Day one: NYC

I should mention that I've never been on an airplane. Or for that matter out of the southeast. I mean I've been to DC (farthest north), Florida (furthest south), and Louisiana (furthest west), but otherwise I have not seen much of the world. My dad thought that I was completely stupid, demented, and crazy to go to NYC and stay with my cousin while she had an internship and I would be alone to wander the streets for a few days. I am too headstrong to listen to people who tell me I can't do something (and normally telling me to do something produces the opposite result).

My first experience in an airplane was not as bad or scary as I thought it was going to be. I thought security would take 2 hours to get through...well I got through everything in 18 minutes and was sitting at my gate planning on waiting 2 hours for my flight (oh well time to catch up on reading). The flight was on a tiny commuter plane (which I was not expecting). I was getting nervous during take-off and began taking deep breaths to calm down. A few minutes later after we leveled off and didn't experience turbulence at that point I realized that I liked flying. Except I didn't like the even no turbulence smooth sailing, I liked take-off, landing, and the dips (kind of like a roller coaster ride). I also realized that I didn't want the plane to experience turbulence because even though it was the most fun thing that happens in an airplane (because I really don't see myself joining the mile high club-small bathrooms...come on). Because the plane is so high up and not attached to a track, like a roller coaster, it could fall out of the sky and I would die in a fiery crash-lovely thoughts, but you never know.

The plane landed in La Guardia, no problems, and I collected my bags and caught a shuttle heading for the New Yorker (even though I wasn't staying there and had to walk a block and a half). One note about NYC taxis-they are crazy. I mean it doesn't bother me that much as long as I never have to drive in New York. If I move there I will not own a car-because it's pretty pointless anyway and I will not drive. The roadways were so crowded and so much honking happened everywhere, but it didn't bother me much. There were many signs around in certain areas that threatened a 350 dollar fine if the vehicle owner honked (I guess it helps noise pollution, but what about if someone is about to hit you?). I got out of the shuttle and dragged my bags down the few blocks, checked into my cousin's room and unpacked my stuff. Her room faced the street and didn't have AC, just a small fan. I hadn't had any lunch, but didn't really feel like trying to find food. I ate a cookie out of the bunch I brought her and headed out the door. I was going to explore.

I thought New Yorkers were going to be mean, rude, and not even look at me (this was all advice my dad had imparted with me before I embarked). Well I hadn't been on the street 3 minutes when this business man approached me while I was on the phone and said "Excuse me, I just wanted to let you know your tag is hanging out the back." This was actually going to be the first of many stereotypes I let go of. I wandered all the way to central park and spent the better part of the day wondering around the park, reading, etc. I found the zoo, big rocks, a playground, meadows, and wandered all the way to the east side of the park and made my way back to one trump tower near the entrance on 7th or 8th (I can't remember). I went into the Time Warner center and grabbed a sandwich from Dean and Deluca while eavesdropping on the guy next to me who did something in theater because he was going on about the script he was working with currently.

After the overpriced sammie (8 dollars for something that hard and stale), I headed back to my cousin's place (until she called me and directed me to Bryant Park for jazz in the park). I ended up walking down broadway on my way back, walking through times square and the theater district with crowds of tourists. I learned to spot a tourist and vowed not to look too much like one, because trying to navigate through crowds of tourists was not fun. Tourists stare at the building tops, wait for the little man before crossing the street and walk very slowly while blocking the entire sidewalk. (The best way to navigate your way through the sidewalks in NYC is to walk at a pretty good pace-unless your wearing killer heels, but you will probably wear flip-flops and carry your heels with you if you have to go far. Also don't stop on the sidewalk, or look at the tops of the buildings or around too much in general (its ok to look around a bit, as long as you can keep walking)-just don't stop moving because people will run into you and you will have ruined the perfect rhythm of walking the street. As for crossing the street, most streets are one way, so if the little man is not present and the stop hand is not flashing, you can still cross the street, just check to see if anyone is coming and then cross. If you hear something honking at you though, then pick up the pace and get out of the middle of the street.)

Walking through Times Square I was harassed by a short man who claimed to want my autograph. I said no and kept moving. This guy could only have wanted it for three reasons: 1. he was going to use my signature to try to sign me up for something/steal my identity, or something along those lines. 2. he mistook me for someone famous. or 3. maybe he was trying to flatter me for some reason. I believe 1 or 3 are more likely since I don't really resemble anyone (I once had someone tell me I looked like Cate Blanchett, but I don't see it).

I found my way to the garment district and spent some time walking around before I headed for Bryant Park and found a spot near the jazz performance and sat back waiting for my cousin to get off work. By the time she got off the music was basically over (which was really good and relaxing) and we had to practically run to make dinner at the place she was staying (her meals were included in her rent-breakfast and dinner)-I had to pay for dinner, breakfast was free though. At 6 dollars for a buffet style meal I didn't think it was too bad-b/c all food in NYC is expensive and as previously stated my stale sammie was 8 dollars. After dinner we grabbed a bottle of sav blanc from the wine store down the street, relaxed on the roof, watched part of a movie (A Good Year is terrible btw-very boring, don't do it to yourself), and then passed out in the uncomfortable heat that was a combination of her un-air conditioned room and a few glasses of wine. I drifted off listening to the sounds of traffic outside her window that would range from quiet rumble to full on bouts of honking and sirens.