New York New Yorking: Part 5

Right. What was originally going to be just one long post has spiraled wildly out of control, and I am now on the fifth and final segment! Let's go out with a bang, shall we?

This post tells the tale of my last two full days in New York city, and the long, perilous journey home...

So far in my mission to visit all five NYC boroughs, I had hit Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island. So I still had Brooklyn and Queens to go, and I was determined to do at least one of those today.

So I headed off! All the way over to the far side of Manhattan, to kick start my day at the famous Katz's Delicatessen. I walked through the gridded streets, sparkling with sunlit frost, passing some classic New York architecture - and some classic New York graffiti!

The Streets of Manhattan

I had first seen Katz's (in fact - I saw several of my food places) on the show Man vs Food, in which a funky chunky man named Adam absorbs an admirable amount of food in one sitting, taking on food challenges across the US! It's all on Youtube. 10/10 would recommend for when you're on a calorie-restricted diet.

Katz's Delicatessen

Katz's is pretty unmissable due to the huge red sign chillin' outside. I say chillin' because it was literally freezing outside - I could not wait to be not outside. Seriously - just stopping long enough to take this photo, when I moved again, I could literally hear my frozen joints creak. Like the Tin Man.

The Interior of Katz's

When I stepped through the door, a comforting wall of warmth hit me full in the face. I almost fell to the floor with relief, but instead, I took my gradually defrosting carcass across to a table in the middle of the diner, where I could sit and admire as much of the restaurant as possible as I returned to homeostasis.

I watched the chefs stack up the sandwich. I could smell the sizzling meat. I was ready for the full Man vs Food experience!

In Katz's, I made friends with a pilot, a chef and the BIGGEST SANDWICH I HAVE EVER SEEN:

Me and My Sandwich Love

When asked what I would like on my sandwich, I replied: "What wouldn't I like on my sandwich, kind sir?" And he delivered, New York style. It was some kind of super-Reuben, with pastrami and corned beef, mustard and sauerkraut. It was all the good things about that hot dog I had in Prague one time, but it had a charm all its' own.

My New Pilot and Chef Loves

As aforementioned, I also made new friends! One is a pilot in Manchester, and the other is a chef in Rhode Island. Facebook is a majickal tool of friendship, and it's always good to see what they're up to (and what memes they're likin')

I hope to see both of them again someday! If only to thank them wholeheartedly for not judging the weird sandwich-scoffin' yellow-sweater-wearin' talkin'-to-strangers gal, and for welcoming me into their conversations and hearts.

First Skint New Yorking tip of the last post: SKINT NEW YORKING TIP #9: MAKE. FRIENDS. Travelling alone is so much fun, but sometimes a friendly voice and a helping hand are exactly what you need. Some of my best memories from my trip are when I met really cool people. A kind waiter, a sassy bartender, or just a smiler on the subway, can turn your whole day around.

Don't be afraid to ask for directions! Seems like kinda an obvious one, but pride or anxiety can often get in the way. It's better to get your bearings but receive a funny look than to take the chance and end up lost.

I braced myself to go back out into the cold, as I had a long walk ahead of me; The streets were like wind tunnels - I could almost feel my face rippling!

I walked down Bowery towards the Brooklyn Bridge, which took me through Little Italy and Chinatown.

Little Italy

Little Italy was picturesque and beautiful, the sunlight spilling into the narrow streets to illuminate signs such as "The Taste of Italy" and (my personal favourite) "Cannoli World." Turns out cannolis are glorious pastry horns of flavoured cream, sprinkled with nuts, chocolate or sugar. The drool was real.

Alas, I was determined to get to Brooklyn, and I was stuffed from my megasandwich, so I hung my head and moved on.

Chinatown

As I walked further down Bowery, I started to notice that some of the signs were starting to swim before my eyes. I couldn't make out the words. As the wind blasted my face, I started to panic. Is it just the cold?

Oh wait - I'm in Chinatown! Thank god, I thought I just suddenly couldn't read.

Just on a whim, I stepped inside one of the tourist-y shops along Bowery. I was so impressed! It was a cacophony of colours - it looked like a car boot sale and an antique shop had exploded in a Chinese restaurant.

