So then before you know it I'm on my way to a taxi - and my first accent! The driver was Eastern European I'd say, and when I told him where I wanted to go he said something I didn't catch, and when he repeated it I imagined I heard "it'll be 45 blocks". Uh-ha. OK. What????? But whatever - it’s WAY more that 45 blocks to the Upper West Side, but who am I to argue with a New York cabbie. Two minutes down the road I realised - it was "45 bucks" - the fixed fair for a taxi from JFK to Manhattan. Oh!!! yea fine!!!
And then we were driving into New York, it’s about dusk and the lights are coming on, and I’m just grinning inanely - wow! I'd actually made it, and here I was - in a yellow cab going to Manhattan, and over the bridge, and through Central Park and into Broadway, and - OH! Here we are at the Hotel. So I give him his 35 bucks, and tip, and extra for the bags - but it’s just what I need to do, and it’s wonderful to be here.
I check in and the room seems OK - it is really tiny, but I remind myself about the price compared with other places. I go to look out the window, and my view is of the bottom of a light well, and another window about 20 yards away. This is not a brilliant place, but it’s got a bed and a shower that worked well after I played with it a bit. And it’s in the Upper West Side of NEW YORK, and I get to stay here - how cool is that.
(A room with a view!)
I walked a couple of blocks that evening, and went to a “Chinese Spanish” restaurant - more accents!!! I’ve been to Chinese Restaurants in Edinburgh and I thought that combination of Scottish and Chinese was strange enough - but when I ordered my food, I honestly had no idea what the waiter was asking me. I eventually guessed he was asking if I wanted white rice - and he seemed happy enough with my affirmative answer - and I did get white rice - but I’ve no real idea if that is what he asked.
And I heard a phrase used I’m not used to - the people on the next table asked to “get this wrapped” - as in take the rest to go - interestingly I’d just been talking to someone recently who mentioned that usage, and there it was being used!!
(Just another NY Street)
The next day is a Sunday, and although it's supposed to be light outside the view from my window is still gloomy, so I can’t wait to get outside for breakfast. And there, just down the street, is that archetypal thing the New York Diner. I go in with my paper, sit at the counter and have coffee and order my breakfast. And once more need to pinch myself - I'm really doing this, I’m really here. Am I a tourist? A traveller? What I really want to be is just another diner in the diner - and that is what it seems I am.
I have decided to go to a church that is not far from my hotel, and I have a while after breakfast, so go for a short walk - but then find out that my stomach is not too good, and have to make a dash back to the hotel to use the bathroom in my room. Then I go to a pharmacy and get some appropriate tablets, so all this means I arrive at the church 5 minutes after the start of the service. As I approach the church door someone else is also arriving, a regular I assume, and they smiled and held the door - who says New Yorkers are unfriendly?
(A friendly church)
The service was - well, light hearted is the best expression I can give. There were a number of people doing the readings, and a small choir up front singing hymns. The Gospel reading was from John about “anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit”. The sermon started with the preacher saying that he wanted to get some sheep to help with the story, but they were too dumb and would poop all over the carpet (yes, that was the expression he used). Then he thought about using a projector, but it would not be bright enough to be seen. So - he said -What’s smarter than a sheep, and brighter than a projector?
I’m sitting there not really having any idea where this is going - but then someone calls out “I am!” so they get to volunteer to be sheep:). And so we get an interactive story about sheep pens (also a group of people linking arms) and sheep dogs, and bandits - in fact a lot of the congregation are up by the pulpit by the end of the sermon!
And the people who did this were smiling and bright - and really volunteered without being coxed - in my UK experience this is always a totally cringe making experience to do this sort of thing, but somehow here, with this set of people, it worked, it was fun, and helped with the message the preacher was giving.
And as part of the service, they ask any visitors to stand and introduce themselves - and much to my surprise I did so! And they welcomed me and the other visitors and I felt quite at home. The next odd thing - the row I was sitting at, having arrived late and just sat anywhere, there was one other person sitting at the other end, and they were visitors from the UK too!
(Signs of Spring)
The rest of the day I don’t do much - I walked a few blocks, and then had a sleep to get acclimatised to the change in time zone. That evening I walked down Broadway and stopped at a place called Cleopatra’s Needle for dinner - not particularly Egyptian, but with a Greek influence, and quite up market - again I get to sit at the bar to eat. And then the live music starts - I hadn’t realised there was any in this place! So I get another drink and just sit and listen and enjoy my time - I don’t need to rush - I have another 88 days yet before I need to rush. For this evening I can play a New Yorker kicking back on a Sunday evening. The difference being that tomorrow I’m going to be a real tourist and visit the Statue of Liberty!
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