up and walked. I also managed to lose my very funky fold out map. Quite upset about that one.
Didn't do a lot after that. Wandered around Times square. Went to a Comedy Club in the evening. The comedy was a bit hit and miss. The warm up guy was very good. The others were probably trying some new stuff.
Day 6
Woke up. The air conditioning in the cheap hotel is like a fridge. I'll have to try soemwhere a little posher. Central location just off broadway is good, but the rest of it is just depressing. Would have been nice to have had the flexibility to move around a lot more, but I have 3 bags.
Will probably have a look at The Intrepid Aea-Air-Space Museum today.
Time for breakfast.
