New York, New York
My last post had absolutly nothing about New York in it.
I'm still jetlagged I'm afriad, even after 2 nights sleep. Not sure why, I never have been before. Still, I've spent a few good days here on this flying visit- I get the train to Toronto tomorrow morning.
Tuesday- got into town, almost dead with tierdness, only to have to wait until 2pm for my room (it was 7am at the time). After a short attempt to wander around seeing the neighbourhood I realised quite what "record heatwave" actually means, ran back to the hostel, changed my T-shirt and got the lovely, cold, air-conditioned subway to the lovely, cold, air-conditioned American Natural History museum. It was probably the best science museum I've ever been in- remember my little rant way back in Canberra about patronising, child-orientated places? Well, this wasn't. The highlight for me was the top floor, dedicated to the evolution of birds from proto-dinosaurs- each section took a different evolutionary step (a differently shaped wrist bone, an inverted pelvis) and then branched off around it were examples of fossils, models and exhibits of the different animals that had those feaures. I could go on about the rest of the place but I sense the yawns across the internet, so I'll move on to Wednesday.
After a night spent more unconcious than asleep in a room with a wheezing air-conditioner, a chatty Israeli and an obese elderly Japanese man I lugged my bags up the road to the AHA (american YHA equivalent) which is bigger, cleaner and has a kitchen with actual cooking equipment. I got a subway pass and did the tourist trail- Times Square, Broadway, the Staten Island ferry, Grand Central station. I walked the wrong way from there so instead of going up the empire state building (which I was only half-hearted about anyway) I ended up at the UN and did an excellent tour. Wandered back to Grand Central via the biggest comic book shop I've ever seen and the rockafella centre. By this point (only about 4 pm) I was close to dropping with the heat and the jet-lag so I came back to the hostel and watched Batman Begins. You can't drink in AHAs- bloody prudes over here, I tell you.
The trouble with yesterday was all I saw was the subway cars and the tourist sights, so today I got the tube to Soho and just wandered about for a day, soaking it all up. Went to an art-house cinema, a bookshop/cafe/homeless shelter, a couple of coffee places. Then I headed to Central Park with my new old books and sat under the trees with about a thousand New Yorkers, watching the Baseball games being played and eating ice-cream. When it'd cooled down enough I wandered up to Strawberry Fields (the John Lennon memorial garden opposite the Dekota building) which was surrounded by benches full of old hippies, new drunks and somber tourists. Following the theme of the day I walked around the upper west side, got some dinner and a decent pint at a "Ye Olde Englishe Pub" (god help me), then came back to the hostel.
So there you are- my stay in New York. I'd like to come back I think- with more money so I could stay a little bit closer to the centre, and in the spring maybe, or sometime less roasting. One last evening- probably won't do much with it, gotta get up at about 6am for the train. Canada tomorrow!