New York City - The City That Never Sleeps (days 7-10)

Day Seven

(I’m having issue uploading the blogs with pics at the moment so will have to edit them at a later date).

Feeling weary and tired I headed off with my list of things to see and do. Throughout my trip I keep on getting lost and I was trying to figure out why this was such an issue. On previous trips when I’ve been in London and Paris with no wifi and didn’t get as lost. So today I decided to simply use the subway map - no according to google maps it was not the fastest way to get places, however, it solved my lack of direction issues.

I wanted to go to the Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Centre) so headed there first. When I got in line I thought there were only a few people - unfortunately the line went around the corner. Once I finally got to get a ticket (30-40 mins later) I was told that the earliest I could go up was in a few hours. I got annoyed as I would not have waited so long had I known this. Thinking I didn’t have enough time for everything I ended up getting a ticket for around 6pm and headed to my next stop.

I went and did a grand central station audio tour and the building is amazing! I can see why it’s such an iconic place in the city.

After this I had intended to hop on the hop on / hop off bus as I wanted to go up to Harlem. Now at this stage I should point out that is was around 30-32 degrees and humid, my feet were sore and I was exhausted. It was then that the bus turned up - the air conditioning was not working downstairs and there was no space upstairs. Now anyone else would have seen this as defeat and decided to skip the bus. I instead decided to put up with the heat hoping for another bus later on at the next stop, unfortunately there was not another for an hour so I again stayed on board. I then finally managed to make it upstairs to some airflow only to hear that the other tour finished an hour ago, sigh. I think I then angered the tour bus driver who was trying hard to sell horse and buggy rides around Central Park. It was warm that day and I’m sure the horse would have rather been in a field in the shade. Anyway she told me that until it was a certain temperature (hot and cold) they were not allowed out.

Admitting defeat I got off on the next stop and headed back to Rockefeller Centre as the Nintendo store was nearby and my top of the rock tour was due. The store was amazing and only made me want to get a switch more (you will be mine in October)!

My day could not get worse and it was then I realised I had lost my water bottle. It’s only a water bottle but it’s perfect for my trip and I had saved so much money not buying water when out and about. Luckily after tracking back to two different stores I found it at the Nintendo store next to the switch demo machines.

I then started to feel sick. I’m sure it was a combination of too much heat, general exhaustion and not drinking enough water. What made it even worse was that people wanted to take pics of people on a blue screen then sell them to you. You had to stay in line regardless of if you wanted to take a pic which made things that much longer.

Finally managing to get to the top I ended up semi collapsed in the seating area for the next area. I took a few pics and decided I would get some dinner then head home via Uber. Can you guess what happened next? Waiting ten minutes for the car it could not find me and cancelled my ride! I was even charged $5 for not being in the correct meeting place and saying it had waited more than five minutes for me. It was more like 2-3 and I never saw it drive past. Luckily I was able to dispute this and got a credit on my account. I then managed to get home and into bed.

Day eight

I didn’t have the best sleep because the air conditioning machine was quite loud and not that effective. Luckily I had decided to take the day off. I went back to sleep and completed my only task of the day. I already knew I had overpacked and I decided it was time to dump out excess stuff I had picked. Someone had told me before I go to take half of my stuff out and I would not need it. I should have listened! Being in my own company most of the time it’s easy to wear the same clothes many days in a row which calls for less clothes.

I was then going to take a quick walk to the park but I could not motivate myself. I ended up reading and sleeping for the rest of the day. The hostel I’m staying at is amazing and they sell food all day so didn’t even need to go out to eat.

Day nine

After the day before I decided to take it easy and do some last minute shopping and see Times Square in the evening.

I went back to my favourite place - old navy and bought some more shorts and togs! I was so pleased as my current pair is a bit small and I intend to swim as often as I can over summer in

Europe as I know how hot it will be!

I then went across the road to see Macy’s - let’s just say it’s out of my price range. I did see the floor piano from the movie Big.

It was then I remembered that Overboard (the movie remake from the 80s) was out that day. Luckily there was a movie theatre nearby. The movie was hilarious. It’s not quality but the story was still funny.

It was then getting dark and I headed off to time square. I went to the M&M store and fell in love with a blanket they sold but managed to old back as I still have five months so go and no more space in my bag.

Day ten:

Today was my flight and I was still exhausted. I decided to hang out at my hostel and wait for my shuttle to the airport. Now if I could turn back time things would be a lot better.

I then headed to the airport and it was not until I was taking things out that I remembered that I had to take out my iPad etc. in horror as I’m opening it I realise my iPad is missing. This sends me into an immediate panic attack. Knowing I could not leave the airport and it was back at my hostel.

I am so grateful that a woman working there let me borrow her phone to call the hostel. Yes they had it and would package it up for me and sent it through once I sent them a packing label.

I then hopped on my flight and watched as the USA went drifted away.