Advertisement
Published: March 6th 2007
Edit Blog Post
Hey people, well this is the first chance i've had to get on a computer for a wee while. I am in the back of a newsagents on 3rd Avenue. Just been for breakfast in 'Sarges' diner (pancakes with butter and syrup... mmm). The waitress in there was telling me to buy a megamillions ticket for the lottery tonight so thats why im here... $335million jackpot! No more hostels for the rest of the trip if I win that.
Anyway had a good flight over, the seat beside me was empty so had a bit of extra room. Was about 8hrs but we were given a couple of meals and there were tv's in the back of the seats to watch a film. Customs took ages to get through though, took finger prints and a photo of you! Managed to get a bus to Grand Central Station for $15 then walked about four blocks to my accommodation.
Stayed the first night (Friday) in the 'Soldiers,Sailors,Airmans Club' place was basic but clean and cheap.. $25 a night, the people were nice too.. apart from the big.. BIG! guy that came in about 5am and put the lights on before getting
ready for bed.. not a pretty sight! The beds aren't the biggest either and he was about twice the width of it!
Got picked up by Neil on Sat morning and we went to the Yankee's stadium in the Bronx. Stadium was cool, we seen in the locker room, walked down the tunnel, sat in the dugout then walked out onto the field. Stadium holds 57,000.. 'the house that Ruth built'. We headed back to Neils house in Orange county which is in New York state, after a MacDonalds (tastes just the same over here). Went for a meal in an Irish pub (I had shepards pie, made with pastry instead of tatties). Seen a show that Megan (Neil and Marie's daughter) was in then we headed back to the house. All the family are really nice and I was made very welcome. Played pool in the basement with Neil and his son Ryan when we got home.
Sunday, we went to see Ryan at the local ice rink where he works in the pro shop. Then we went to the Orange County Choppers store, thats the guys off the tv that build the custom motorbikes, some amazing
bikes in there. Ryan is mates with one of the guys that works in the garage so we might get over to the garage (shop) next weekend for a look around. We headed back to the local mall for a slice of buffalo pizza which is spicy bbq chicken on a pizza. Neil dropped me off at the house while he went to pick up his mum at the airport. Met Aunt Janet who was really nice. I'll try to get some photos of the family up sometime.
Anyway headed back into the city yesterday (monday). Got a lift the the train station with Ryan in his Mitsubishi Eclipse (like an FTO). Met a couple of his mates going to Madison Square Garden to watch the hockey so spoke to them on the journey to the city (took about 1hr 30, they are all big Islanders fans and dont like the Rangers, thats the hockey team by the way). Had my dinner in a wee Italian restaurant, its true about the portions over here.. massive! Spaggetti, half a chicken and a big bowl of salad for $11! Met my new room mate back in the SSA club. Andrew, big
black guy from Chicago. He was a really nice guy, retired from the army, now studying for a graduates degree then he plans to start his own business as a 'life' coach! I could also tell he was big on religion by the 'Jesus music' he had on his stereo! Went a walk down to Time Square, the lights were amazing but it was freezing, much colder than Friday, when I first arrived. I dived into a sports bar and asked for a pint but was given a big two pint glass, I think people are having trouble understanding me so will have to slow down with the talking! Asked if there was soccer on any of the channels but he just shook his head with a look like 'dont be so stupid'. Had a wander back up Lexington Ave and back to my room where Andy was still studying away.
Got up this morn about 9am. Andrew was just getting ready to leave. I gave him one of the Scotland keyrings I brought over to hand out and he seemed very pleased with it.. I gathered this from the way he grabbed my hand and said a 5min
prayer for me to have a safe onward journey and a successful career! 😊 Nice guy though, gave me his card and welcomed me up to the 'Brothers Blessing Group' meeting in Chicago on Thursday. Hmmm, bit worried about what kind of blessings go on up there and that Deliverence tune has just popped into my head... thanks Jean!.. worried about heading South now! lol
Anyway, thats me signing out for now. Just heard on the shop radio that the New Jersey Megamillions Jackpot is up to $370million!
Praise the Lord!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.083s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 6; qc: 46; dbt: 0.0504s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
alan
non-member comment
chief
Alright boss, 3 hail Mary's!!sounds great so far, any luck on the lottery front? try asking for a 'skooner' in a bar, in nz that got me 3/4 of a pint but in US it will prob get you a proper pint! good luck!