The week Sara came!

I have done so much stuff this week- I have no money now to do anything else- thus I am going home- (to graduate) on Wednesday wohoo!!

But back to this week!
Monday morning I made Sara leave the house with me jet-lag or no jet-lag at 7.45am to go to work. I left her in Wall Street photographing the stock exchange armed with a tiny map and wads of cash. I beleive from there she headed for the liberty island ferry to the statute of liberty and then on to the immigration museum on Ellis Island. She seems to have come across a restaurant called 'Paris' on her travels which her parents visited on a trip here - so she stayed there a while too. After work I met her and headed uptown to 51st street. However, I had to attend class so I left Sara in Starbucks for an hour or so. Class was ok w3e discussed the 'great american melting pot' theory and the fact it was all lies! I mean why make it up and then spend whole classes telling us why it's wrong!.....

After class we took the subway to 57th and 7th to the Brooklyn Diner but found Bloomingdales and Dylans (famous candy store) on the way and did some good 'ol window shopping before hjaving dinner. When we did eventually get dinner it was around 9.30pm. The foods was good but once again it was impossible to eat more than one course in that place!! DO not fear- We got Cheescake to go -otherwise I fear I may never get to try this legend I hear so much about!

Tuesday Sara headed up to midtown and took in some museums and central park whilst muggins here had to work. After work we met Jen in Bryant Park -who for some reason was chatting up a strange Italian Guy when we arrived - to go Ice Skating. Bearing in mind my back had been hurting for some unkown reason all day- and Sara had hurt her knee trying to walk hundreds of miles up and town Manhatten in only a few hours, clearly this was a good choice of evening entertainment....
The Ice Rink was v. busy but after only one major fall- which in my defense was Jen's fall and my arm was dragged down with her.. -I got my ice-feet and was fine. Jen however, (new skates, ice skating lessons and all)- didnt find it quite as simple. It was good, but so crowded and freezing cold might I add, that we didnt stay much more than an hour or so.
Walking back through Bryant Park to go home we came across a Fountain which I am sure features in the opening titles of friends.. so we took pictures of it and danced about a bit. well, you would to...

Wednesday, I'm not sure what Sara did whilst I was at work- but it may have been the Natural History Museum or the MoMAR.? In the evening I had booked a table at Cafe Wha?. SO, Sara, Jen, Rich, Hima, Mayur, Caroline and I met up there and had a few drinks. We announced to the band it was Sara's Birthday and managed to get some personal mentions and photo's with the band followed by a round of shots -which turned out not to be free- Grrr- but all in all had a really good night and I think Sara enjoyed herself too. Apart from the odd French man who insisted we meet up again in London next time we were both there - oh its all so transatlantic isnt it dahling...- I made a swift exit. end of.
Made it home around 3.30am. - yes it was a school night.

Thursday I woke up with the worst pain in my back- cant think it had anyting to do with having a bad back- going ice skating -and then drunk dancing till the wee hours the night before... anyway it hurt. I didnt go to work. Sara stayed in with me and later when I was feeling slightly better we went to the pictures so not to waste a whole day of Sara's trip- Saw IV - horrible- dont do it. Then we went to town and went up to the roof of the Empire State Building- which was THE most cold I think I have ever been. Dont get me wrong- the view was lovely- I could see my apartment and the Statute of Liberty at the same time! lol. Did some tourist souvenir shopping the went home as it was just so cold!

Friday Sara went to another museum I think. In the eveing we went to Christopher Street (the gay district) and had a few quiet drinks. I think by then we were both feeling the effects of late nights and early mornings and the weather. And having spent a good hour trying to persuade Jen to leave her nice warm room to come out drinking we didnt actually hit a bar until around 12.30am!

Saturday we headed to Bloomingdales to buy 'the little brown umbrella' for Sara's friend, some presents, and take pictures of everything remotley famous Sara came across. Then we took the subway to the Brooklyn Bridge -which I love- and walked across it only this time the freezing cold and poor visibility really did make the experience lovely ahem. Of course, nobody goes over the Brooklyn bridge without standing in line at Grimaldi's for 40 mins and shivers to get pizza.- what can I say its tradition! The pizza was good. We met a couple from Chicargo on a suprise weekend trip- to NY who seemed to be enjoying the 'wonderfully cold' weather.. I dont get these people I really don't...
Then we went for ice cream which seemed right despite the temparatures outside. Walking back over the brooklyn bridge was nice with the lights and the view all weather grumbles aside.
When we got back to Newport we rented the entire 10th season of friends in order to estblish the true identity of the fountain in the opening titles- hence the rest of the night was spent discovering...

Sunday was busy. Sara was up and packed by 10am. I was close by 10.30. After a mission and a half to JFK involving several unhelpful public transport workers, two trains, a bus and an airtrain we arrived at the airport in less than 3 hours woohoo!
After saying our goodbyes Sara jumped on her plane and I was left with the reverse mission which was made worse by the PATH train (the final part of the journey ) broke down in the only tunnel that takes me home- and I stood on a platform half way between manhatten and new jersey for a good hour. I got home at 6.30.
Please see previous complaints about transport on weekends in NY...grr.

Today is monday and I have slept off most of my weeks events now and am starting to get ready for my own flight on wednesday. Will let you know how it all goes xx