DAY ONE || October 22cd


So this day ended up beginning a bit early due to lack of sleep, minor stress and excitement :] I was able to leave Ohio at about 5AM and arrive at the train station in Wallkill, New York by 3PM. Damages were one blown tire and 30 dollars in gas! Two hours later I arrived at the Penn Station in New York City, off of my first EVER train ride. I have no sense of direction so instead of a 10 minute walk to the Urban Oasis hostel, it turned into forty-five minutes; in which I used my GPS system to get there >.> (This is an excellent hostel for the price/location/service/cleanliness!) Then after check in I passed out for a few hours, I was called downstairs to meet `greenie! The first night was filled with navigating Time Square to pick up our NYC Passes (if you ever plan on visiting and being touristy, also worth the money!), and making our way to O'Reilly's Pub which was a block or so away from the hostel, where I had my first official 'legal' drink, and we had our well. . I'll save that girly stuff for facebook ;D. ANYWAY: Hostel, and passing out from jet lag/overabundance of travel commenced.

DAY TWO || October 23rd

It was happy-birthday-to-me-day! It was sunny, but unlike the day before, very cold Which didn't really hit me until we had made our way through the subway station towards the Statue of Liberty. (Another first, subway ride win!) Although our tickets couldn't get us inside the monument, it was pretty decent. Then off to Ground Zero, through battery park. Which was a slight bummer, all the fencing, you couldn't see any of the demo work! Insert lunch here --> <Gourmet Subway ;D> We went to the Guggenheim Museum, which is full of beautiful curves, inside and out. Good bit: Is having a sneaky photographer partner that beats the bad bit: You aren't aloud to take photos above the ground level :\ See deviation 'Sunrays' (Oh and I'll be posting some photo stacks within the next few days of the complete excursion!) I was modern-art-out'd by the time we left the building, the gallery was pieces from the artist Kandinsky. Then it was the MMOA, where it was free reign on photo taking, and 3 hours worth of exploration! Since it was pretty dark outside afterwards, it was off to the Hostel, for authentic New-Yorker pizza, and a mini-pj party! This was before we met up with ~atrielienz in Time Square at Houndstooth pub, where I was introduced to a Mongolian Mother (AH, hope that's right D: ) Deelish. :] <Insert a good time and drink spillage here> /End day

DAY THREE || October 24th

Laaattee morning, just stayed in bed until it was about time to go to the devmeet at the PDN Photo Expo ([link]) that was held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. I received a 60 day trial for the captureNX2 program from the registration booth and met up with =deviouselite, ~atrielienz, ~KitsuneSakakino. Spent a good bit of time there looking at the terribly bored looking models in a display, and all of the different companies and services that were there. Walked out with a bag full of goodies, including a mini etch-a-sketch! The meet than landed at Stout NYC where we all hid the rain for a good bit of the evening, and more drinks! (and shepherds pie :]) After we all separated from there, it was off to the hostel for the night, weather was still crap :\ Although, we did walk down to one of the Korean restaurants near the hostel, service was amazing, food was great, even though you couldn't read the menu :]

DAY FOUR || October 25th

BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT DAY. Began with coffee, and assisting Adrian out the window onto the fire escape. (Our hostel had a view of the Empire State Building, we were so close that you had to crane your neck at the window to see the top!) Then we got into a lengthy line Que to view the Empire State Building up close and personal. We were able to upgrade our tickets to see the city from the 102cd floor, which was absolutely breathtaking! <Insert photogenic pigeons!> We stopped back on the 86th floor on the way down, where I kept getting hung up on some crazy ceiling fixtures See Empire Blowout . Afterwards, it was a stop at the Flat Iron Building, and off to Central Park :] Central Park is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous to view. Especially at this time of year with all the leaves changing, and people out trying to enjoy the last bit of good weather. Here, we stopped at a random Roller-disco and Central Park Zoo. :] The Rockefeller Center was next, where we were able to catch a view off the "Top of the Rock" at sunset! It was absolutely gorgeous :] That had to be one of my favorite bits :] Afterwards, it was a walk through the shopping district, to times square, and have an eat at the Olive Garden which conveniently enough was right behind us :] I believe we hit up OReilly's pub this night as well.....

DAY FINAL :[ || October 26th

Another beautiful, romantic day. :] Check out of the hostel at noon, and walked through Madison Square Park (the squirrels here were incredibly tame!), spent some time at Washington Square, walked through Little Italy and China Town, and continued our way to the Brooklyn Bridge, spending some time underneath of it looking across the bit of Ocean. We decided to cross the bridge, and hung out at the harbor park in Staten Island, where I was able to get some good shots of the Manhattan Bridge, and steal some wedding photos! Oh! And I had THE BEST ICED CAPPUCCINO EVER. After almost getting lost trying to find a subway, we crashed for a few moments at Adrian's new stay-in, the Chocolat Hostel near Central Park, which definitely didn't hold a match to Urban Oasis. It was still entertaining nonetheless. :] Some time was spent at a local diner with over-sized sandwiches, and then just some cute romantic time together before we headed to the Penn-Station. I reallllyyy did not want to leave, for some reason time just flew by way to fast. (Ahhh to be expected) BUT at 1246AM I left with my train back to the car, back to Ohio at which I arrived at 1030AM the next day :]