NYC…. a short fiasco* later we got here to Lauren’s open arms in downtown Manhattan. Culture shock! From Guejar Sierra, Andalucia to the Big Apple. I thought Aran would be more impressed but his main interest for now is in the difference in the US vs European plumbing systems (fuller toilets/different manhole covers/etc). We spent the next few days walking up and down the avenues and streets of every neighbourhood within reach. We browsed the farmer’s market at Union Square, strolled the Villages, toured the playgrounds of Tribeca, sat in Central Park, went to a free kid’s pool in Soho, brunched in the East Village, had cocktails at the Eddy, ate delicious food at Jason’s resto Wallflower in Chelsea, spent a great day with my Aunt and two cousins in parks, walked the highline, took the Staten Island ferry, checked out the hipsters at Williamsburg flea markets, rented bikes to cruise the city, bought ointments in Chinatown and generally wore out an already jetlagged Aran. Robbie also started off his skatepark pilgrimage at Pier 62 for some bowl skating early each day and of course it wouldn’t be fun to do only city stuff so we kayaked on the Hudson too. So a busy few days. Thanks so much Lauren for putting us up and up with us.
* realising at 11.30pm the night before flying that I had left my passport in a bank in Granada earlier on that day and our flight was at 10.50 the next morning….oops. Its the kind of thing that I feel far too organised to ever have happen to me. Much luck and cooperation from the entire universe (especially nick) later, me and passport arrived to a worried-looking Robbie and Aran in Malaga airport who were banking on travelling alone. Wheew…
Coffee break
Manhattan is surprisingly compact and easy to navigate. Its not in the slightest bit opressive to be in, so full of green space and parks and open streets. Its only when you take the ferry out into the harbour, or cross over into Brooklyn that you see exactly where you have been and can understand the scale.
Next stop Colorado.