1st Free Day in NYC post Trailblazer! My 2nd to last day in America

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I woke up at around 8.50am by Steve ringing my room. I picked up the receiver and put it back down straightaway. Soon after, he knocked at the door, just as my alarm went off.

Steve and I headed down for our free breakfast whilst Kylie and Scott got ready, and sorted more photos for the rest of the hard drives, before meeting the rest and heading out of the hotel. It was no exaggeration when I say it took 4 hours from me getting up to us getting to the bus stop at the front of the hotel!

When we finally reached the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Becca, Kylie and Scott headed to the hostels, whilst Steve, Zach and I headed out into Manhattan. We were arranging to meet Annabel somewhere in the concrete jungle that was Manhattan, and started off by heading towards the NBA store via Times Square, where Zach pulled us into several clothes shops to get some needed stock of jeans. Unfortunately there was a parade going on up 6th Avenue, something to do with Dominican American National Parade, so many streets were closed, so we had to weave our way in and out of the parade to make our way further up the island.

Finally at the NBA store, we met up with Annabel, and after Steve got a San Antonio Spurs jersey, we made our way to find Mark and Laura's recommendation of 'The Brooklyn Diner' for dinner later, until we realised that it was on the other side of the city from where were, so we headed to Old Navy instead, after a quick lunch in a quiet cafe. Before we arrived at Old Navy, we said goodbye to Steve who had to leave for his flight, and Zach went with him. As we said goodbye to them, the two almost welled up when it came to saying goodbye to each other. They truly were the odd couple of the Tour, and it was amazing that one of them didn't kill the other. Kylie and Scott later told us that there were real tears and even an exchange of presents between the two at Steve's bus. Kylie and Scott had bumped into them back in the Terminal on their way to meeting up with Annabel and I at Macy's, where we headed down to the bar on the bottom floor to drink the time away before heading to the diner.

When the time came to leave Annabel (who was meeting an old friend for dinner), we decided to catch a cab up to the diner for my last American meal, where Sarah, Becca and Zach met us. Sadly it wasn't as cheap as I thought but the waiter's recommendation was spot on. It was lovely.

The six of us then headed to Times Square, where it was absolutely packed as evening was taken over from the day and the night sky was getting darker. Once more, we met up with Annabel, and hung out on the bleachers on the Square, before Sarah and I headed to the Terminal for a bus back to the hotel. I was completely shattered.

When we reached the hotel, Sarah and I said our last goodbyes and after checking in online for my flight at reception I headed upstairs to pack one last time before going to sleep on my own for the first time in a long while. There was a big day tomorrow.

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Comments

[Rob]

Old Navy
Aren't you glad I showed that place? Funnily when I was going there last year I cou;dn;t find it for love nor money! I was walking looking for it for ages

[AdamBest20]

Yep, I did struggle to find it, going on a distinct memory of it from 6 years before. Yep, I'm glad you showed us, I found one in Calgary as well so must be thankful to you!