NYC

This is probably going to be a simple, descriptive and picture heavy post because we did SO MUCH in one day and it was INSANE. I'd heard a lot about the ~*~bright lights~*~ and huge-ness of New York City and seen images on tv and in films but it's completely not the same as actually being there.

So. On our first weekend off, Hannah, Rachael and I went to stay with Steph and her Mom (that felt weird just typing that) (her mum/mom was super nice and hospitable!) in Bellmore which is still on Long Island but closer to nyc than camp is. That Friday evening we chilled out, ate food and watched a bit of Friends which was cool - watching Friends whilst in New York! All part of the American experience. Early the next morning we got on the LIRR to Penn Station. The only thing that disappointed me about the LIRR is that I couldn't keep my ticket as a souvenir because the conductor came to check we had a ticket and then took it away. But the journey was nice, we spent time planning where we were going to go that day and talking about what camp with kids would be like.

I should probably mention now that it was super hot that day. I couldn't tell you the exact degrees because America doesn't do Celsius but it was HOT. And in the city it was worse because concrete and people. At that point I was worried more about how I would cope for the whole summer in the heat than about how I would get on with the kids! Throughout the whole day Steph was the most perfect tour guide we could have had, she must have been to the places we went to so many times and was probably sick of the tourists but she didn't show it at all and was happy to take us wherever we wanted to and wherever she thought would be good for us to see. It made the day so much nicer, following someone who knew the city well, meaning we didn't have to get overwhelmed by navigating the streets and subway system!

First of all we went to Times Square, where everything is crazy and the shops are huge and the advertisements are bright. 

We then went on the ferry to Staten Island (which is kind of a joke in New York, bless) and back. It's a free service and goes past the Statue of Liberty, who is a fine lady and really very cool. We didn't walk around Staten Island at all, we just walked to the other side of the ferry port to get the ferry straight back. However Staten Island was the only place I could say I'd been when asking campers where they were from, so that was nice!

Then it was on to Seaport, which is a lovely area with cute shops and market stalls and it didn't feel like we were in the city at all! From there we had a great view of the Brooklyn bridge and Manhattan bridge.

Then it was time to meet up with the others who had been staying with Yorel in Queens and go to Central Park! We walked around the park, recognising places from films such as Maid in Manhattan, and then sat in the park for a bit playing a game on Yorel's ipad which involved acting and guessing and laughs. It was something which me and my friends back home would probably have done, and it made me happy to think that I'd be spending the rest of the summer with these guys. 

Probably my favourite tourist-y thing I did was go up the Rockefeller Centre with Rachael (Hannah and Steph had done it before). It's cheaper than going up the Empire State building and you actually get to see it properly! From the top you could see pretty much everything, it was so cool. Central Park is just some crazy random green space in the middle of a city, amazing. 

Finally, to round off the day we all went to Dallas BBQ, as recommended by Matt and Emma, it was so good! Definitely worth the wait we had because we were such a large group. They served huge portions and my expanding stomach was very happy. After the meal we went to Times Square in the evening which was awesome. 

Then it was a tired and content train journey back to Steph's for some much needed sleep after what had been one of the best and most exhausting days of my life.

Bethan