Due to the recession, I was able to go on a fantastic holiday this year. For $908 I got a return flight to NYC with my friend Christina.
While this seemed blessed, it was actually fraught with bad omen happenings. First, my free accommodation fell through, meaning it would cost more than I originally thought. Then, when I went to pick up the US dollars I ordered online from the North Sydney Westpac branch - I discovered it had been blown up the night before by the ATM bandits. Then, the swine flu hit just days before we left, and some cases were seen to be in NYC (from spring break uni students returning from mexico - and I was staying with a uni student).
Add to this the fact that I was going away over Aidan's birthday (me being absent minded and mean), and that I had massive guilt over our new business/no money/responsibility to work, and I wasn't feeling completely fab about this holiday.
However, some good omens were around too. I got alternative accommodation with my friends Nicole and Will who I met in Shanghai. Christina and I got UPGRADED to premium economy from Sydney to NYC, which was awesome, and I don't want to go back to economy.
So, as per usual, despite being in a nicer class, I still hated the flight. I think it is the air on board - it makes me feel ill, makes my skin dry, my nose run, my throat hurt, my hair be disgusting.
Qantas to the US was much more retarded than I remember it being for my trips to Shanghai. They were disorganised and slow, and there were constant big long waits. At Los Angeles we had to do an annoying, slow changeover. But there was one piece of comedy gold. At LAX, we were lining up (for the 2384th time that day), when I spied next to the elevators and behind a poll, far away from the security people, a lone denim handbag. Being my alert but not alarmed self, I thought I would tell security because #1 it was an abandoned bag, and #2, it was a horrible ugly denim bag, which no one would care being blown up. But to my surprise, in what I thought would be the most security conscious country in the world - the abandoned bag was actually owned by security personnel, so there was no cause for alarm. Maybe it was just a test.
Frugality (is that a word?) went out the window as soon as we arrived into the city - we got a cab from the airport. If I was with Sue-Ellen there would have been no consideration of a shuttle bus I am sure. Arrive at Will and Nicoles- beautiful apartment in a fantastic location. so lovely. went out for mexcian and walked around the neighbourhood.
For the first 5 or so days, I woke crack of dawn due to the time difference, and would do some work, email some people, skype with Aidan, before going downtown on the tube to meet christina.
Our first few days of shopping were quite adhoc, as we wandered aimlessly (like my last time in NYC). But we did eat at a yummy patisserie where I got the BEST chocolate eclair (better than Paul and Chatswood, but not as good as the chocolate mille feuille.)
First purchase in NYC - we each got a pair of plastic haviana looking thongs for $2.k50 so we could get a manicure and pecdicure. also, very comfortable.
We went to bridal garden to try on wedding dresses, but the dresses made me feel wierd - I would feel uncomfortable in that kind of a get up. Went to a thrift store - tried on pouffy wedding dress, but actually didn't mind it.
In the evenings I generally came back to Nicole and Will's flat while christina went out to bars with her friends, because I am quite the homebody. It was an excellent balance of holiday and normality, meaning that every day I was quite relaxed and refreshed.
One morning I went for a neighbourhood walk (upper west side - lovely area) with will and nicole and saw Zabar's, H&H bagels, the Dakota, and then had smoked salmon cream cheese bagels at a recommended place - huge. no more food all day. Went down town to meet christina, and tried on wedding dress again in thrift store. still not sure. then went to greenwich village whree we wandered all day and I bought things for everyone else except myself - annoying. Bought myself a second hand book, called 2 histories of England - one written by Jane Austen and one by Charles Dickens, in their own styles, which I think might be good. THen I came home to get reeady for a night out wiht will and nicole. we first went down to greenwich village to a variety show being held in a bar/pub. We had to rack up a minimumbill with horrible bar food, but the entertainment (magicians, comedians, poets and singers) was not too bad, not amateur at all. Then we went uptown, to little Korea, for some karaoke, which Nicole and I dominated as per usual, but really, if you aren't going to pick songs, then how are you going to get to sing? After that we went to an American diner where I had a milkshake (beautiful) and macaroni cheese (horrific, but everyone else helped me so that was fine).
And this is where the blog post deteriorates into partial comments and reminders...to be fixed up in the future....or not...probably not...
Up the road from nicole's flat is the Alice in Wonderland cafe, where I went with nicole and Christina. Sooooo cute. Teapots, morning tea cake stand. ..v. cute. then walked with DMF across park. saw his baby and fancy apartment. Met Freya and her friend for lunch. Accidentally ordered the seafood platter. Went shopping in midtown in the afternoon. Got $5 t-shirt and $10 dress from Urban outfitters. Home for dinner, Will gave me spaghettin
Woodbury common - bus out through the country side. High end goods on special. Shouldn't buy high end goods anyway really. v. bad. and they are not me. Did buy Jimmy Choo's for wedding though. And I think they are the same ones I tried on in London with Sue at Selfridges like 2 years ago and said 'I want to wear these to my wedding!!!!', and now I am. how funny.
Brooklyn - Prospect Park, One Girl Cookie (amazing), NZ pie shop - rip off, and sausage roll no good anyway.
Lincoln Centre string ensemble
photography exhibition - Fashion Photography - International centre of photography - Avedon fashion collection 1944-2000 - very very good, despite my non-knowledge of fashion
bought my wedding dress at a small independent boutique in Greenwich Village. Very plain, and not cheap. Will be the first bride to have pockets I imagine.
Shake Shack
UN Markets
Central station food
central park - jennifer aniston
Cowgirl in Greenwich village
Staaten Island Ferry
Battery Park
free $15 voucher from a stranger!!! In Bloomingdales.
NYC is fun and interesting, but not really my kind of city. While London can be pretentious (and so can Sydney, and Shanghai), in NYC it is too in your face. Everything seems to be about appearances, which I dislike (my good friends Nicole and Will obviously bucked this trend). Also, they have this work-hard play-hard culture which is just so not me.
So while it is the favourite city of loads of people I know, it isn't for me, and I think it will be a while till I go back.
