If you're reading this for the first time, my name is Tom Hardwick, 30 years, loves theme parks, rollercoasters, music, DJing and driving. And I've just quit my job to ride rollercocasters in the States for 2 months (as most of the world knows by now, because I've been banging on about it constantly for the last week).
Introduction over - let's cut to Wednesday 20th May, 9am in the morning, and after successful packing session the night before, it was time to settle some really boring business before jetting off. Car insurance and pensions are, let's face it - as boring as hell. So I was overjoyed when I sorted the works pension plan out and renewed my car insurance in 20 minutes flat. So if you want a generic tip for life that's been said a million times before - if it's boring but got to be done, smash through it, then enjoy the things which aren't boring. Such as flying to New York.
Now I know some people can get itchy feet on planes (through boredom or thrombosis), but if there's a decent selection of entertainment, then I'm usually pretty much happy to sit back and chill out watching a good film. The only reason I'd leave my seat is if nature calls, or the plane has crashed and I'm somehow not dead yet. For the record I watched three films I'd somehow never seen: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Frozen, and Big Hero 6. I'm sorry to those for those of you who would think it sacrilege that I haven't watched them till now. I'm not sorry for crying my eyes out when Baymax saves Hiro at the end. And I'm not sorry for spoiling that if you haven't watched Big Hero 6 yet.
Entertainment aside, it's always nice to have good company on a long haul, even if you've just met them as they sit next to you. I've had nice families, travellers like myself, and a fitness instructor on a plane to Abu Dhabi who I clicked with really well - I'll never forgive myself for not getting her contact details, but the odds of seeing her even again are less than zero.
This time, the luck of the Irish was with me. On my short hop from Manchester to Amsterdam, I got a middle-aged gentleman named Patrick who was flying out to Thailand to see his son who lives there (I did think it was a cover at first, but his photos of his family were legit, and I stopped being an awful person). The conversation was topped off by talking about his friend who caught his (friend's) wife cheating by tracking her smartphone, which led to a rather awkward confrontation in the bedroom. Not quite Trapped In The Closet, but you can picture the aftermath.
Back to the flying, the long haul from Schiphol to JFK was next a young lad called Nathan, who was flying to see his friends on Long Island. It was his first big flight, and he couldn't believe that all the food and drink was part of the service. Needless to say we have several tins of Heineken to make the most of the cabin crew's generosity. By the time we landed in JFK, we were a bit merry, but happy to be there to carry on our respective journeys.
To get to my room in Elizabeth, New Jersey, I had to take 2 buses through the heart of the city, as well as dealing with one of those people who lived in New York and he thought he had a divine right to be a bellend to our first bus driver because the radio kept playing static. Despite the best efforts of Grumpy McGee, I was still in awe of the skyline and going through the heart of Manhattan past Grand Central, the Empire State Building and Times Square. But the first thing that really got me was this...
This time, the luck of the Irish was with me. On my short hop from Manchester to Amsterdam, I got a middle-aged gentleman named Patrick who was flying out to Thailand to see his son who lives there (I did think it was a cover at first, but his photos of his family were legit, and I stopped being an awful person). The conversation was topped off by talking about his friend who caught his (friend's) wife cheating by tracking her smartphone, which led to a rather awkward confrontation in the bedroom. Not quite Trapped In The Closet, but you can picture the aftermath.
Back to the flying, the long haul from Schiphol to JFK was next a young lad called Nathan, who was flying to see his friends on Long Island. It was his first big flight, and he couldn't believe that all the food and drink was part of the service. Needless to say we have several tins of Heineken to make the most of the cabin crew's generosity. By the time we landed in JFK, we were a bit merry, but happy to be there to carry on our respective journeys.
To get to my room in Elizabeth, New Jersey, I had to take 2 buses through the heart of the city, as well as dealing with one of those people who lived in New York and he thought he had a divine right to be a bellend to our first bus driver because the radio kept playing static. Despite the best efforts of Grumpy McGee, I was still in awe of the skyline and going through the heart of Manhattan past Grand Central, the Empire State Building and Times Square. But the first thing that really got me was this...
The World's Fair towers/spaceships from Men In Black!
From behind a bus window, it certainly retains the evocative aura from which its reputation is garnered on. I'll reserve final judgement till I actually walk around NYC later in this trip, but I still hope it's as special as the moment when Kevin McAllister reunites with his mother in front of the Rockefeller Centre (sic).
Eventually, I made it to my lodging for the next 2 days. Booked over AirBnb, the place I had was a nice sized room with great transport links and good food and bars nearby. A little noisy perhaps, but I can sleep through a large earthquake when I'm that tired.
Now that I'd settled in for the night, it's a good time to leave this story till the next day, when I'll be hoping to ride the tallest rollercoaster...in the world!
"The good thing about flying solo is it's never boring". - Steve Fossett, American businessman and record-setting aviator, sailor, and adventurer
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