Just Having Fun

There hasn't been much to report in the last few days, we've been running around East and Westside Manhattan looking for a place to rent before Deb starts work soon. The story of the apartment search is a pretty boring one, but we've seen nice places, horrible places, plenty in between. So many so that we've started to lose count of them, they're all melding into one monstrous all-consuming thing from the abyss that is the NY rental market. This isn't particularly unique to Manhattan. If you've ever been on any apartment search yourself, I'm sure you know what I mean.

Everything in New York is more audacious, the people, the pets, even the wildlife. While Deb was busy talking to another broker about our cause, I hear a chirping in my ear and turn to see a little sparrow hopping around the skeleton of a little tree. It was only about a metre away from my head. This would be pretty boring to most of you, but I got some nice photos of it. As the Sydney born and raised boy that I am, I found it fascinating, becuase the only wildlife that ever gets near you is a seagull, and only if you're holding a chip.

I found it most funny that in a city so commercialised, animals are still so hospitable. It was after all in my first visit to NY where squirrels would play in Central Park at a similar distance to you, happily posing for photos (that's what I like to think they were doing anyway).

At the time we were up at one hundred and something-th street, and Deb pointed out that the diner that they so often used as a backdrop for Seinfeld scenes was up here. With time to spare, and having a metro nearby, we headed up, using it as a chance to explore the area as well.

 Well, here I am! I didn't go in, but it was nice just to go there after all those years growing up with American TV.

What did we have for lunch instead? Well, I can't tell you, I just have to show you.

Excuse the slightly deranged look. The cheese had already gone to my head. It was delightfully crispy, and with the relatively sensible portion of cheese on top (for the surface area), not actually that oily. The only downer was the tinned mushroom, but hey, it's cheap for a reason. We had ONE piece between the two of us, with a bottled drink to wash it all down. And it cost less than $8. How many ways can I say I love thee NYC.

After the lunch that filled our dietary requirement of guilt, we visited a few craigslist appointments to net ourselves some cheap homewares/furniture. Who would have thought we would run into fellow Australians.
From Sydney.
From near where Deb grew up
and where I went to school...
It really is a small small world. We got to talking as it looked like they had already worked their way into a bottle of wine. They made it seem like they were heading back just for Bondi. As we left their apartment with a shelf and a clippy light, we were very jealous indeed.

No matter, then it was off to meet Hilda at Eolos for dinner, a lovely, rustic and intimate little place specialising in Sicilian food, or so the menu seemed to indicate.

 

Deb is here looking wistfully at me, wondering what she's done to turn me into such a glutton, especially after my showing at lunch.

The decor of this place was just so thoughtful. One could easily pass time just noticing all the curios scattered around the walls, and pillars. And as their lights wound down for the night, we ventured out into the cold, and called it a night.

So long... Sydneysiders!

So my day to day recounting doesn't really work... because realistically, not everyday is that interesting. I'll do my best to bring you the fun and interesting bits from our adventures, or when significant events occur.

So fast forward a frantic month and now we've packed up as much as we can, sold off the rest and found ourselves headed for New York!

Claude, (that's the name we've given my Clio) is actually quite a useful mover, belying his diminuitive stature.

 This picture is him loaded up about a day before we leave. Moving some of our possessions back to my mum and dad's place.
He's still for sale if you're interested /shameless plug.

So then came the day that we were due to fly out for New York. We tried to pack light but Deb insisted on trying to take one more souvenir with us.

As you can see it was a little case of wishful thinking there. But Deb had really wanted to visit the duckie before we left and we had a little time before our flight, so why the hell not?

Because of all our big luggage, my side of the family couldn't come with us in the car, but they made the trip to come see us off all the same.

Thus began our journey on the plane. Here we are looking all travel chic, bright and cheery.

We were flying China Airways via Taiwan and also Osaka. All up about 27 hours in transit, with 4 hours worth of stop-over on top of that... not an enjoyable experience, but not one we'll be repeating anytime soon... so we survived it.

The flight was quite pleasant, plenty of space with modern amenities, which was great for the price because we paid a similarly for the United Airways flight for far less comfort.
 
The food wasn't that nice on the first leg, very bland, on the other legs it got better, the fruit was very tasty. Service was so so, but they skimped heavily on the snacks and drinks. You get about one drink option for the whole flight with no other choice but water or chinese tea the rest.

At our stop off at Taiwan there was an "interesting" art display, describing ethereal inhabitants of the Taiwan airport called "No Mens".

Here you see me doing my best impression.

 The rest of the trip is pretty much a non-event. We were a little confused in Taiwan when our flight was described to go through Osaka, we must have forgotten that part of the itinerary. But it was dispatched with typical Japanese efficiency, until we got to the gate we were told to go to. At which point we were prompted that the plane was moved to another one for boarding, which was weird because up until the first gate there were plenty of signs posted to tell us where we were supposed to board.



So fast forward a few better airline meals, and inaudible english PA announcements, we arrived at New York, to -9 degree weather. At least it was sunny? Coming from 30+ degree Sydney averages it was a pretty hard pill to swallow.

We eventually made it up to our temporary home for the month, thanks go to Dawen and his brother Alvin for giving us a lift. In the door... and we promptly fainted.

So right now we're lounging on the couch, with the heater blaring. Planning for the days ahead.
So long Sydney! We'll see you soon.