Day 1 of N.Y.C

After finally arriving at the Newark Airport (our departing Toronto flight was delayed by an hour due to windy weather conditions) we collected our luggage, bought tickets for the AirTrain and made our way down to Penn Station. The signage was awful to be quite honest, and if it were not for our developed question-asking skills, we would not have made it half as far as we did.

Anyhow, outside Penn Station we were met by the man we are renting the apartment from. There was an altercation regarding the preceding guests and a flight cancellation and so to make up for it, he picked us up personally and drove us to a temporary apartment in Queens, New York. He was kind enough to take a route which provided us with ample sight-seeing opportunities as well as explained to us the inner workings of the subway system, his understanding of American healthcare, the taxation preliminaries in the States as well as which parts of the city to explore and which to stay away from.

Highly recommend booking with www.housetrip.com with the renter Jason Chan.

We drove out of Manhattan and into Queens where the blaring honking noises and flashing lights began to subside. Dumpling restaurants and "Taiwanese" eateries replaced the billboards and high-rises of Manhattan. The Toronto equivalent would probably be St.Clair West or Yonge-and-Eglinton to Dundas Square.

The apartment is more than what we could ask for. We stuffed ourselves with skewered lamb, chicken and Mexican flautas and quesadillas off vendors on the side of the road. Perfectly friendly and perfectly scrumptious.

I can hear the rumble of the subway from here. It beckons me to explore the hidden pockets of the city that never sleeps.

In order to do so, however, I must sleep. So sleep I shall. Pictures to come!





- E