in the park.

After almost a week of uncertainty and intercontinental phone calls, a plan has emerged from the ash. My lovely mum and sister will be arriving at JFK on Monday evening, for a week of exploring the city, before we head to Costa Rica so I can begin my much coveted summer.

This means, of course, that my original four days in the city have been extended to about two weeks. And since I am soon to be sharing my New York adventure, I want to wait for the arrival of the two lovely ladies before anymore exploring is had. Which means I have had several empty days (and two more ahead of me) to fill without treading on the toes of all the things I want to do with my family.

Central Park to the rescue! What a gorgeous place to wander around in or sit and read a book or do a painting. The beginning of spring, the blooming of my favourite tree, the blossom, the sweet smell of flowers and the simple joy of people ready for summer.

This is the place to go to get away from all the frantic people and the sirens and the beeping...a soothing oasis amid the intense, crowded metropolis. If it wasn't part of the city, I don't think my mind would be so caught up in it all. As it is however, there is a time in the future when I think I could call this place home, at least for a little while.

But for right now, I will continue to enjoy spring in the park and eagerly anticipate the arrival of the first of my travelling buddies and the good times that will be had.

new york new york.

Hey Friends. I am now officially extending my stay in the great city of NY. Like I really had a choice. My flight was cancelled yesterday, as were so many others, although I guess I should count myself lucky I found this out while I still had relatively comfortable accommodation and I am not now living at an airport. Thankyou Mister Volcano! That was the biggest fake expression of gratitude I have ever made.
Anyway, about my itinerary. I did actually stay on track for the first few days..then I heard about this volcano and fiasco ensued, which involved me frantically trying to replan everything, in colloboration with my family on the other side of the world with an enormous time difference. Ahhh...stressful times.
But so far I have been to the Guggenheim museum, the Moma, the Natural History Museum, St John's Cathedral, the New York Public Library, Times Square (so full on I could only handle it for about 20 minutes...but I did get to see the famous Naked Cowboy), Central Park (my favourite place so far), 5th Avenue (lots and lots of ridiculously expensive designer stores...) and I have seen the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island ferry.
I have not yet walked the Brooklyn Bridge or eaten Brooklyn pizza....or in fact any pizza at all. But it is ok, as now I have extra time to finish seeing whatever it is I would like to see. Once I am done organising of course.
I am supposed to be in London right now...and I only have concrete plans as far ahead as Thursday, after which I am homeless and confused.
This volcano has certainly put my planning skills to the test and made me realise that my stress levels will probably severly affect me later in life.
Anyway, there you have it my friends...the now ongoing New York trip. And who knows where I will be next week..or whom I will be with. I hope it is somewhere amazing with some people I love.

a final farewell.

Tomorrow is my very last day in Canada, the country I have called my home for the last 5 months. It is sad, and I have made some very good friends here who I will never forget, but I am eager to move on. As these first 5 months abroad have seen me living and working in one place, I haven't really felt like a traveller yet; that part of my trip begins on Friday, in the city that never sleeps...the Big Apple...New York City. Something I have discovered about myself is that if I don't have a certain structure to my life then I have a tendency to sit around dreaming about things rather than actually doing them, which is not something I want when I have spent my life savings to come across the world. And so, to make sure I get the most out of my 4 days in the big city, I have created an itinerary. It's very high-school trip, I know, but at least it means I won't waste my time there sitting in cafes eating cake and gaining pounds.

So here it is...the busiest and most touristy 4 days of my trip yet. Let's see if I can manage to pull it off, all on my own, with nobody to wake me up or hurry me along...

FRIDAY
Arrive at the bus station at 6am. Need coffee, food and a map.
After some rest time, find accommodation (which I still don't actually have) and drop my bags.
Visit the New York Public Library, then take the 20 minute subway ride to the Cathedral of St John the Divine (which boasts the largest stain glass window in the US).
Lunch time.
Visit the International Centre for Photography (pay what you can after 5pm on Fridays).
Home and sleep.

SATURDAY
Visit the American Museum of Natural History.
Lunch time- a burger, cherry pie and coffee at a diner.
Visit the Moma.
Walk to Grand Central Station (apparently a rather impressive tourist attraction...).

SUNDAY
Start the day with a Staten Island ferry ride.
Visit the Rockerfeller Centre.
Visit the Chelsea Hotel (Sid Vicious shot Nancy and Jack Kerouac allegedly completed On The Road here, so how could I resist?).
Eat something Jewish. I am in New York, it has to be done.
Pay homage to Gossip Girl and Sex and the City and take a stroll around the Upper East Side.

MONDAY
An early morning walk around Central Park, followed by shopping and exploring in Greenwich Village.
Some lunch and some more shopping (I heart NY shirts for everyone!).
A night time ride on the Staten Island ferry (I know I have already done this, but it's free. And I love free things).

TUESDAY
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to see NYC from across the river.
Refuel after my hour of exercise and walk back to the city.
Pack my bags and off to the airport at 4pm!

I think it can be done.
So goodbye Canada, I will see you in a few short years, and hello New York City, I am ready to take you on...


The view of the city of Toronto from the UN tower at sunset.