Sunday, August 26, 2007

Some final pictures of New York City. One week was not enough to see everything I wanted to see but at the same time, Manhattan was overwhelming and noisy and crowded and I can say I'm a bit relieved to be out of a big city. Not that I'm not in a big city now - San Diego's pretty big - but it's a way different feel. Everything's a little more relaxed here. The smoggy Manhattan air too was not one of my favorite things about the city. I did, however, have quite a few adventures.


Going apartment shopping with my friend Tim one day, I realized how expensive living in Manhattan really was. Places we saw like the one pictured above, a small 1 1/2 that was visibly layered over with multiple coats of paint still cost circa $1700/month. No air conditioning, countertop and mini-fridge along the wall at the other side of the main room and bathroom so small that if you sat on the toilet you could still wash your hands at the sink. Needless to say, I was appalled and vowed never to call anything in Montreal "expensive" again. Compared to this, the 4 1/2 I had last summer for $1300 was deluxe.



I love ferryboats. The feeling of motion, the wind running through my hair, the sights, the smells. I could have taken that ferry back and forth from Staten Island for the entire day.


My (hopefully) future school, although I still maintain that I'd love to go to school in California. Advantage of schooling in NYC: networking. Lots and lots of connections. According to a very successful Wall Street broker I know, today's world is not about Ivy League education, it's about connections. T/F?




Shopping in Chinatown. Dirty, crowded, the briney smell of fish and crab wafting up from every tank and bucket placed on the street to sell. Old men still spitting on the street like they do in China so you need to watch your step. Little puddles of questionable murky water streetside. Food was pretty good but Manhattan's Chinatown is not the greatest Chinatown I've been to.


A hint of tropical paradise by Rockfeller center. The conglomeration of tourists and the trendy side boutiques gave this place a very festive atmosphere. Beware of walking into other people's photos.


Trump tower. 'Nuff said.
I wonder how logical it is to put trees halfway up a building. The green goes very well with the Gucci ad in red though. However strange, New York is unfailingly fashionable.


Coney Island. I took the Wonder Wheel - the huge ferris wheel in the amusement park - all the way to the top. Although the sticky humidity was very bad that day, nothing can go wrong when I'm on a ferris wheel. Along with ferryboats, it's another favorite of mine. When I went down, the boardwalk and beach were relatively empty because it was getting late, the sun was setting and all the tourist families were headed back to the City. Plenty of locals were around though, hanging out on the boardwalk and fishing on the pier. It would have been very beautiful if the rotting smell of fish guts on the pier didn't make my stomach turn. Needless to say, I retreated fairly quickly back to the boardwalk and then since it was getting dark, the D train back to Manhattan.
Sadly, I have yet to comment on the Manhattan night life since I've still got 3 months till I'm 21, the legal age in the States.


I just landed at the San Diego Airport a few hours ago. It was a really rough night. I vowed never again to fly earlier than 10AM. My flight was at 6:35AM this morning. The waiting around the airports and flying when exhausted was definitely not very fun. Got very little and sporadic sleep. Pikka (an old friend and mentor of mine) is sleeping. I think she may have the right idea.
More updates to follow.