So I ventured into another, and then another. And before I knew it, I had bought a whole manner of souvenirs! SKINT NEW YORKING TIP #10: LITTLE ITALY AND CHINATOWN! There were so many cute souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. Even if you don't stop n' shop, it's definitely worth a wander-round!

Shopping in Chinatown

Also, Bowery is a fascinating part of Manhattan, with a rich history - make sure you stop to read the plaques as you make your way down! I would have stopped even longer, but I thought it might be best to move on once my nose started to turn blue in the bitter wind!

The Bowery

At the base of the Bowery, I saw my destination, the Brooklyn Bridge, stretching across the Hudson and into the blue haze of the distance.

It took me some time to find the beginning of the pedestrian walkway - a route that takes you through a tunnel in the middle of city hall - but once I started walking up the gentle slope, the views which emerged were more than spectacular:

Finding the Brooklyn Bridge

Typically, I made friends with a couple of random strangers, and then asked them to take a photo of me! A decent photo, I had hoped - profile pic material. If only the wind had consented - the above is as close as I got!

Hints of Resistance

I can't tell you which part of the Brooklyn Bridge was my favourite: The perfect pattern of perpendicular wires; The views over the Hudson - of the familiar landscape of Manhattan and the unfamiliar Brooklyn skyline; The graffiti.

Just as on the High Line, the art on the Brooklyn Bridge had a quietly defiant air which, just two months after Donald Trump's inauguration, was comforting to uneasy visitors, worried about arriving to an atmosphere of animosity.

More Views From the Brooklyn Bridge

So I arrived in Brooklyn. I walked through Brooklyn Heights, admiring the towering buildings. The main difference between the scenery of Manhattan and my present surroundings were the colour scheme; Less chrome, silver and black and more brown, red brick and camel plaster.

Welcome to Brooklyn

The warmer colours carried me down the windy streets to my destination - Junior's Restaurant and Bar. Although I was still pretty full of ubersandwich, I was determined to get a proper taste of true New York cheesecake!

Junior's Cheesecake

After my cheesecake break, I had a wander around the Heights, and stopped by a goodwill store, which was like my local charity shops except ENORMOUS!

Goodwill, Brooklyn

Which brings me to SKINT NEW YORKING TIP #11: Goodwill! Instead of spending crazy money at Macy's or Barney's, instead head to the boroughs and hit up the local Goodwill! Spending wise and doing good.

The Subway

I went straight back to Manhattan: I met up with an old friend, who was studying in the city, and went exploring! In order to get to her place, I had to walk all the way up to 6th Avenue, so I decided to take the scenic route!

At The World Trade Centre Complex

The Flat Iron Building

Back Past The Empire State

I won't go into what happened, but my hopes of a big New York City night out were somewhat dashed, and I ended up just hanging out with my "friend"'s awesome housemates all evening!

The View From The Apartment

On the advice of one of said cool housemates, in our quest for pre-drinks, we walked for twenty minutes in the freezing wind to Trader Joe's Wine Shop!

So SKINT NEW YORKING TIP #12 would be TRADER JOE'S! These supermarkets are everywhere in Manhattan, and the prices are pretty neat - they're like a less-extortionate Whole Foods! And the range of wines they had in the wine shop was impressive - I was in heaven! (I like wines.)

So after an ultimately disappointing night out, when I headed back across the Hudson to Manhattan the next day, I was determined not to waste any more time!

Tiffany's, 5th Avenue

My first stop on this crisp, chilly morning was breakfast: Breakfast at Tiffany's, to be precise!

Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my favourite childhood movies - along with Gone With the Wind - 10/10 would recommend for when you're duvet-day-level sick.

However, struggling to eat my croissant and burning my mouth on my coffee, too cold to even concentrate on admiring the beautiful window displays, in danger of being blown away - the last person in the world I felt like was Audrey Hepburn!!

Luckily, a kindly, strapping security guard saw me shivering, and invited me inside! "Am I allowed to eat my breakfast inside?" I inquired. He replied with a smile and a resounding yes!! He sat me down on a velvet-y cushioned bench whilst I thawed out, and he even offered to take a photo of me!

