Taking a Bite of the Big Apple!

---

Well we've been in New York for 5 days and already it feels like we've been here for a few months (in a good way). There is just so much happening around each corner. Everyday we have set out in a new direction and discovered a new and exciting part of the city.

We have stuck to Manhattan Island for the majority of the time with the exception of catching the free ferry to Staten Island and catching it straight back again for the obligatory Liberty Statue photo. We also ventured to Brooklyn yesterday, but once we really discovered Brooklyn's natural culture (we caught a few random buses and discovered probably the most boring parts of the whole borough) we caught the subway straight back into Manhattan where we felt a lot more at home. (Brooklyn is a hole ... even if it is the newest hippest place celebrities choose to live).

Central park has been Dave's favourite part of New York so far, its just so goddamn big you'd need 3 full days to give it any kind of respect.
At first we seemed to be attracted to Times Square a bit (we found ourselves there 3-4 times in the first couple of days) and have made a pact to avoid it at all costs. Bryant Park (a quaint park behind the City Library where Carrie plans to wed Big in the new movie..... oh hang on, no one else has seen it yet have they?!?!) has been a highlight for Penny for its ambiance right in the middle of town. Balmy spring evenings, chairs and tables sprinkled amongst trees alive with squirrels, (or are they chipmunks?), fountains splashing, people chatting over coffee and icecream. City buildings tower above bathing this inner-city oasis in a comforting glow. Nearby bars hum with after work drinkers and they make the most of the central velvety grass area with free movies and yoga in summer. Love it! What a city, eh?!

Our hostel is in a great location right next to Madison Square Garden (Pearl Jam play like a week after we leave - bugger!)
In true Manhattan style, the bedrooms are mouse-sized, squashy and sauna-like. The entire building appears to be sinking haphazardly and our bed is jacked up on phonebooks at one end for stability. But enough of the whining about our hostel. We spend so little time there, it's onto the highlights:

* Authentic Bagels from H&H (a specialty bagel shop) that sells every type of bagel possible as well as having a selection of salmon and cream cheeses in the fridges.
*Catching up with Peter Bruce and painting the town red Aussie style for a night. Pete took us to a secret nameless bar down a back alley that had a prohibition theme going on. After dropping a few names to the doorman we were soon drinking our beverages out of mugs, cups & saucers and paper bags - very cool. The night ended uptown with a dead body on a street corner. Very surreal and a little bit freaky, but being in New York, we didn't really bat an eyelid.
*Walking across the historic Brooklyn Bridge.
*Seeing Sex and The City in the city that is the City in Sex in the City.
*Sneaking into the Met Museum today for saving of forty clams.
*The taste sensation of the century - Magnolia Cupcakes - Seriously its a small bakery in Bleecker Street Soho that specialises in cupcakes. We've been past it a few times (we are actually heading back there after we finish this blog) and the line is always about 25 people long. And for good reason. These cupcakes are absolute HEAVEN.
*Window shopping on Madison Avenue, and weaving through concept stores and gourmet eateries in The Village.
*World-famous $6 plate of Souvlaki on the corner of 53rd and 6th. So popular the line fringes the block and the smell of charred animal pickles the city air - Awesome at any time of the day!

Must fly .... Magnolia beckons.

---

Comments

[Rosanne]

The Best Things in Life are Free...
Penny and Dave, Well almost true in comparison to spending what the true celebrity types would pay. Sounds like you guys are having a ball. I enjoyed the photo of Dave in your hostel...ARRRR brought back memories of my backpacking days... Rosanne