An adventure to the States begins with

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Initally missing the bus to the airport. I still got there 2 hours before my flight which was great. I wondered, prior to boarding the flight for New York, why I brought my Russian passport. Maybe it was the romantic idea of running off to Cuba once I got to Florida, smoking Cuban cigars and dancing in a sweaty Cuban night club?

Customs was relatively quick and I spent some time loitering in the Rijksmueseum that had a free mini exhibition in the airport between gates e and f. Well worth a visit particularly for the paintings of the birds of prey - out in the menajerie😊

I met a certain Mr Maloe while waiting to board who insisted I should come to Fiji to visit him because I was so beautiful. He was very happy when I smiled and said thank you and didn’t tell him to piss off.

I flew via London where I nearly got my umbrella confiscated as it was too big to fit in my bag. I mentioned that they had let me through to Amsterdam with it - so maybe not wanting to be undone, the Brits let me take my umbrella to New York. They gave it a good feel though before giving it to me, and I can’t blame them. The sexy orange exterior and slim cultivating design makes anyone suspicious as to whether something so amazing could be so incredibly real.

After a nice sleep in business class I got into New York JFK airport. This was the tightest security I had experienced at border control to date. Besides the 20 questions of where was I going, where was I staying, how did I know someone in America and what did I study with them I also got finger printed and photographed. Cool.

My first impressions of New York, weren’t those big sky rises and bright lights I had seen in the movies. They were that of wide roads, multiple lanes and some dark and desolate buildings. But I guess these were the outskirts and I was thinking more that New York was mainly about Times Square and lots of yellow cabs.

An half hour taxi ride, 5 sets of stairs later I was reunited with Jill. We grabbed a beer (Hoegarden) by her house and talked and talked and talked and before I knew it, it was 2am in New York, about 6am back home (Amsterdam) and I was running low on snooze time. I think Jill could tell so we ended up heading back to her place shortly thereafter, before setting up the bed and then I was out...

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Photos

The American Fire Hydrant
for the Krunch

Comments

[Jillian]

I love it!
I love this entry more than you can know!!!!!!! I am sooooooooooo happy i got to see you!!! You are welcome anytime my friend! I had a great time. Dont forget to mention all the Dutch goodies you happened to smuggle across the borders. I am hooked on stroopwafel!! i even had another dutch friend smuggle me some on a visit with another one of my friends who is bringing me back the goodies when i see her! :)

[ak]

birds of prey - out in the menajerie:) is it 4 lizard of oz?;^)

[ak]

I also got finger printed this is why i prob never go to usa :-(

[Krunch]

Menajerie
Yes it is for lizard of oz

[Dan]

awesome dude
looks like you had a brilliant time.... ive never been, always wanted to go - one day maybe :-)