The big jungle

I have only 30 minutes left on this library internet to post a poorly spelled and punctuated recap of my trip to NYC. It was fun.

I met up with Blaise, Peter, Vicki and Calvin at Aldershot GO train station. I had not heard much from them regarding the details of the trip, so Aldershot seemed kind of weird for a meeting place. I didn't question it but was fearful that plans had changed between my infrequent email checking and illiteracy, and had to feel like an imbasol with my backpack and tarnished hopes of hitching a ride to the big apple. Miraculously, the whole gang came into view as I ascended the escalator. They cheered upon my arrival, startling several people walking by. I was freaken happy to see them too.

After 6 of 7 hours of driving, we stopped at a small town for the night. I think it was called Scrotum... or some other equally ridiculous S word. Calvin drove us through the streets of New York at 11am the next day. His jungle instincts really came out, accelerating rapidly, taking every shortcut and nook with eager opportunity. He almost ran over a couple of pedestrians too. We thought he was so cool. The van was to be parked at the hostel we booked for the weekend.

Jazz Hostel: Harlom NY. We took a walk through the neighbouring streets. We stuck out like alpalfa's fro. It was a change compared to the majority of white and asians occupying Waterloo. The only white people we saw were at Starbucks. We took the subway for Central Park. The leaves were still on the trees. The park was beautiful, though very crowded. It looked domesticated with granite paved roads and man-made garden displays, but the trees were real I'm sure. During our walk, we saw Saks Fifth Avenue, which was extremely pricy. Somehow the wealthy crowd made the place less classy and eye-pleasing. I think it's because expensive retail stores seldom house more than a couple of people at a time here in Canada. And the empty store had become associated with luxury. We also visited Rockefeller Square and the Empire State building. The view atop was spectacular. Unfortunately, it is deemed once again as the tallest building in New York.

Day Two: Ground Zero; the place was solumn though full of people. Photos from 9/11 hung from the fences and a homeless man was playing amazing grace on his rusty flute (he made a lotta money that day). Looking at the photos, I had forgotten some details 9/11, amoung them the missing people posters pasted over the walls of the surrounding buildings, several plaques hung on the fence engraved with "the Hero's of 9/11". There was so many names, the plaques could not be captured in a single photo. The gang walked to Wall Street and then took a farie to Brooklyn bridge and the Stuatue of Liberty. The weather was horrible but floating across DT Manhattan was still a great time. That night we had dinner at Time Square before the Broadway showing of Spamalot (the musical). The night was spent wandering downtown and having desert. I was disappointed I didn't get to see Egypt (Andrew), who's doing a work term for some huge snooty company. I later found out he mistook a 0 for a 9 when he gave me his number :S.

The next morning we visited the UN headquarters. The tour was very informative. It was my first time on international soil as well. We saw the chambers where many meetings have taken place between work leaders. A meeting just ended as we walked into the general assembly hall. I got to read about the details of the meeting the next day in the paper!!

The trip ended with a fulfilling trip the duty free shop. We didn't go to Carrie's house, but New York was a great trip, I'd visit again in a NY minute.