It's been four weeks I left the UK still realing from a 2007 hangover of farewells, lots of tucker and of course one of several gins! Christmas and New Year was the perfect send off.
In early January I arrived to a very cold New York. Though since then, the weather has been nothing short of remarkable. It's been cold, but it's been mightily sunny.
A bit of the true New York has been uncovered. But there are so many more little nuggets to discover. In February the exploration will continue along with some of the visitors. Looking forward to seeing you guys!
Then in late February, Peru awaits. Methinks it will be less of the urban jungle, more of the true jungle, the Amazon.
Should be quite an experience.
Thursday 31 January 2008
Sunday 27 January 2008
Washington DC
With no real plans for the weekend I sent an email on Friday to another friend of a friend who lives in Washington DC to see if I could take up the offer of a visit to DC. The visit was on.I packed my bag like the intrepid explorer once did and early on Saturday morning I was heading down to the capital. The last time I had taken an Amtrak train was on my round the world trip from New York to Toronto. That journey was 12 hours all in all and at that time I was a travelling novice. I suffered from a distinct lack of entertainment and even water.
This time, I came prepared, I even had an apple.
Three hours later I arrived at Union Station, arguably one of the nicest train stations I have ever been to. Walking outside I could see the domed Capitol where the US Senate and Congress meet, and of course where presidents are inaugurated. I headed straight to the building and even managed to go inside on a free tour!
The weather was really nice for a couple of hours and later I walked all the way to the Washington Monument before heading to the nearby White House. It was pretty amazing to see the actual building after seeing it so many times on the news and in many films.
Later on I caught up with my friend and we headed out to a gig at the 9:30 Club. It’s quite a small but famous venue with Nirvana and others having played there. The music was fantastic and I even came away with a CD of one of the band’s who played. I actually managed to speak to the lead singer afterwards but forgot to get the CD signed... doh!!
Sunday was spent checking out the last of the major sights with a visit to the National Gallery of Art before heading back to New York.
All in all, it was a spontaneously great weekend.
Thursday 24 January 2008
Sunday 20 January 2008
Family visit
On Friday night my p's and my bro arrived in New York for their first visit to the US. It was a fantastic clear night and so we headed up the quintessential Empire State Building to check out the evening lights and the high-rise forest of Manhattan.
I managed to prolong their jetlagged night by dragging them up to Times Square for some photos and a visit to shrimp-palace, the lovely Bubba Gump.
We've had a busy Saturday and Sunday too! Check out the photos.
I managed to prolong their jetlagged night by dragging them up to Times Square for some photos and a visit to shrimp-palace, the lovely Bubba Gump.
We've had a busy Saturday and Sunday too! Check out the photos.
Thursday 17 January 2008
Saturday 12 January 2008
Bohemian Manhattan
Last night I caught up with another friend of a friend in the ultra-trendy, very bohemian Greenwich Village area of Manhattan. Again, I had not met this person before which is pretty crazy, but how far wrong can you go!!! It turned out to be a fantastic night.
I met up with her and two friends in Arthurs Tavern, a very rustic American blues and jazz place. This was a true American experience, there were hardly any tourists in sight (apart from me, but undercover of course!). We had a fair beers and then we went underground...
Lurking underground was a hidden gem. The very cool Fat Cat Billiards bar. A true wonderland of activity with live jazz, pool tables, chess tables and then there's shuffleboard. 
Shuffleboard, where have you been all my life?
It basically consists of so-called shuckles, or pucks, which you push down the sandy shuffleboard table, narrowly avoiding the beer-shrewn sandy drop on either side. It is quite possibly the best bar game ever invented.
This game is epicsome!!
I met up with her and two friends in Arthurs Tavern, a very rustic American blues and jazz place. This was a true American experience, there were hardly any tourists in sight (apart from me, but undercover of course!). We had a fair beers and then we went underground...
Lurking underground was a hidden gem. The very cool Fat Cat Billiards bar. A true wonderland of activity with live jazz, pool tables, chess tables and then there's shuffleboard. 
Shuffleboard, where have you been all my life?It basically consists of so-called shuckles, or pucks, which you push down the sandy shuffleboard table, narrowly avoiding the beer-shrewn sandy drop on either side. It is quite possibly the best bar game ever invented.
This game is epicsome!!
Friday 11 January 2008
Midwest Flying Visit
No sooner had I arrived in New York, I was already on a two hour flight early Monday morning to Chicago for a couple of days. After spending the day in the Chicago office catching up with familar faces I arrived at the rather nice Chicago hotel, The James.
I checked in at the front desk, and the receptionist said that I had been upgraded to a studio suite. Well, after being upgraded on the flight from Heathrow to New York last week to Upper Class I needed to find out why everyone was upgrading me all of a sudden! I don't remember this happening on the long hard solitary road around the world as the intrepid explorer...
So, I actually asked the receptionist why she upgraded me!? I think she was quite bemused. At least I think so anyway. She just said that there was no particular reason but that the suite had been allocated to me! I didn't complain!
