Last day in NY

Easy day, today. Nothing too exciting, but some good conversation with Henrique, who is a graduated MBA and has lots to show me.
Actually, yesterday night was fun. I went out with Henrique and two of his friends to the W Hotel bar. Cool and funny stories, and I saw for the first time the benefits of the accounting classes, while discussing Citi's and PWC's share performances.
But today I gave in to the buying pressure and spent some money on a nice woolen jacket, an aviator cap and good skiing gloves at trcentury. Good prices and I'm sure that Kingston will be friggin' cold.
Battery Park, the obligatory Statue of Liberty photos, Ground Zero (or the big hole). Now waiting for the subway back to Queens to a Brazillian dinner with rice and beans.
Tomorrow morning the flight to Nashville, where I will be picked up by my cousin Julia and my aunt.
Christmas will be at my aunt's, 14 people in all, will be fun.

Views from Henrique's apartment

Café Habana

After a nice walk in the sun in Central Park looking at the squirels I took the 6 train downtown at stopped at Canal Street to take a look at China Town. Then decided to try some pasta in Little Italy and ended up eating Cuban grilled chicken with Mexican tamarindo juice. Suits me fine.
The plan is then reach the southern tip of Manhattan and enjoy some of rest of the sun at the water front.

I didn't actually get to the water yet, but spent time looking at some shops and prices on Broadway and later met Henrique again, who took me to eat a great burger at th Burger Joint.
I'm now officially his guest until Sunday here in Queens.
What continues to be a problem is finding a good place to use the internet. Aaah... How I miss the European internet cafés around the train stations...

Second day in New York and life is fine

Sitting in the Telephone Bar and listening to Mjguel Weissman on harmonica and his swing band: accoustic guitar and bass and pretty brunette singer. All purely accoustic, no mikes, no amps. Very good indeed.
Now on a line 6 train uptown, back home. It was a good day. Lots of work in the morning for the endless economics assignment, finally over. Then the spontaneous buy of this Nokia E61 smartphone and a walk around 34th Street.
Found a public library where I could use the internet for exact 60 minutes, no more. But it was suficient to submit the assignment and post some pre-prepared posts.
Later a quick dinner at McDonald's to see if it really tastes like home, while watching a guy making open heart surgery on two Gameboys Advance.
And, after that, the highlight of the day: NY Knicks x Cleveland Cavalliers in the Madison Square Garden Arena with Henrique, and old acquaintance from Brazil who works for the Citigroup now.
All in all, a very good day.

Flight

• Nice enough, nothing really unpleasant, but nothing very interesting.
• No individual interactive VOD screens this time.
• Great view flying over Canada: black and white. Snow, frozen lakes and dark terrain.
• At least one hour of Economics assignment writing, until the battery died on me.
  

New York

• JFK is big. But the signs are well placed.
• 5 dollars for the airtrain out.
• 2 dollars for the subway.
• Ticket machines accept credit cards, but don't give change for a 50 dollar bill.
• Yellow cabs.
• Yellow school buses.
• Extra long red fire engines.
  
• Big Ford pick up trucks with enormous wheels.
• No limos so far.
• No McDonalds spotted in Manhattan. Nor Pizza Huts. But Starbucks. And Radio Shack.
• Clumps of old snow lying around.
• Cold. Freezing wind.
• Very dark very early.
• Decently sized pizza slice with a decent topping serving and lots of cheese. Coca Cola on the rocks and people spotting from the window. Spanish speaking pizzaiolos.
• Lots of dry cleaners. And Manicures.
• The "coiffeur" sleeping in his chair while waiting for the next client.
• Everybody listens to their MP3 players. Sometimes to incredibly loud volumes.
• SUVs. Luxuses.
• Cars drive on the right side of the road. My world is whole again.
• I feel I am in a movie.

3 Countries in 24 hours

I have arrived well in New York and already had fun with my two little cousins and walking around Manhattan in the evening. But the way was long, and not too easy. Because of jet lag, I'll use the bullet point writing style.