New York, New York!

ive been In NYC for the last few days and have been soaking up everything from the sights to the food to the accents. Such an electric city that is always awake and alive. Being in the summer the streets are full of people, smells and signs that say to curb your dog. It's an entertaining day everyday.

I stayed in the Upper East Side which is surprisingly fantastic, with more room in the apartments, loads of local eateries and a more residential vibe. Kinda nice to get away from the tourists and yet still be a ten minute walk to Central Park. I took full advantage of that and went with friends on two runs and explored a separate day. So much to see and do there and just relaxing on the grass or a park bench has to be a top activity in the city. Running around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir you are rewarded with sweeping views of the skyline with the water and park below. A magical sport to run in.

Mixing in some touristy sights was the feeling of being a local. Starting the 4th of July off running through Central Park, followed up by a swim at a public pool before grabbing bagels and lox was amazing. Topping that off with a trip to Long Island for a BBQ was brilliant. The accents, the food, the New York hip hop, this was a straight up perfect taste of life out on the island. It's great to have the opportunity to mix with these people all over the city and not just be a tourist. The best experiences on this trip have been with locals doing local things. Time Square is nuts, the
Statue of Liberty is amazing, but the real New York is fitting in with the busyness, grabbing a slice and talking to someone with a thick NY accent.

I had the best falafel in the US in Greenwich Village. It hit on every flavor, from the creamy, perfectly textured falafel to the right amount of pickled vegetables accompanying every bite. If you are in the West Village, go to Taïm and become converted. I'm sold.

Pictures may come In the future due to needing a computer to upload, but needless to say , blue skies in the Big Apple made for a great trip before I'm off to Europe. I'm traveling with Cristina, a good friend I met in Ecuador and tomorrow morning we'll arrive in Edinburgh for 6 hours of exploring before taking the train to Liverpool. Let the European adventures begin!