As the famous song by one of my all time favourite musician artist goes (Sting) … “I’m an Englishman in New York”. This place is huge! Much bigger then I expected.

Another delayed bus/coach journey this time with Megabus as I finally pull into the city that never sleeps! I am a fair bit behind my expected arrival time which isn’t particularly welcomed by the host whose place I’m staying at during my time here. I try my hardest to make amends by recruiting another traveller on my coach who apparently had no where to stay that night as their friend had let them down. I passed on the hosts details as I believed there may of been some spare beds available where I was staying and luckily for her there was, me doing my good deed for the day. Travellers always look out for one another. So close now to this fairytale city I just had to pull out the camera already! This photo below was about twenty mins or so from the city itself!

We get off the bus together and she goes one way and I go to get a coffee as I’m in need of a caffeine fix. We both agree it’s better we both make our own way to the property as both of us barely know one another although I did offer to taxi it there together but can imagine for her it must of all felt like all too good to be true. English gents are obviously hard to find here in NYC. 🙂

I get my coffee and jump in a cab as the fun obviously begins tomorrow. The host (Kathleen) is pestering the life outta me wondering my whereabouts as she has a night out planned for the evening with her friends as its gay pride weekend, thanks for giving me me no notice whatsoever Kathleen! Wish I had the gift of making everything run on time! Anyways a big weekend for the States as this was first time ever that Gay marriage had been approved across the whole country. Oh America, us Brits are so much more further ahead of your legalising issues its hard to believe when we are such a smaller island to yours 🙂

Finally I arrive at the property which was based in Brooklyn around 22:00 due to my cabbie getting stuck in traffic ‘suprise suprise’ and by this happening only made Kathleen more stressed for her big night out that she even threatened to leave my entry key with another traveller there! Fortunately it never come to that and the awkward arrival meeting with host and guest began from there really, not something I needed to be honest after a long day getting to a place I had been looking forward to getting to from the beginning of my adventure but “That’s Life” in the words of Frankie Sinatra.

I got shown around the place I was staying at and got myself settled in by unpacking a little to get myself all prepped for the next day. What astounded me about the place was there were two bathrooms there for total amount of around 15-20 people and one of them had a lock on the door that certain people in the property had access to only! The bathroom that was available was on top floor right next to the kitchen, how hygienic! I could clearly see it was going to be used a lot by everybody during my stay and there were times when it all got a bit tense understandably so. I had to take a leak before going to bed and would you believe the owner is still sitting there in her clothes so sooooo much for her big night out eh! Let’s get some kip and sleep it all off, travelling is very stressful as you have probably gathered from my previous posts.

When in Boston I purchased some soccer (footie) tickets to go watch the new football team that the city is buzzing about, NYC. For those who don’t know much about MLS it’s the team that Frank Lampard now plays (or used to) for as well as Andrea Pirlo. The tickets was for the battle of the city and bragging rights included, New York City vs New York Redbulls. All that to come shortly.

So my first day consisted of a wet day in New York where I chanced it with wearing my Toms that got soaked through, not a good start! I go in search of optimism and grab a strawberry Mcdonalds milkshake for my walk around town. Popped into T-mobile to invest in a data sim card as the constant search for wifi was starting to bane me, found a good deal. Had a good look around and had to resort to trying out a bright yellow taxi as it got too wet to keep on the move outside. I was ideally on the hunt for a NYC football strip but it was hard to know where to start with looking for a sports shop as there are literally hundreds of diff roads to walk down. New York has a lot of avenues and I recommend if your visiting there do your homework before hand! The Subway set up here takes a lot of getting used to and is extremely confusing. Be prepared to ask randoms for ways to get around as there are very few ticket guards knocking about! Here are a few shots from my first day.

It was time to head home as the weather wasn’t holding out too well still but it was just good to get out and see the city for itself. Only time I’ve ever had a glimpse is from seeing it in the movies although actually being here is completely different to however I expected it to ever be.

The next day was a trip to the Yankee Stadium not to watch the baseball but to hopefully watch NYC smash the Redbulls into next week but sadly this wasn’t the case. NYC started brightly and took an early lead but back came the Redbulls in the early part of second half. Then the inevitable happened as NYC went in search of another goal and came ever so close to doing so the Redbulls got a lucky break and went down other end and scored. I’m kicking the chair infront of me in disbelief as I don’t take to losing very well and sods law Bradley Wright Phillips was the goalscorer, ex Charlton, like WTF seriously! Luckily nobody was sat infront of me. Of course NYC go in search for an equaliser and Redbulls scored again and grab their third! Time to go home I think although a quick pit stop in a bar called ‘Billy’s’ was in order as a stiff drink was much needed! I still went and bought the NYC Jersey though, gotta show my support haven’t I, win lose or draw! Here’s a few more shots and a small vid of the big day out! City may be running red for now but it will run blue in the future I tell you, particularly when Ronaldo eventually arrives 😉

The next few days consisted of major sightseeing with me going out around the city early doors more buying a few necessities and taking loads of photos in particular Times Square which seemed to to be busiest part of Manhatten and I got to see Central Park, Times Square and obviously the big tourist attractions of Empire State, Rockafella, Statue Of Liberty, Wall Street, Ground Zero etc. Here are some more pics but you can find the rest on my Facebook photos albums 🙂

I think I had overstayed my time in New York a bit too much and found it all a rather bit daunting if I’m totally honest. A city with a lot going on but also very pricey. Spent way too much dollar here!

Next Stop is Viva Las Vegas! Surely I can’t go on and win again…..!?!?