We're finally in New York - the 'Big Apple' (I've no idea why it's called that, I'll have to have a Google).
We left our lovely apart-hotel room and refusing the offer of a taxi we made our way to Union Station by Metro that we had sussed out the previous day. The queuing for trains is 'interesting' but somehow despite changing the platform we managed to be amongst the first 5 boarding and got our cases into prime storage areas and got a well placed pair of seats. The journey took 3.5 hours but the time flew by in wide comfortable seats even with power provided (unfortunately we had packed the convertors in our main cases).
Arriving in New York was a massive culture shock after the cleanliness and openness of Washington. Penn Station seemed very grubby and the over the top friendliness of people in Washington was in direct contrast to the surliness of the station staff who shouted at one woman to "get to the back of the queue - I don't like you"! The Metro seems pretty complicated with a number of lines going appearing to go the same way but stopping at different stops. A big argument ensued as I was convinced we should be heading one way but actually it was the wrong way… obviously the signs had been switched!
We made it with no changes to 125th Street (Lennox) and found there were only stairs so we lugged our cases up into Harlem. It is a buzzy area and very diverse. It seems to be exactly like every stereotypical film we have seen of the area but people seem to be friendly and I am not convinced we look local!
This is the exterior of our Brownstone apartment (on the third floor so we'll be keeping fit). The apartment is huge with excellent wifi, a full kitchen and air con in the living area. It's a bit rowdy at the front but quiet at the back where the bedroom is. We're shattered.
