The first subway I took confirmed where I was. It hit home just how isolated Perth is when it comes to races. I was helped out with directions by a local who was traveling upstate for a wedding the coming weekend.
People here seemed approachable. It was an easy adventure finding the address of Sasha’s house. She lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Fort Green, Brooklyn.
The place would turn out to be a great location and oozed character and warmth. There were old dusty floorboards partially hidden with dark wooden bookcases filled with books I’ve never even heard of. At the base of the windows Sasha had grown a mix of plants and had a small collection of worn glass bottles collected from a riverbed. Moving through into the kitchen, the drying rack was always full, it seemed the cupboards were a waste of space as they weren't used. The shining light of the kitchen was a modern mix master, which we later used to make peach and choc chip ice cream. This place has character.
While I waited for Sasha to return from yoga I wandered round the corner for some sweet potato chips and a fresh salad. I had to set a good standard I thought. Later we went to a close bar for a few beers, it was a chance to introduce ourselves and lay out some thoughts for the days ahead.
I slept on the floor with duvets, rugs and sleeping bags to provide cushioning. There was a lonesome fan competing with the acid rain hitting the windows. The mix soon put me to sleep.
Thursday
My plan of attack was simple: catch the subway onto the island and walk until I understood the grid. I was hoping to grab a burger from Shake Shack, but when I came across Madison Square Gardens the line was over 200m long. I enjoyed a chocolate cream frappuccino topped with cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate and nutmeg powder to give it some bite. 
I turned one corner and was hit by the tourists, I guess I fitted right in with my beach house shorts and runners, but I didn’t have time to meamble. I had come across the Empire State building and Broadway Street, so I figured it was time to get a map. I was then able to make my way south, through the meatpacking district and along the converted above ground railway which was now a board walk full of flowers and trickling streams. I came across the site of the world trade center and the chill of 9/11 filtered through. I was after all looking at the gravesite of thousands, many of whom were only a few years older.
Making it back to Brooklyn was easy, the subways are as efficient as London’s underground and cheaper to for a weeks worth of commuting. We went to a yoga class at 6.30 and I enjoyed squeezing out a sweat of a nasty mix of bad food and alcohol that had been brewing for many weeks. I felt many times better for the exercise. 
Sasha gave me my first taste of Mexican food; I ordered some chicken tacos. I couldn’t wait to get closer to the source as it was a great meal. We had some drinks before heading on to another bar close by. We were the minority in colour and I was enjoying the mix of conversations and style this brought to the bar. We headed on down to Mo’s (a smaller bar with music and dance floor) with a friend of Sasha’s and I was impressed with the openness of everyone in the bar. Regardless of background, as long as you had clean shoes and clothes you could walk up to anyone and they’d happily have a conversation with you. It is a shame we are so enclosed in Perth when it comes to meeting new people. This would be a common theme throughout the next few days, where friends of friends would become close mates for a night or longer.
Friday
I wasn’t going to miss out this time; I had a double burger, a cheeseburger, some chips and a black and white thick shake from Shake Shack for breakfast. I waited under 10 minutes at 11am. The patties were fresh, cooked to a medium-rare juiciness that was very satisfying. 
I wandered on up to Central Park, as I wanted to sit and let my stomach rest from the feast it just devoured. A park like this seemed as important as the hundreds of yoga studios scattered throughout the city; it was a chance to escape the towering skyscrapers, the constant honking of horns and the busy daily routine that I imagined so many locals faced. It had only been a few days, but I already needed a break from the faced pace run of the city.
Walking back now, I came across 5th Avenue and my consumerism whore inside me was released. Pressured from Harry to ‘buy me some clothes’ I went from store to store and bought the necessary (chinos, jeans, t-shirts, collared shirts).
I made it back in time to change into my boardies; Sasha and some friends were driving out to a beach as the beginning of Long Island. We squeezed 7 into a range rover and I enjoyed being in a car for the first time on the American continent.
The car was full of a mix of some friends and friends of friends, yet, our conversations were deep and everyone was open and willing to share. It was so refreshing. We had some wine, cheese, and fruit by the moonlight while we swam in the warm water and crashing waves. They later joked I wouldn’t have swam if I saw the water during the day, as high pollution levels is quite an issue along the beaches in NY.
We stopped off at Luna Park and had some beers while walking through the jungle of sideshow games and bright lights. As a snack we ate deep fried mozzarella cheese sticks, which fairly represented the food on offer through the many burger and sweet joints. I didn’t care; I had a big smile from ear to ear as I walked round soaking up as much as I could.
Saturday
Today was all about making mums apple and raisin cake as well as the ice cream in preparation for a gathering in the evening.
We wandered to the farmers market and stocked up on fresh eggs, fruit and vegies and a couple of cinnamon doughnuts and a muffin. We had a nice breakfast with moist mushrooms before I watched an episode of the wire. It was nice to stop. Being a tourist and seeing the sights of every city is one way to do it, but to not feel pushed for time and be able to hang out with the local crowd is a far b
etter way I feel. I didn’t go into Manhattan today, instead in the afternoon we made peach ice cream using the juicy doughnut peaches bought form the markets, mums cake and explored the flea market close by. Here, I had to try a orange tangy doughnut and some many juicy as it was irresistible.
