Up in the air

Where to start... When you are in a place like New York, there is so much to do and see. It leaves no time to update my blog.

Right now, i'm on the plane, flying from New York to Miami. I have another 1,5 hours to go, so hopefully that'll be enough to write down my last 3 days...

Let's start with Saturday. I was still writing my blog, talking about what an impression Brooklyn made on me.

When I arrived and walked from the subway to Diana's place I noticed it's very much like Manhattan, but a lot quieter. Not that many sirenes and tourists :)

As I almost reached my destination I passed a house were the trash wash outside and on top was an open pizza box with two slices of peperonni pizza left. I new I was in New York, where the pizza's are the best of America. 

Anyway, Saturday: Diana was gonna show me Coney Island, the Brooklyn beach with roller coasters, freak shows, a big wheel, ... But before that we had lunch at her mom and dad's place. They live in an apartment in Coney Island where you can see the ocean from the terrace.

Her parents were very nice. They wanted to know all about me.

I had some traditional Russian/Jewish food which I tried except for the red beets. I must say, it was yummy!

Her parents wanted to set D up with a single guy they met. Haha, parents and the fear that their kids will not produce an offspring and die alone.

Her dad had a funny saying: Diana, if you don't knock on the door, it will never open.

After luch we went to the beach which now is a little deserted. But I can imagine in summer time it must be packed! Looked like a great place.

Then we went to Best Buy, an American version of Media Markt. Diana's roommate wanted the new Xbox Kinect. I was never a big fan of xbox and wii stuff but i have to admit, this Xbox Kinect is amazing! You don't need any tools anymore? No joysticks, no weird white remote controls to do bowling or some sort of sport.

Nope, with the xbox kinect all you need is you and a little space in front of your tv.

We got it and went home to install it.

Man, it's amazing... You can learn how to dance with an instructor, or think you are on an adventure in the jungle.

The only thing you need to do is move. I like it, finally computer games that make you move your whole body!

After warming up we got ready for our Saturday night in Manhattan :)

Kristin, my American friend from Pennsylvania came over and by 10pm we were out the door, a little tipsy already. It is typical American to get a little drunk at home before going out because drinks are expensive.

In Manhattan we went to a friend of Diana's to meet up. He lives in this tiny apartment which he probably pays a lot of money for.

Off we went. We hailed a cab and drove to this club called 49 something... It was in a basement.

More men then woman, which is always interesting and good music. Pop and R&B.

We 've been put on the list so there was no coverage to be paid and they got us a table.

Then one of the guys ordered a bottle of grey goose and some drinks to mix it with.

For a moment I felt a little like one of the girls from SATC :)

When we wanted to go home and stopped a cab to ask: 'Do you go to Brooklyn' Most drivers said: 'No'

Finally we just got into a cab and said where we needed to go. :)

On Sunday we were all feeling a little lazy and went for brunch in the Buttermilk Channel in Brooklyn.

This place was so good! We had to wait for a table for an hour but it was worth it.

Diana wanted to go see a movie on this lazy Sunday. And although I never want to go to the theatre on my vacations, I agreed. I mean, it's the most American thing to do on a Sundaynight.

Before we went to the movies, Diana took us to the Brooklyn walk. It's across Manhattan when you cross the Brooklyn Bridge. The view over the city was amazing. So were the buildings there.

If you wanna buy a standard apartment you'd have to pay 5 million dollar.

That's just an apartment, not even with a garage.
We saw one building which had a garage, it was the building of Heath Ledger.

Around that area we saw another FA (famous American) It was one of the guys from the food channels who had also been in Queer eye for the straight guy.

We went to BAM Rose Cinemas to see 'Love and other Drugs'

I don't even think it's out in Belgium yet It's about a guy who is so goodlooking and a real player.

He uses women to get what he wants. Until he meets a girl who dumps him. Since that never happened he gets interested in her and they fall in love.

It's an OK movie. I wouldn't say you have to see in in the cinema but it's a nice romantic comedy.Lots of nakedness too.

The cinema itself was small, the chairs were not as comfortable as Metropolis, Antwerp, but the good thing was: you could choose your own seat!

Monday, my last full day in New York. Diana had to go to work so I decided to go to Manhattan and wonder around my city. After all, it was a beautiful day. Sunny, not too windy, around 9°C. And, from what I've heard, it's still 15 degrees warmer than Belgium right now :)

I love wondering around the city. Went to Central Park, passed the Plaza, walked on 5^th Avenue, no shopping there unfortunately, my credit card wouldn't agree. I stopped at the public library and went inside.It's a beautiful building! I updated my facebook quickly with the free wifi and walked further to Bryant Park where the ice skating rink was set up.

Everything here is all Christmas, on street corners there putting up trees to sell, in stores it's all Christmas carrols, on the buildings it's Christmas decoration... Fa la la la laaa la la la laaa....

I bought some street food for luch and walked on.

As I got to Times Square the sun was setting. The lights there are always mesmerising.

After the sunset I popped into Macy's to have a look around. I don't know why I do this to myself. Looking at all this great stuff but not able to buy it. Ugh...

For dinner I got myself a slice of pizza. You can't leave New York without having some real pizza. And yes, it's delecious... They say it has got something to do with the water here.

Anyways, I walked to the subway to get my train back to Brooklyn and pack my suitcase :-(

The next morning I said goodbye to Diana, I wasn't gonna see her anymore. Her roommate was gonna take me to the airport in the afternoon.

Diana said: I think you should move to New York! Man....I wish, she had no idea.

In the morning I went to Soho and China Town. Had some chicken brocolli with brown sauce and took my last subway ride home.

