we're not big city people really...

Ants running in every direction. Miles and miles of hot and stuffy tunnels weaving their underground network beneath the chaos above. Out into the air the ants scatter; like robots each on their own preprogrammed courses, never faltering for a second. Their world screams, shouts, honks, barks and blares at them and still they carry on. Oblivious. To be caught up in such a scene without a purpose is futile. Carried in the rush you’re swept along. You’re direction? It doesn’t matter. They’ll take you with them anyway. The scurrying ants don’t care. Get in their way and they will crush you.

Welcome to New York city 

Entering Times Square was terrifying. Electronic billboards ten foot high screech their adverts at you. Everyone is trying to speak to you, to sell you something, to take your money, to take your time, maybe even a piece of your soul. Shop fronts smudge into one another and push out into the street. There is scaffolding everywhere. Holding up all the gigantic signs, arrows and gimmicks. In the centre is a giant staircase that leads to where? Cars push round corners into you ankles, Taxi’s honk their horns. Peace is not welcome here. Overwhelmed I held onto Ollie’s arm until he pulled us into a shop and asked if I was O.k. The Hershey store was enough to momentarily take my mind away and as we payed for the giant bar of chocolate I relaxed a little. But back outside it was the same. A man who wanted money to feed the homeless made easy conversation with Ollie. Ollie gave him a dollar. ‘Because your Dad would Amy’ he said.

As the morning rush hour came to a sudden end the panic inside me resided. Now the rush of people had lessened I could take a moment to appreciate my surroundings, take some photos and start to enjoy myself. Ten hours on a bus to arrive straight into chaos had all been a bit much! We wondered around the various stores and looked in some of them. Not too many though, we would only want to buy! Sitting on a small table in the centre of the busy square we drew on a map the places we would like to visit in New York City. Today we decided to walk through Central Park, see the museums (which turned out you had to pay to go in and a lot at that so we didn't!) and then later spend the evening in Greenwich village.

It was another baking hot day. I’m beginning to wonder if we will experience any cold weather while we’re in the U.S at all! The park was had lots of shady trees though and walking around it was lovely. Just how I had wanted Central Park to be. We came across a street vendor and Ollie asked me if I wanted to get some nuts. As we stood looking for the price I noticed we were surrounded by camera crews, cables, those silver shiny umbrella things and lots of people with walky-talkies. Suddenly aware that people were staring at us Ollie and decided to chose a different path. Just as we did we realised that everyone was being directed away from that path and being shouted at if they didn’t. Further along people had stopped and were taking pictures of a couple on a bench before being hastily moved on by what looked to be ‘crew’. Ollie and I stood and watched as a man shouted ‘Quite please’, ‘Action’ and then ‘Background start walking’. Maybe it’s a TV show I said. We watched a take which consisted of the couple talking and then kissing. Ollie decided he wanted to know what was being filmed so he asked one of the ‘crew’ members.

‘It’s a movie’ said the guy.

‘Oh. Who’s that over there then?’ said Ollie.

‘Gweneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo’ replied the guy.

Ollie and I could not believe it! We had accidently walked right into the middle of a Hollywood movie set!

* * *

We checked into our hostel in the early afternoon and considering the good price it is truly amazing. It’s a brand new refurbishment with little kitchens in the rooms and amazing ensuite bathrooms which is always a bonus! We’re sharing with two other men. Ollie was hoping they would be cool and young and that we would get to hang out with them, however they are both middle aged and one has a very, very hairy back! Not that that would put me off but they don’t speak English!

Anyway the first thing I did when I got here was get straight in the shower. It felt so good to was off three days worth of dirt and grime! I think that has to be the longest I’ve ever gone without a wash. Brushing my teeth and putting on clean clothes was also lovely! So now we both smell nice again and neither have giant food stains down us anymore!

A proper bed to sleep in tonight...bliss!

* * *

This evening we took the subway down to Greenwich village and we absolutely loved it! It was in it’s own little world, pretty streets, vibrant bars and loads of people just hanging out. It was even more of a bonus for Ollie as it is ‘Happy Hour’ on a Tuesday so he got to enjoy $2 beers! Everywhere else we have been so far in U.S has charged ridiculous amounts so he never got to have more than one. Tonight he made up for that!

We got some buffalo wings and tortilla chips with guacamole to snack on for dinner. We chose the ‘mild’ wings and I’m so glad we did. They almost took our mouths apart! Thinking the guacamole would cool our tongues down we ate giant scoop falls only to find out that was just as spicy! All very delicious just very spicy! 

Being in the village felt as if we were on a T.V. set. The trees lining the streets stood perfectly still; there was no wind. The air was a perfect neutral temperature and the buildings were so tall they managed to block out any noise from any other part of the city. It was such a peaceful place to be I didn’t want to leave.