Round the World

Well after a super busy week of working, partying and too much socialising me and Paige decided to be tourists for the day and leave the Island......Our first adventure was to board the Staten Island Ferry as in her 2 years living here Paige has never actually been on it or see the Statue of Liberty close up!A weird toilet situation on board...note Eastern European Elderly lady washing her feet in the sink as she sold homemade jewellery...very surreal!Following this we headed to Brooklyn as Paige is soon going to be moving here so we figured it would be fun to explore the area!!!I had read about Greenwood Cemetery Brooklyn, didnt know a great deal about it but it turned out to be quite a treasure!This place was huge and incredibly beautiful!We got given a little map and it was great, all these little avenues and pathways, really amazing!Cant believe more people dont go here!!!It was very peaceful and a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city, it was just such a suprise to find this place!
Following this we went up to Prospect Park which it turned out was hosting Brooklyn Gay Pride so it was all a bit crazy, lots of sparkly drag queens, al fresco BBQs , stageshows,and a lot of cute handbag dogs!We took a walk around the area and there are so many cool houses around there...I fell in love with this Wizard of Oz house, it was painted purple, had a yellow brick road, lots of cool signs up about ruby slippers and munchkins....I want that house!We went to a couple of great vintage stores one of which is called 'Olive's Very Vintage', had lots of pretty things!
Tonight was ended with a couple of much needed Gin and Tonics!!!
Prior to my exciting day Ive had quite an eventful week....work has been busy, kind of exhausting but exhilerating at the same time, Im really enjoying it and its fantastic to work with such energetic people, its a lot of fun!Me and Kristena from work have sampled just about every food place in the vicinity on our extended lunches!!!!
Been out with Karen a couple of times this week, found a great place called 'Blockheads' with extremely cheap frozen maragritas and gorgeous nachos!Plus me and Paige are still on our mission to sample as many bars as possible in the search of eligable bachelors and free drinks!!!Friday afternoon we went to the MoMa which was really great, some wonderful exhibitions on, I so want this perspex chair with plastic flowers inlaid, and its free on fridays!
Anyway sleep is calling me...........

Well, to bring you up to date as to what has been happening this past week......
The remainder of my weekend and Memorial Day was spent strolling around Wall Street, seeing the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall....Made another visit to the World Trade Centre, for some reason this time it seemed a lost more vast from what I remember. After walking around Battery Park and being suitably harrassed by a guy called Norman I took a stroll and found myself in a place called Veteran Square, only a tiny place but there was a lot of vietnam veterans paying their respects, singing, all in military uniform which was interesting to see with it being Memorial Day.

Started back at work on Tuesday which was like going back in time!!!!This time around they have moved to a super big, impressive studio, its pretty amazing!!!Was nice to see all the familiar faces and have a good catch up with everyone and hear all the gossip!!!I mean its all about the gossip isnt it?!?!?Theres a few new people aswell some of which are pretty crazy so Im looking forward to getting back in there and doing some seriously hard work!
So this past week has been pretty intense at work but Im loving every minute!Its so good to be doing something I love everyday of my life, those months of working in a tedious and uncreative, job to fund this big trip are totally paying off now!!!!!Its totally puts everything into perspective!!!!So work is going great, my evenings have been spent trying to experience as many bars in NYC as I can, going out for dinner to some great places and enjoying pizza and trashy TV with my housemates Paige and Taos!Im having the most amazing time!!!!Did some serious shopping yesterday which was a lot of fun, probably not so great for the backpacking budget which is yet to kick in....Im figuring that I wont start thinking about it till I reach Asia...naughty!
Today was a very random day!!!Finally got to make it to Coney Island!Last time round it was winter and people said it was kinda shady in the off season but today i eventually got to go!Stillwell station had recently reopened in the past couple of days and as the weather was amazing today it was destined to be reaaaaallly busy!Had a great time, we went to the fair, saw the freakshow.......

After this we walked up to Brighton Beach which was really cool, it has a really strong Russian Community so theres all these amazing Russian Restaurants and little old ladies on deckchairs!I loved it!
After the long trek back all the way through Brookyln to Midtown me and Taos went out to a really quirky chinese place and the food was gorgeous!!!
Tonight Paige took me for Martinis at the 'Hudson Hotel', it was so beautiful, all designed by Philip Stark, it was amazing!We sat on these big stone seats amongst lanterns and twinkly lights and enjoyed lycee and mango martinis!Shockingly expensive but well worth it!!!!Back to work tomorrow.......

I cant believe Im back in New York!I arrived at JFK last night after a very interesting journey....Virgin Atlantic ended up upgrading me to Upper Class!So I had the luxuory of a bed, 4 course meal and unlimited champage!After the bus journey into Manhattan I headed to the place that would become my new home for the next few weeks of my life! I turned up outside a Japanese restaurant with a couple of stairs above leading into an apartment block, kinda dirty, think i saw a rat! Finally got to meet Paige after all of our email conversations and she showed me into my Hells Kitchen abode!!!I was plesantly suprised, it was really nice, oak floors, high ceilings!!!Finished off the evening by catching up with my good friend Keren and drinking too much Bombay Sapphire!
Woke up extra bright and early this morning....5.30am to be exact and just couldnt sleep!Went out grabbed a coffee and went out for an early walk, headed up to columbus circle, admired central park and then headed back to the apartment to get ready for my first day back in New York! I love Hells Kitchen, its going to prove a fun area to live in, fabulous restaurants, a Spanish fruit market right on my door step and the inevitable "Duane Reade" on every corner! My new housemate Sandra took me to this great little organic supermarket where I stocked up on some shopping before heading down to SoHo!!!We went for lunch at 'Cafe Gitane' which was lovely, avocado on toast!Yum!We then went on for a look at the Rebecca Taylor boutique, the company I was about to start working my second fashion season with!
Went for a wander around mid-town this afternoon and spotted all my old haunts....Cafe Metro, New Star, Eastern Silks!!!Headed down to 34th Street to have a good look at the Empire State building and found myself gravitating towards 8th Ave to catch a glimpse at Webster Hall, the place where I was living last year, which was weird as to stand there was like revisiting my first ever experience of New York!
All I can say is Im so happy to be back, I start work on tuesday as It is Memorial day on Monday so Im looking forward to seeing everyone!And of course Im looking forward to the next couple of days, visiting all my favourite places and doing some much deserved shopping!!!!!