In New York freedom looks like too many choices
19 03 2008‘What are you doing on Thursday evening?’ my friend e mailed me last weekend as he invited me to a pub quiz. I have never loved this kind of question so much. I pondered my answer carefully before replying ‘ ohh I don’t know…. probably strolling down Greenwich village or catching a show on Broadway - depends really …’ Of course it’s very hard to portray nonchalance in an e mail but I like to think I came across all cool and calm instead of the reality which is that I’m like a giddy kid just before christmas.
Which makes today Christmas Eve as I’m flying off tomorrow lunch time. I must remember to put out a carrot and a glass of sherry before I hit the sack. To add to the excitement My Occasionally Nefarious friend had arranged a special NY surprise for us for Saturday afternoon and no amount of interrogating would make him spill the beans. That was until I got him drunk and gently asked him what it was. Then out it all came as easy as New York Apple Pie. Apparently we’re going on a mad helicopter tour of the city. This news was astonishing to say the least seeing as my ONF has a bizarre fear of heights. Bizarre in that it mainly crops up while climbing church towers. I’m not sure if we’ll be allowed take champagne on the short journey but I have a feeling I’ll need a drink afterwards.
So I have also listened to the advice of countless friends advising to take very few clothes with me as I will buy lots and lots. Everything is so cheap they keep telling me. I’ve gone along happily with this until I realised last night that no matter how cheap things will be I will still have to pay for them with real money. Doing a masters degree is no cheap adventure let me tell you.
I will be back before you know it - sometime towards the end of next week. Will I be moaning about jet lag, will I be miserable because immigration wouldn’t let me in, will I have borrowed a fortune and filled my empty case with lots of bargains? I fear what I will almost definitely come back with is an accent, seeing as I seem to pick them up easier than the common cold. I’ll surely be wandering about The Hague with a New York tinted way of speaking, complaining about how small everything is in the Netherlands. I can’t wait!
Have a great time! With the stonking exchange rate your non-existant money will be worth even more…safe travels!
one last tip! - don’t forget to tip! I knew a bunch of Irish lads that went over and weren’t used to the concept and they couldn’t believe the barman verbally abused them when they didn’t leave a tip. - Enjoy!
Have a Blast! Bring back plenty of blog material.
You are going to have so much fun! We did a helicopter tour in 1999 and it was amazing. I’m terrified of flying but I still loved it. There’s something about the novelty of it that overrides any nervousness.
can’t wait to hear all about it!
Ah you’ll have a ball! The chopper trip is brilliant, I’ve done it twice. South Street Seaport is only up the road and has bars galore for afterwards
Come back soon!
yvonne - that’s exactly what I was thinking and besides - flights and hotel are what credit cards are for
quicktrip - Good advice - thank you - and more than the usual 10% here I’ve heard
ann - oh I am very very glad to hear that as a part of me is a little more than slightly nervous at the thought
catherine - do you think it’ll be possible to take photos from the chopper? I like the sound of bars galore hehe
grannymar - I’m expecting to have tonnes
Yep you can definitely take pics, just make sure you bully your ONF into giving you the seat by the (glass) door
You’ll definitely have a fabulous time. New York is soo cool. Enjoy.
Have great time - I hope you don’t find too many maggots in the big apple
well, this sounds absolutely fabulous and wonderful and fun and exciting and i am so looking forward to your adventures.
but trust me–new yorkers do not drawl.
i love nyc! you’ll have a blast, sugar! but to hear a drawl y’all havta come on down heah!
I realised last night that no matter how cheap things will be I will still have to pay for them with real money - What words of wisdom from one so young. Pity you didn’t go to the US a couple of years ago and tell the sub-prime lenders that.
Have a fantastic time Conor and take loads of photos!
@Catherine - I don’t think the ONF will need any bullying regarding the (glass) door. I’ve been reliably informed that his devious plans specifically involved young Conor sitting in precisely that position.
@Conor - the ONF has also told me that his aversion to heights only manifests itself in your company. Perhaps he’s trying to give you a hint?
A helicopter trip? Oooh, I’m so jealous, I’ve never done that. Have a swell time, buddy, and store up lots of juicy posts for your return!!
Have a great time. If you have never been to NY, you are in for a treat as they are the nicest people imaginable. As long as you tip :-))
Plan on 20% in most cases, except at counters and the like. You may be surprised to see tip jars in takeaways. These are optional but otherwise tipping is anything but. Your friend who lives there will know all about that, though.
The other thing is SALES TAX. This is on top of any price you see. There are a few things that aren’t taxed, but most things are. Everything will be ridiculously cheap to you–even in NY–but NYC sales tax is about 9% and Europeans are always surprised the first time their tab doesn’t equal the price tag. Have fun!
sigh. i am soooo jealous. can’t wait to hear your adventures.
so jealous…….so so jealous…….
I’ve just got back from Montreal ready to thrill everyone with tales of ’snow as big as your house’. The plane was late arriving into Lyon and was the last flight to arrive before the airport got shut for two hours - due to unseasonal snow….ouch!
And the point of that was to say that, I hope you had a lovely time, hope it lived up to expectations (I’m sure it did, and then some). Just don’t expect everyone to be thrilled when you are feigning jet lag and going ‘ooh isn’t everything so quaint’ ‘ooh there’s sooo much history here’ and ‘ooh, over there they…..’.
Not that you would, of course….!
Jealous, jealous, jealous! Have wonderful fun and tell us all about it when you get back. Can’t wait to hear about your heli trip too! xx
Have a blast, Conor.
Have a wonderful time sweetie…unfortunately the weather’s fucking freezing at the mo…but a few drinkies should sort you out.