But first, for the words :D
New York. As much as everyone's raved about the place, and as many wonderful and exciting things we did, we did have trouble putting our finger on the feeling of it. Like, the streets are incredibly pock-marked and filthy, there's rubbish everywhere, and the steam coming out of the grates has a sulphuric scent, so there's a slightly odd smell in the air. Plus people are a little bit ruder there, the general population. For instance, when it rains? No one gives a stuff if you happen to be in the way of their umbrella and will happily stab you in the face or head with the metal rod....So we gave as good as we got. And that thing, when cars go round a corner in a puddle and spray your legs? Totally happened to me :D Not that I was excited at the time by that...
But the good things! Lol.
Times Square was absolutely epic, didn't ever stop being bright and full of people, even when it was bucketing, which it was on our last night there. Was amazing. Just cannot get over the size of the billboards.
We saw Rockefeller Centre, went to the top to see the city skyline, visited the NBC store :D Excitement, there. Didn't have a chance to do the studio tour, but wouldn't have had time anyway :(
Still, managed to see the City Library with it's famous lions out front and I had a major flashback to 'The Day After Tomorrow' :P
Visited also, obviously, the Statue of Liberty - she is SO much smaller than you think, though when you're actually standing at her feet she looks big. But she was beautiful, absolutely loved her. Checked out Ellis Island and the Jewish Holocaust Museum which was terrible and depressing and wow all at the same time. We picked up our spirits by seeing 'Wicked' which was amazing :) A-MAAAAAZING, as Brooke would say. Love that production.
Saw Wall St and it's golden bull, but was so packed with people we didn't really get to stay long. Saw the outside of the Stock Exchange and were amazed it was was roped off and thoroughly guarded by police. Epic o.O Also amazed at how big it was, with columns and carvings on the outside...refer to Brooke's pics on FB for a better idea ;)
Visited the World Trade Centre site and the memorial museum - gods that was sad. Came out of there dripping in tears :(
Walked through SoHo and the Village, photographed the Flatiron building, and went to the top of the Empire State Building. That was awesome. And all the main attractions we did early enough to avoid all the queues, thank heavens, cos they were all massive when we left. Phew.
Did a little too much shopping, but then also, in one day, visited the MoMA, the Met, and the museum of Natural History, ALONG WITH checking out the Harry Potter exhibition on it's final day - we became pros and whipping through these enormous places, taking photos and moving on. Gotta say, we spent the longest time standing in front of Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' - nearly had us in tears. Was absolutely amazing.
Hmm, what else? Sorry that there's not as much detail this blog - have a lot to say and not a lot of time or money to do it! Lol.
Wandered through Central Park and saw the Alice in Wonderland statue, the Balto statue, the huge fountain in the middle...also went to the Guggenheim. That was a bit of a joke. That, and in the Met, was where and when we decided to name the 5th of September, Damon-Day. See, there was this art, like a blank white canvas, hanging, just as it was, in the gallery. Or a collection of rocks, with some cotton wool around them, or a board of wood balanced on top...and we know how much Damon loves that sort of shit... :P So Damon-Day was born. Brooke has photos of most of that stuff, so when she gets a chance to get them up, and when you get a chance to see them ... :P
We also went and sent 3 boxes home...we went a little crazy on the shopping. Though it didn't really feel it. oops. Also saw "The Lion King" on Broadway. OMG . The costumes and sets were amazing :D :D :D Was brilliant.
And followed up that great night by having dinner at Bubba Gumps - of Forrest Gump fame :D :D :D Such awesome food and drinks - we both got cocktails and got to take our glasses home, and our waitress quizzed us on our Forrest Gump knowledge and it was awesome :D
Course, Brooke also had to have a cosmopolitan, so on our last night, in the Waldorf Astoria bar, she did. And another cocktail. Despite her merriness, managed to keep her away from my phone so she couldn't ring anyone this time (sorry, Elliott, though I know you enjoyed it as much as her ;))
And today we came to Boston :) Via train, which was absolutely gorgeous, going to have to come back and spend more time in Conneticut - all green and huge houses and lake-y...lol. Course, we did manage to sleep past our stop. Oops. Thankfully only went one stop further and wasn't too far from where we needed to be. Plus had a hell nice taxi driver who was, first person this whole trip, who actually APPRECIATED THE TIP. Sheesh.
The hostel is awesome here, this city is awesome - totally my second fave city of the trip. Such a chilled, easy place to get around in.
Now, before I leave you all, some quotes!
"I like what alcohol does to me!"
"It felt tight. It felt good."
"And I'm like, I don't think I can put on enough lotion." (random guy, not Brooke :P)
"I'm pretty excited about drinking another drink tonight."
There were a couple of others, but have no time and want you to get this before my connection times out ;)
Talk to you soon!!