Having Breakfast At Tiffany's

So SKINT NEW YORKING TIP #13: BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S! The staff are welcoming and kind, it's warm, and my coffee from a stall around the corner only came to four bucks! Four bucks to feel like a Queen: that's living.

Highlights From Tiffany's

Once I had suffienciently defrosted, and drank my coffee, I started to drift around the store. The jewellery was glorious, but that isn't Tiffany's only temptation! A signed letter from Audrey Hepburn drew my attention. And then, upstairs, a modern art exhibition. Now, that I was not expecting! 10/10 would recommend for a way to kill an hour.

Upstairs at Tiffany's

I took the express train to Queens, and once I set foot outside, I found myself awash with gratification: I had officially made it to all five boroughs!

Welcome to Queens

Now, as I may have already mentioned, I did encounter a rough spot on the long walk towards Queen's Comfort - I took shelter from the wind in a community centre, but then was told to "Leave, for (my) own good" by some very large men. But eventually I made it onto what appeared to be the main high street!

The Things You See On A Queens High Street

On this high street, I passed some peculiar things - such as a pet shop with real live puppies in the windows! I felt so bad for the lil fluffers in their lil white boxes, I so badly wanted to take them all home, but I guess that's the effect they want their cruelty to have! Humans are vile.

I also saw a Phantom of the Opera poster (The Theatre where I work back in London!) which looked pretty much identical to the ones from home. I almost forgot I was on holiday! (It's following me...)

Queens Comfort

Finally, I reached my destination - and if you want to read about the joys of the flabbergasting gastronomical ridiculousness that I witnessed in this place, I must refer you once more to Part 1!!!

Although I felt like I had done less on this day than on the previous days, by the time I got back to New Jersey, I was ready to drop!

My hostess made us some fabulous frozen daquiris (blueberry flavour, which was... different!) which we sipped whilst watching 30 Rock. Each in our turn, we had a dog-nap with Millie! A more perfect last evening could not have been hoped for.

Dog-Naps and Blueberry Daquiris

In the morning I was awoken by my alarm at an obscene hour, and my literally god-like hosts kindly loaded me and all my junk into their car, and we set off for Newark airport.

Gazing bleary-eyed from the window at the lights rushing past me, I swallowed down the lump in my throat; I couldn't believe that this incredible week was almost over.

Journey to the Airport

I went straight to my gate, so early that I was one of the first to arrive. Exhausted and laden with heavy bags, I flopped down on a sofa and let my head loll back. Aching, but warm at last, I felt sleep slowly engulfing me like treacle...

Confusingly, when I jolted out of my casual dozing, the gate was still empty. In fact, it was entirely empty! This was worrying. I had to go running off to find a member of staff, but there seemed to be none around, other than slightly confused retail staff who knew less about my flight than I did!

When I did find a member of staff, she was uncommonly laid back. I was about to miss my flight as the gate had been changed at the last minute! Instead of thinking to wake up the two or three people sleeping, the staff had just moved straight on to the other gate.

I could feel myself starting to panic, but I tried to bring it under control; I have suffered with anxiety on and off since I was sixteen, and it was rearing it's ugly head in the form of an irrepressible full-blown attack.

Eventually, when I felt I had a bit of strength (the staff member hadn't even offered to help carry my bags! She obviously thought nothing of this job. Remember the "Computer Says No" lady from Little Britain?! Yeah. American her.) I left her behind and pelted towards my gate, just as they were about to close the doors and clear for take off!

Leaving New York

So when I wished I never had to leave New York, that wish almost ended up being granted!!

Thankfully, the cabin crew on the plane were much more accommodating than the airport staff, giving me a blanket and some water as soon as I sat down. As we climbed, the panic that was crushing my chest began to subside, and once the seatbelt signs were switched off I found that I could speak again to thank them!

The flight home was thankfully smooth, and although I could not sleep a wink, I was calm enough to stay still and rest, watching movies such as Moana and Fantastic Beasts, both of which I'd never seen before!

By the time I landed back in the UK, I was exhausted, aching - but the smile had returned to my face: I'd made it home!

Flying Back Into The Night

So, dear reader, I hope you have enjoyed the story of my week of New Yorking - and all my Skint New Yorking tips!!

I'll be back soon with more on life in London, travel, acting and more!

Char

xxx