NYE in NYC

31.12.2008

 

New Year's Eve...

 

Day started pretty bloody early as I had booked on the 8am bus from Boston. Up at 5.30, which wasn't so bad seeing as I'd been waking at 5.30 most mornings anyway, just a quick open the eyes wakeup and return to sleep, but still! Bus left early as all booked were on board. Half an hour early. Remember that - because we hit a slight delay. A snow storm. I think it was about half an hour out of Boston. It was coming down thick and fast. Cars were in all sorts of shape all over the road, a lot of them in twisted and mangled shape! The driver we had was obviously new to driving buses or driving to New York or driving in the snow, because she was pretty nervous and shaky the entire trip. We edged along incredibly slowly and arrived at 1.50 - Our scheduled arrival time was 12.20 - so given that we left half an hour early, two hours longer all up! I couldn't check in to the hostel once I was here, had to wait for check in time because "room isn't ready" - I only wanted to stick my bag in the locker! So I waited around and easily killed time, checked in then it was time to layer up.

Stockings, two pairs of thin socks, one pair of thick socks, long johns, tracky dacks, normal pants. Singlet, thermal, two long sleeved tops, cashmere jacket, fleece jacket, brown windproof jacket, black coat. Two scarves, two beanies, gloves. I was set! Other than my face, I was so toasty warm!

Laura, Bec and the stray from their dorm Hannah, and I headed off then in the direction of Times Square. Once there, made our way down 43rd to a pub Bec had an entry voucher for. We were so glad we went there - we had such an awesome time. Jugs were $5 so we were all beer drinkers for the night. Met so many different people, had so many conversations or attempts at. There was the lovely couple Kevin and Tracey. She was simply hilarious. Turned out she has her own one person comedy show. Yep, could see that! A few Aussies working in Europe for Top Deck Tours - 2 of them tour guides and 2 of them in the office. Wonderful people. Two young guys from New Jersey - Michael "the writer" and Derek the "pinky swear poofter"... Honestly, Derek extended his pinky finger to Bec I think it was to pinky swear something. I thought it was friggin hilarious, but brilliant!!!! Chris from an apartment over the road. Nick the Dick. This moron walked around all night with a guitar case in arms. No idea who he was for real, or where he fitted in the bigger picture, but he was such a massive dick! Got to the point at the end of the night I was almost spinning circles on the spot to avoid him! At 11.30 we decided it was time to make our way somewhat towards Times Square. Ha! Took us 20 minutes to walk just 2 blocks. Not because of the people on the street, but because we'd drunk too much and our group of four had grown to about ten and we kept losing people! Made it to 43rd and 8th. 43rd and 7th is where the ball is dropped. So no see! Saw confetti fall. That was our NYE in Times Square! As Laura said later - I was alone at midnight - we'd all become separated in the crowds when we reached them, so we were all with strangers. And in a crowd of that size, you could well be the only person on the street. Except for the moron behind me who asked how he was meant to see the ball if he couldn't get further through. "Ummmm, try arriving earlier..." Back to the pub for more drinks and more of the same. Spent a few more hours there before deciding it was our time to battle our way home. So, coats on. Except for me. Mine was gone. Along wtih my gloves. WTF. My new coat, the one I bought in Paris, after setting my trip up in such a wy that I could buy it there. How someone can take a coat that isn't their own is really beyond me! Whether by accident or not. Lowlife scum. Anyway, once we were in a position to consider leaving, we headed out into the cold to find a way home. Taxi would be the obvious choice, in NYC, but to our quick realisation, there is one night when it is impossible to get one~!!! Yep! So, we ended up asking a limo driver how much for a ride home, he told us $60. We just laughed. Tried for a taxi a bit more, then gave up and returned to the limo. Hopped in, he was such a funny driver. We realised that the limo was clearly in use. We asked who it belonged to - "some rich bastard" he said. He told us not to touch anything as it would get him fired, then moved us swiftly 60 blocks back to our hostel. As we hopped out, he gave us his card, in case we might need his services in the future?? Turned out the next day that Hannah had grabbed a jacket off the seat thinking it was one of ours and had to ring him to come back to get the jacket which was NOT ours! Poor guy! He was so convinced he was going to get the sack. I wasn't quite ready for bed, so gave Mum and Dad a call to wish them happy new year, then stumbled across some festivities in a hallway. Sat down and joined in. Next thing we knew it was 7am and the hostel staff noticed the bottle of vodka that should not have been noticed and we were issued an ultimatum - tip it out or go to the cold to drink it. To bed I scurried~ Far too cold outside! Outside the rest went, simulated tipping it out, then returned it in to a room they wouldn't be found in! That was NYE iin NYC. A fantastic night, very very memorable! Spent with a great group of people and events that were a once in a lifetime!!!!!