In the evening I wandered down the road for some pizza and watches some live jazz at a local pub before catching up with Sasha and 3 friends. We jumped in a taxi and headed to a friend of a friends place who had built a hot tub in his back yard. Again, the openness of the younger generation was shown here as I was warmly invited in and mixed with others and the dinner party.
It was a restful day, and although I didn’t see any sights that might be listed in the lonely planet guide I was well spent from a day of playing the ‘local’.
Sunday
By now I had discovered this small coffee shop close by that also had wifi so I snuck out early and spoke to the family over skype and checked emails. I was enjoying my morning cappuccino and it was kick starting my day.
Later on I went to century 21, a department store in downtown Manhattan and bought a few items, but it just didn’t compare to the shopping experience on 5th avenue. So I headed up that way and lost myself on Broadway in the shops and bustle of people. It was a effort to make my way home; because it was a Sunday there were changes to the operations for renovations and I had to go round in circles to finally make it to a stop close to the apartment.
We ate at a fine restaurant and had some moist fish with a glass of white wine. It was nice spending a few more dollars on food, but enjoying the whole experience at the same time. After, we walked to the cinemas and watched Paris After Midnight, which was actually rather entertaining - despite looking like a romantic chic flick comedy on face value.
Monday
I needed to clear my head so I went for a run around the park. It didn’t take long to be exhausted as the warm air and pollution ensured I sweated well.
Later I made some eggs on toast before heading onto the island. I wandered through Times Square and marveled at the advertisement boards and hustle of tourists. 
It was the tourists that made the square and there wasn’t much to see. I did enter into Toys R Us and the M&M shop, where I sampled all the available chocolates until I couldn’t eat anymore. 
I was doing my best to kill time; I wanted the lunch break to be over and the line at Shake Shack to be as small as possible. I arriver at 3pm and only had to wait for 30 mins or so. This time I wasn’t as greedy and ordered a vanilla shake with a burger. I inspected it closely, as I figured I can replicate it back home and it hit the stop well. 
I walked up 5th avenue to see it from a different angle. I enjoyed the sales at Gant as I felt I needed some more shirts. I wanted to have respectable clothes for when the family comes over in December for Christmas.
I met up with Sasha at a yoga studio near Washington Park. The ratio was amazing, 2 men to about 30 women. I was soon lost on the ratio thought as the class turned out to be an advanced class and I needed to concentrate on the poses. I hadn’t sweated so much since the very first time I did yoga. There was so much juice that my mat was too slippery to do the final poses! It was exactly what I needed though.
We walked back to Brooklyn via the Brooklyn Bridge and it was quite a spectacle. Not only was the bridge itself impressive, the skyline as the sun set made the city look almost surreal. 
We tried to eat at a famous pizza place but the line was well over 100m. We found a nice bar and were joined my some more friends, and again, friends of friends and had a few beers and dinner.
Tuesday
I slept in a little later than normal, rising around 9am as the yoga the previous night had worn me out. The temperature would hit 88 with the chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon, so I slipped on boardies and an old white t. It didn’t bother me what other people though, I after all was a tourist and didn’t have to conform to any dress code. It felt good.
I came across a Magnolia bakery and tried a few tasters of the cup cakes, but settles for a double chocolate fudge brownie. 
I headed back to Times Square and walked up 5th avenue again. I walked into the Abercrombie and Fitch store as the other days there had been at least a 50m long queue to enter. It wasn’t anything special and I didn’t buy anything. I crossed the street, and in my attempt to avoid the rain I entered to Tommy H shop again. I found a blazer and got it fitted, it turned out to be the last one in the shop so it must have been my lucky day! They would also send it down to Abq once it was altered at no cost.
While trying to find the subway station I hid under a entrance roof to a watch shop. A worker came out for a smoke and started up a conversation. He told me to come inside as I looked at the tag’s I would one day purchase. He let me try on a 243k watch for fun. It was a beautiful watch.
One the way home on the subway I jumped out at a stop near the famous pizza place we tried to eat at the other night. There was no queue so I ordered a pepperoni and mushroom take away. It was quite a struggle walking home with a seriously large pizza and trying to eat it at the same time. They were famous for a reason; it was excellent pizza. 
By the time I got home it was dark so I gulped down water (the acidity of the rain made me very dehydrated!) and quickly fell asleep.
Wednesday
I made Sasha some thank you breakfast before trying to squeeze all my new clothes into my bag. I jumped on a bus down to Philly where I planned on spending a few nights.
NYC was more than I had expected. A city where there is always a busy street, always a new friend to be made, always a place to find a drink or a eat and always a yoga class full of people. A week was long enough, but only just; I was yet to have that cocktail on the rooftop bar, among countless other experiences. But like all of the best places I’ve visited so far on this trip, I wanted to save things to do so I have no reason not to return sooner or later.
I jumped on the 10.45am bus down to Philly where I would spend the next few days.
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