Later that evening I caught up with a couple of fellow Brits from the office when we headed out to sample some of Chicago's famous cuisine. From what I've seen and heard about Chicago, it seems like a fantastic place.
After all, there's a beach to look forward to!
Sunday 6 January 2008
New York Life
Hey, hey, hey!
The first weekend of life in Manhattan began with the almost desperate need to find a decent grocery store and buy some food essentials!! Luckily I came across a rather suitable store called the Garden of Eden on the way back from work. It's now my store of choice.
It's a bit surreal being here for the weekend, but sure enough I kept myself busy! I did a fair bit of walking on Saturday, strolling all the way up Broadway to Central Park and then I checked out a bit of Times Square on the way back. Admittedly I did check out Macy's too and I bought a new watch. Not quite the intrepid explorer anymore eh!
Saturday night was definitely a bit surreal as a friend of a friend came round with his girlfriend. I had never met him before but he's pretty similar to our mutual friend from Bristol and so of course the main topic of conversation was all about football!! We became true wine connoisseurs too, checking out a few nice reds down in East Village!
Today was epic, it was sunny and relatively warm! I walked all the way from 33rd up through Central Park to the ice rink and the famous lake towards the Metropolian Museum of Art on 82nd.
Checked out some legendary pieces of art from my art idols Cezanne, Warhol and Van Goff. True legends (I took a sneaky picture of Hirst's piece too!).
As I walked back the evening sun slowly faded away behind all the high-rise buildings only to be replaced by mass of neon lights. It is definitely the city that never sleeps. I do though.
Tomorrow I'm back on the road to Chicago for a couple of days.
Catch ya'll when I get back.
The first weekend of life in Manhattan began with the almost desperate need to find a decent grocery store and buy some food essentials!! Luckily I came across a rather suitable store called the Garden of Eden on the way back from work. It's now my store of choice.
It's a bit surreal being here for the weekend, but sure enough I kept myself busy! I did a fair bit of walking on Saturday, strolling all the way up Broadway to Central Park and then I checked out a bit of Times Square on the way back. Admittedly I did check out Macy's too and I bought a new watch. Not quite the intrepid explorer anymore eh!
Saturday night was definitely a bit surreal as a friend of a friend came round with his girlfriend. I had never met him before but he's pretty similar to our mutual friend from Bristol and so of course the main topic of conversation was all about football!! We became true wine connoisseurs too, checking out a few nice reds down in East Village!
Today was epic, it was sunny and relatively warm! I walked all the way from 33rd up through Central Park to the ice rink and the famous lake towards the Metropolian Museum of Art on 82nd.
Checked out some legendary pieces of art from my art idols Cezanne, Warhol and Van Goff. True legends (I took a sneaky picture of Hirst's piece too!).
As I walked back the evening sun slowly faded away behind all the high-rise buildings only to be replaced by mass of neon lights. It is definitely the city that never sleeps. I do though.
Tomorrow I'm back on the road to Chicago for a couple of days. Catch ya'll when I get back.
Friday 4 January 2008
888 Sixth Avenue
The outside of my apartment building 888 (bottom-right) with the Empire State Building in the background. It's close!
Herald Square: the apartment building is the right-face of the central block where Broadway cuts across Sixth Avenue.
Macy's on the other side of Herald Square with Times Square a few blocks down in the background.
Arrival in Manhattan
Hello, hello!
After a few hectic weeks getting everything ready, saying my goodbyes and enjoying the Christmas holidays I'm now at last in New York!
The journey over here began with a final farewell to Charlie and Jo in Twickenham. On the way to Heathrow the taxi passed the same hotel where two and a bit years ago, the family stayed the night before my six month trip around the world. Deju vu eh!
This time though, it's quite a different adventure, less of the intrepid explorer (in some ways), but more the ex-patriot! It's almost embarrassing to mention it, but on the flight over to New York I got upgraded to upper class!! And of course, I enjoyed it, especially the Gruner Veltliner wine, it's good, but don't have too much at altitude!
It was pretty amazing to arrive in the apartment and to think that it's my place for the next few months! What an experience! The location is fantastic as I'm right in the centre of Manhattan surrounded by the Empire State building, Macy's, Madison Square Garden and Times Square.
Living the dream.
After a few hectic weeks getting everything ready, saying my goodbyes and enjoying the Christmas holidays I'm now at last in New York!
The journey over here began with a final farewell to Charlie and Jo in Twickenham. On the way to Heathrow the taxi passed the same hotel where two and a bit years ago, the family stayed the night before my six month trip around the world. Deju vu eh!
This time though, it's quite a different adventure, less of the intrepid explorer (in some ways), but more the ex-patriot! It's almost embarrassing to mention it, but on the flight over to New York I got upgraded to upper class!! And of course, I enjoyed it, especially the Gruner Veltliner wine, it's good, but don't have too much at altitude!
It was pretty amazing to arrive in the apartment and to think that it's my place for the next few months! What an experience! The location is fantastic as I'm right in the centre of Manhattan surrounded by the Empire State building, Macy's, Madison Square Garden and Times Square.
Living the dream.
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