A week with the Judge

Thurs 14/06/07 - Judgement day

Despite traffic jams ( at 11.30 on a weekday !) I arrived at the airport in time. My backpack gets a heavy label attached to it! I think I may have packed a bit too much stuff! There is a particularly thorough securtiy check at Heathrow Airport which including an x-ray ( the alternative was a full body cavity search not much of a decision to make there !!!) Then after a few hours mooching I am on the plane. Unfortunately I had already made my first of what will probably be many school boy errors, and not reserved my seat online a day earlier so the seat was not great although I was sat next to a very nice trainee plastic surgeon from Seattle called Kate!

The stupid film thing didn;t work either, suggested to Kate that we ask for refunds she laughed uncontralably for several minutes, assumed that meant we didn't stand much chance of getting any money back.

Got Airtrain to sub station then got subway to Juje's house, none of which was completely straightforward especially as I am carrying so much stuff ! Several people make comments as I walk past including one guy who says "Dude thats the biggest backpack I have ever seen !" Think I will have to give Dan some stuff to take back when I see him !

Phone juje and say I have arrived at the tube station and have to admit I am pretty pleased with myself!

After saying hello, juje tries on backpack and promptly falls over backwards, I start to feel like all those sessions in the gym with Mat might be paying off!

Juje's apartment is small but really cool and all the space is utilized! Her bed in her room is like a bunk bed with all of her stuff kept below and her friend has to walk through Juje's room ( under her bed) to get to her room!

We go out to bar in the village (bloke behind me turns out to be from Guildford! or so he says) and then go for some Mexican food (this will not be the last mexican meal I have on my leg in NY!). Is cool to see Juje again and we get back into the swing of things and catch up, it doesn't feel like we haven't seen each other for 6 months !

Go to sleep after my first day's travelling a happy man.

Friday 15/06/07

Wake up late as didn't sleep very well due to traffic noise outside which is constant will have to buy some ear plugs! Go out get some brekkie and check out the lay of the land.  Go for jog along riverside park, which is very nice and then meet juje and have some drinks.

End up having two dinners, a subway then another mexican!  Meet Juje's friends at Japanese restaruant round the corner!  Drink a lot of saki!  See Jake Galleyhaal while waiting for taxi at Washington Square park!  The two Erin's get a first taxi and then me, V and juje get the one after.  To my delight juje says "Follow that cab!" another NY box ticked!  Taxi driver takes this two literally however and drives like a lunatic!  Then loses taxi in front and drops us off nowhere near where we needed to go.

V sees Rat and jumps in terror, apparently they go for you throat in NY, I remain unconvinced though cross the road with the girls!  First club is set in an old massage palour, second place is cool, there is a bloke on danceloor who seemed to be a bit deranged and they are showing the Shining on a big screen with the sound off! Is still scarey!

Saturday 16/06/07

Not another brillant nights sleep, kept having Shinning flash backs! Breakfast at Silver spoon diner round the corner, order 2 dishes, end up having to take leftovers in doggie bag, another tick on my check list.  Joined NYSC club gym with juje, only 10$ for 2 week trial period!  Weather is pretty hot, think there is a bit of a heat wave!  Shop in street market, this won't be the only shopping session! Rains heavily, watch baseball in bar then meet Juje's friends at Mexican Restaurant.

End up in Jazz bar with small garden outside.

Sunday 17/06/07

Bfast at SS again, still can't finish plateful! Meet juje's cousin and her husband have a look round some shops then head off to Central Park which is really good and watch a bit of softball.  Have a spot of lunch before heading off to roof top bar in meat packing district absoultely spectacular views of NY! Go to pub, bump into another English bloke!  Awesome day really good fun.

Monday 18/06/07

Bfast (guess where) then go to gym.  Catch tube afterwards to Battersea park and go a guided river tour which is really good.  Impressive views of Manhattan and first proper look at Statue of Liberty.

Meet up with the girls about 5ish for free film showing at Bryant park.  Absolutely packed out but we managed to get a spot.  Film doesn't start till 8 so after several large bottles of wine and a few goes on the name game every one is a little bit drunk.  By the time the film eventually starts everyone isn't in the mood anymore so we leave (to the amusement of several of the people sitting around us) and go to a few bars.

Juje's know's of a free bar night so we head off there, though she didn't mention it was a burlesque bar !!! Sitting upstairs with four girls watching a show feels like things can't get much better.  Wake up on couch at 4 in morning to see juje asleep face first on the floor with laptop in front of her, fallen asleep mid-email, v-funny!

Tuesday 19/06/07

Internet site says that Greyhound station in LA is in very dodgy part, very dangerous at night ! Might have to rethink my plans of getting overnight bus to San Francisco ! Check out downton area, stop in library and wlak round time square.  Meet juje outside the Rock centre.  Go for a few drinks in cuban place round the corner then meet up with some of the other girls in the east village to say goodbye.  Bump into English bloke and his mates from other night.

Wednesday 20/06/07

Last day in NY!  Said goodbye to juje in morning then went to gym and packed.  Loads of stuff I need to sort out on internet ( where I am staying, train tix etc ) however I want to get there with plenty of time so decide to leave it till I get to Airport. Only $2 on tube for 1hr journey get in!!! Though hassle lugging bags about.  Spoke to bloke who plays Amercian football and has been to Leicester.

Get to airport can't find any bloody internet places !!!!!!!!! Loads of stoopid wi-fi boll#cks but nothing else !! Which means I have nothing organised when I get to LA at 11 pm ! Bugger.  Flight was good, tried all the various types of Australian lager (it was a quantas) and watch "The Shooter" and "The Pursuit of happiness".

Get to LA tired and wishing I had sorted something out sooner!!! All the hotels around the airport are booked up and was advised by fellow passengar and resident of LA not to go downton at this time of night!  No flights till morning he advises I sleep at the airport somewhere and get flight in morning!!!! Don't think much of that option, especially as there is no flight till midday and they are over $200.

Decide to get cab to train station and get overnight train to San Francisco.  Get there just after midnight, it is actually not that bad, hardly anyone there and thee is a security guard patrolling the station.  Train leaves around 1ish.  Is only $40 something, though there are 3 or 4 transfers and most of it is actually by bus !  Takes about 10 hours.