Vikky, Diana's roommate took me to the airport and after a smooth check in I am on the plane now.

On my way to Miami where, according to the pilot, it's 77°F (26°C)

I guess life could be worse :)

To my Belgian friends: keep warm!

A for America, B for Brooklyn

As the saying goes: you never forget your first love. Being in America again made me fall in love with it all over again.

It starts when I'm waiting in line to get my stamp.

Every time I come here, something changes. Last year they just needed a fingerprint of your index finger and thumb. This year it's all ten fingers. I guess I'll behave since authorities have my prints now :)

As I was waiting in line the officer in the next window looked over at me a couple of times and smiled.

My line was much slower so he called me next. Again a smile, a stamp and 'welcome'

I dunno what it is, but either American men know how to flirt way better than Belgians or I'm just more appealing to Americans then Belgians.

But hey, I'm not complaining :) With a smile on my face I went to pick up my suitcase and looked for the information desk to get a map of the subway trains so I could check which lines to take to get to my friends place in Brooklyn.

On the subway I looked around, there was an ad in front of me: 'I'll help you to get clear skin! Call Dr Z. and get a chemical peal'

Haha... Yep I was in America, the land of botox, chemical peals and weird diets. But of course also the land of big meals, big drinks.

I looked outside, the sun was starting to go down and there was this beautiful orange – pink glow over the skyline of New York.

I got this warm feeling that you get when you feel you are home.

As I got to my stop I walked for 15 minutes to get to Diana's place.

It's a really cool appartment where the elevator stops inside the appartment!

There is a small terrace to for BBQ's in the summer.

Man... I could live here!

As Diana and I talked about our time in Australia, we missed our contiki trip. Just having fun every day and doing new exiting stuff you wouldn't dare to dream of doing.

For dinner we went to this amazing Thai place in Brooklyn I forgot the name.

Walking around Brooklyn i love it.

Oh.. I got to go now. Gonna check out Coney island!

Later,

T.

Me, myself and I :)

Hello you!

Yes, it's me again. Yes, I am on holiday again. This time to familiar places. It's more a visit to friends than exploring new horizons. But then again, you never know where you could end up.

But.. There is something weird about this trip. I wasn't counting down, it wouldn't have matter much if i left now or in a week or a month. Which is weird.

I feel weird about this trip.

This morning when I got to the airport there were Americans everywhere. And for those who know me, I love Americans. I like their confidence, their will to communicate, their way of wanting to be someone in life.
But this morning... for the first time in my life, I had a bad thought. As they were talking loudly I thought: God, do you have to be this annoying?

OMG, did I really think that?

Could it have been the fact that I had no sleep at all last night, and that i was just a little tired? 

Or did I have too many things going on in my life so I didn't prepare for my holiday?

Or did I really change after going on my Ozzie roadtrip?

And if it wasn't my fatigue, then what was that?

Don't get me wrong my dear American friends, I love you all. And i still love the American accent and freedom, so you can imagine how shocked I was when I had an opinion I dislike in most Belgians.

I got on the plane, and so did my weird feeling.

Maybe I just needed to sleep. Since they needed to hose the plane down due to some ice it took a little longer before take off. I fell asleep even before we got off the ground.

I think I slept for half an hour. I was thirsty. But due to some rough weather the captain hadn't turned off the seatbelt sign yet so the flight attendants couldn't bring us anything yet.

I started to watch a movie with Angelina Jolie, but I couldn't stay awake. I dozed off.... Had weird dreams and I woke up again by the smell of food. Yummy.

I know you must call me crazy but I like airplane food :) It's like a Kinder Surprise for grown ups. You never know how it's gonna look like or taste untill you take the lit off. Haha...

It was delecious: tandoori chicken with vegetable rice. Yum!

Anyway, after the meal I was tryiing to figure out why I was feeling this weird.

Was it because I wasn't going anyplace new?

No... that couldn't be it. But what was it?

Frustrated I turned on my netbook and watched a movie I found more interesting: 'The Proposal'

Funny chick flick with gorgeous actors.

I liked it, laughed a lot. The couple next to me must have thought I was going insane haha.

At the end of a perfect ending to a love story I was thinking about my life again.

The fact that I really miss love in my life. The fact that I stuff my agenda so I wouldn't have to deal with the fact that i'm almost 31 and still single.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life. I just love life and every aspect of it. Yes, every aspect.

But lately, and I hate myself for saying this, I have this empty feeling.. I have so much love and no one special to give it to. And I don't even know if i'm the 'relation ship' type...

I'm a sagittarius. Known for there restlessness, and eagerness to find new & exciting things.

And than it hit me.

I know... I know why I feel this way..

No, it's not that I need a man in my life.

It's the fact that, for the first time ever, I'm not running away anymore.

I used to book a flight to get away... from me. I was on the run, every time.

When I couldn't deal with my own thoughts or feelings, I needed to get away.

But it's different now. Ever since my roadtrip through Australia and New Zealand I can tell I'v changed.

I had to deal with myself over there. Even if I went to the next city, me and my emotions were there with me all the time. On the plane, on the bus, on a mountain, in the shower...

I had my crash in New Zealand, next to a lake named Taupo. Beautiful blue water.

I crashed... For the first time in almost 4 years I faced my worst enemy: me.

I cried that night. About love I lost, love i still miss, people I hurt, people whom i let down.

My roadtrip was therapy for me. But this blog isn't about Australia, it's about America. My first love.

For the first time I'm going on a trip with me, myself and I. No more running...

I accepted myself as a travel buddy. Sometimes we get along, sometimes we fight and sometimes we cry. But for the most part we just smile to each other and take on whatever comes our way!

Love always,
Tania