Kiwi in America

[susandennis]

I've been a huge fan of all things New Zealand since I first went there more than a decade ago. I've collected Kiwi friends here and there. One of them, Mike, I've never met in person but befriended online years ago. Every year he gets beautiful photo calendars of New Zealand at work from suppliers and sends me one that hangs on my cube wall at work. This year's is huge and has really stunning photos with information about each place. I think it's from a trucking company.

Anyway, Mike just got back from a trip to the U.S. His second. He sent me his report today. The guy knows how to squeeze every minute dry. (He is, unexplicably, a Phillies fan... )

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Travel Report USA Trip Aug/Sept 2003

It's hard to believe it's been 5 years since the last trip, but time sure does fly.Anyway, I wanted to go further this time around, so I headed off to New York first, and stayed at a hotel across from Madison Square Gardens, on 33rd street, Midtown Manhattan. I thought I'd seen a lot of people before in my time, but not as many as I saw between Midtown and Central Park. Every street was packed with people day and night, and up to Times Square, and it was people times 10!!

All the buildings covered in billboards, TV screens and tickers flying past, added to the traffic noise and the people, its sure one busy place.I was 14 floors up in my hotel, but the noise was so loud, it was like it was all happening right outside my window. I discovered a few things in NYC.

One is that pizza is better in NYC. Another is that a nanosecond is a measure of time, but not a scientific measure, instead it's the time between a traffic light changing to green and a New Yorker honking his car horn, at another car who cant turn because the pedestrians are crossing. No one on this planet honks that horn like a New Yorker, and you have to wonder why they do it, as everyone just ignores it anyway.

I walked up to Central Park (33rd Street to about 80th Street), and about halfway through the park, up to the fountain and first lake area. It's so different in the park, with all New York around it, and so quiet in it. There was hardly anyone there. I went to the American Museum of Natural History, which was a great place to see. So many different areas, and the planetarium, dinosaurs, American history and so on. Coming out around 81st street, where Seinfeld lived, it was again so different from Midtown. A lot quieter, but still tall buildings everywhere. I guess with a small area and huge population, you can only build upwards.

The trip out to Shea Stadium in Queens to the baseball (Mets/Phillies) on the subway was a bit confusing at first. My first subway ride, its not really that clear which direction the train is going to us outsiders. Finding the 7 Train was easy, but was it going to or coming from Shea was a bit of a guess. But I guessed right, and getting on at 42nd street, passing Grand Central I knew I was OK. The train was pretty full for a Sunday mid-morning, but the US Open Tennis was also on, so there were a lot of people heading out that way.

I did like Shea Stadium, and the weather was good, and Phillies won, so that was also good. Thome hit a home run in the first, and Phils never lost the lead.Next day was Macys and Empire State Building. A day at Macys disappears quickly, and an afternoon trip to the ESB meant I was up there as it got dark to see the night view. Pity the fog came in, but it was still a must do. Then the rain came, and didn't let up through the rest of NYC and Philadelphia. So I had to visit Lady Liberty in the rain and wind. A few tourists didn't seem to enjoy the rough harbor crossing to get there. The X-ray and metal detector to get on board was quick.

Actually, the security around was noticeable at monuments and airports, but there weren't any delays, or at least not long ones. And I was happy with the extra checks, as you knew we all had to go through them.Not a lot to see at Ground Zero now, but it is something you have to see. They are getting close to rebuilding something there, although there is still some debate going on, as to what should be there.Shopping everywhere in NYC, and its somewhere I'll be back to on my next trip. I wanted to go around SoHo and Greenwich, but it just rained and rained. Oh well, next time..

Train down to Philly. At 17 dollars, it was sure the way to go. Had to make one change at Trenton NJ, but the next train was waiting, so it was off and on. A nice relaxing couple of hours.Trying not to upset anyone, there wasn't a lot to see in Philly. Maybe if I knew more about the place there could be more. I went to the Liberty Bell, and the historic Area, but again, wandering around in the rain wasn't much fun. But I was there for the home game at the Vet, which Phillies also won against the Mets 6-5. Of course I had to buy the jacket, the jerseys, the t-shirts etc etc...I could easily have bought much much more too!!!

2 days there, then off to LA. First week in Ontario, which was a great rest after NYC and before all the theme parks. Some great shopping, great weather, and Dennys in the carpark, with the 4.99 breakfasts!! What more could you want....well, down to Buena Park, and a ticket to Magic Mountain, that's what!!! Its taken me 3 trips to LA, but I finally got to Six Flags Magic Mountain at Valencia. WHAT A DAY, WHAT A PLACE. If you're a roller coaster fan, you just have to go there. Goliath, Superman, Batman, Riddler, Scream.the list goes on. I managed to ride every ride that was open, until you couldn't ride anymore. A 2 hour bus ride there, and same back again, but it was so much fun. Our driver told me that there was an overseas couple he took there for 5 days straight, a month or so previously, they liked it so much, they went every day! Had it been open more, and not just Fri-Sat-Sun, and I was there for another week, I'd have gone back.

It was a long long day, but just so much fun. I hear there's a bigger and better roller coaster park in Ohio, but Magic Mountain sure did it for me.Next day was Knotts Berry Farm. Again, a first for me, and the rides there are pretty cool too. I was a bit bummed that the Ghostrider wooden roller coaster wasn't going. The huge wooden roller coaster was being built when I was there 5 years ago, and I wanted to go on it.but again.next time perhaps.There were plenty of other rides to go on all day, and I have to say, that the Diner next to Xcelerator had the best double cheeseburgers I have every eaten, anywhere. Had I been able to eat a second, I would've, but there wasn't much room after one and the fries.

The following days at Universal and Disneyland were the icing on the cake, but having been before I wanted to do the new parks first. 5 theme parks in 7 days is pretty tiring, but I got through them all, ate all the food, bought all the souvenirs, rode all the rides, and just had so much fun for nearly 4 weeks, I cant wait until my next trip.Once again, there are new rides under construction, and more adventures to be had in another 5 years perhaps.

Phillies missed the Wildcard by 5 games, so they came close but couldn't hold on. A new stadium next year, and this years inspiration, so maybe a Pennant or more next year.Yankees and Braves once again this year? Or perhaps it's the Cubs this time round...isn't it about time they had a win... Well, that gives you some idea of what I got up to. There's so much more, I could go on for pages, but you get the idea. For me, there's only one place to go for a holiday, and I'll be back and back as long as I can afford it. Some people like to laze on beaches, but for me its shops, skyscrapers and fun parks. All action and all fun, and planning to begin soon for the next.

Bye for now

Mike
NZ