Well woke this morning
feeling nervous about driving into NYC but excited and nervous to go. I have dreamed of this
day for so long. To finally be in NYC and feel the life and vibrancy around me,
I was numb with excitement… which I know makes no sense but it was that
detached feeling again.
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| From the Back of the Inn... Morning sunshine mist |
So I had a lovely
breakfast with the boys and at least I was feeling better today which was a
good sign was. Got the wonderful Bill to help with the bags… Also tipped them for
all their wonderful help … although I did get a lesson on how to tip and how much.
I wanted to give them $40 for looking after me so well but got told that even
$20 was too much … that $2-$5 is enough for any hotel staff.
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| Bye bye New York heaven |
Said goodbye to the
boys and tried to clean the seat of the food oil again. It looked a bit better
this time. Headed to Warwick and got out and took some photos but then saw the
time… dammm wearing a watch!! Needed to get moving
and headed off and enjoying the blue blue skies that had decided to show
themselves as I headed into the big city.
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| the flying V - and blue blue skies |
As I got closer I made
a toilet stop… it was taking a lot longer to get into the city than
I thought. Interesting note: Because in the USA everything in the toilets is
sensor controlled… So when I went to the toilet and this woman decided
she would sensor the paper towel down before she used the toilet, well I needed
to use and she got up me for using it…. Crazy woman… she had that look in
her eye …. You know you hear the stories of people like that and I encountered
one on the way into the big bad city… Haha
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| Warwick |
I swear that this GPS
is whacked though because it felt like I was heading back New Jersey when I
should have been heading for Brooklyn but the signs were saying that I was
heading in the right direction so I pulled into a BP and filled up. The guy was
Russian and could barely speak English but he took my card straight away which
had me a little worried. But it was a full service station which is so rare
these days so I watched him like a hawk to make sure he didn’t do anything
dodgy with my card.
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| Warwick |
Made my way further into the city and
went through an area before the Holland tunnel that was really evident that the
recession was biting hard.
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| My very first view of NYC - Squeal!!!! |
Went through the Holland Tunnel which
was pretty cool to think that was under the Hudson river. Came out on the
Westside highway… my first view of NYC wooohooo… then my GPS took me to the
wrong address. What is with this thing?
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| SUV's and Security |
So I had to work out how to get to the
right address because every time I went around the block and still couldn’t
find it. Drove down the cobblestone streets of the village
… OMG that was so cool. Since I was having no luck finding the
address, I decided to try and find 10th Avenue to get to the
hotel to do the bag drop off and then drop the car off with some better
directions I drove north and then stumbled on the street I needed and ended up
finding the car rental. Whew… how is it they don’t have the
correct street addresses programmed into their GPS?
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| the Brownstones ... sooo cute |
Again the girl was not
very helpful and bit grumpy but the guys in the work shop were fantastic and
helped me with my bags and took me to the corner to catch a cab. Too bad I had no change
or I would have tipped but I did say to him that I have a stack of Canadian
dollars and he said the fact he got to meet an aussie was enough for him. Great guy… actually
asked about Koalas and Kangaroos … so cute
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| Mid Town sunshine |
Travelled back up town
in my first New York taxi it so cool. My sense of direction was all off and
felt like I was going south instead of north. Arrived at the Skyline about
midday finally.. it felt hours ago that I left the B&B. Although
I had to struggle up the stairs with my bag because there didn’t seem to be
anyone to help.
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| Apartment Buildings |
Got greeted by the
concierge Remy … I explained that I was part of the Cosmos tour and
got the big spiel on how cosmos has used the skyline for years blah blah. Also
that I was very early! Actually got in trouble for being early … what is with that. Also
I was told that our tour director would be in the lobby between 2-6pm. Once I
off loaded everything I didn’t need into the suitcases, he stored my bags and I
explained that I needed to go to Brooklyn. He thought I was nuts but eventually
gave me the instructions. I took off along 49th Street towards
Rockefeller centre where I needed to find the subway stop.
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| New York Sunshine |
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