5th January 2009

5.1.2009

 

Took myself off this morning to have my nails tidied at one of the many beauty salons within a small radius. Hannah had had a late night last night so she wasn't up and moving, but once she was ready and I was ready, we hopped on the subway straight down to lower Manhattan. Very different to the upper and mid town areas. Not just in people and general feeling, but even in the architecture. So very different. After finding the Titanic Memorial (a very small and rather pathetic lighthouse) we were ready to take on the Brooklyn Bridge. Rugged up well, prepared for cold wind over it - and over we went. It was fantastic! Not anywhere near as cold, long or boring as it could have been. Suprised halfway across to discover that to our right was that funny statue everyone goes to see, that I was not fussed to see or not see. (Statue of Liberty if you're wondering what I'm talking about!) Suitably impressed by the view from the bridge in all directions, not beautiful in the sense of the absolute beauty, but beautiful in that it was a view of something iconic, from something iconic, and to realise that I personally was HERE/THERE - it was just a real wow, omg, it's amazing - moment. I'm sure you know what I'm rambling about there!! After we made it over we looked at the Brooklyn map and thought that Brooklyn Heights would be a suitable destination. The historic area, it was indeed. Instantly we were in Brooklyn I felt a sense of peace and calm that one definitely doesn't feel in Manhattan, and I commented to Hannah that I liked it here. It wasn't too long before she admitted it was growing on her as well - very different to Manhattan, but not bad. We had lunch, which was yuck. Terrible. I had a turkey burger, which wasn't too bad, although the patty was made out of turkey mince, and I'd expected it would be a slice of turkey breast or the like. Hannah had an open turkey sandwich, which turned out to be bread with chunks of (leftover) turkey (from Christmas???) and drenched in gravy. It was disgusting. Not to mention the service when we first walked in this place. We sat down, we'd been told to sit whereever and we were snapped at to move elsewhere. Then we struggled to get service, then we got this terrible food and were not asked at all how it was - funny that! So we were not particularly nice when we tipped. We don't care that you're meant to tip regardless, we tipped, but used our pennies, and paid little attention to what they added to. Not much, that's for sure. Not just were we drastically overcharged for shit food, but we'd received the worst service. Not holding it against Brooklyn though. Just that restaurant. Once we'd seen a bit more of Brooklyn Heights, jumped on the subway back to Manhattan. Once in Times Square, hopped off and up to Letterman to collect our tickets. Were in such a damned long queue to collect them. Were given a number and told to WAIT. Were given a revving up then sent on our way, to return 45 minutes later. While we were collecting our tickets we were asked by the guy if we were prepared to take our hats off inside, of course we said yes, they're beanies to keep our heads warm. The girls in front of us were asked the same question. One flipped. She demanded to know why. She couldn't understand why. We'd decided to kill time we'd go to Grand Central Station as we wanted to see it, but after the revving up and delay, I suggested we just go for the $5 cosmopolitans that were advertised up the road. Far better way to get us in the laughing mood for the show. Had a few, and next to the bar was a little table with "red hat" - the lady who couldn't understand why she had to take her hat off. The hat matched her lipstick, but that really was it. It didn't match anything else, at all! It didn't even make her look good, so we couldn't understand her distress. Once back at Letterman, I took my hat off because the one  was wearing gives me lines below my hairline, so I wanted them to uncrease sooner rather than later, not that I thought we would get caught on camera, but just in case. Red hat still had her hat on. The queue snaked in, we sitted down. She still had her hat on. The theatre filled, the staff seated people. She still had her hat on. Hannah and I were starting to get really frustrated at her obnoxious behaviour, and were contemplating calling someone to have them make her hat off, just to spite her by this point, when someone did ask her to take it off. Yay for him! I've not seen such stupid insistence about the most pathetic thing before!!! The show was ok, the special guest was Keifer Sutherland, which was pretty cool. He had some pretty funny stories to tell. All in all, it was a good experience and a fantastic day. Once back at the hostel, it was time to do some washing and pack for departure. Have to also mention, had an apple pie from McDonalds. Interesting that theirs are different to ours in Australia, yet the apple pie I had in Slovakia last year was the same as ours, not America's! mwahahha. Oh yes, ours are better!