Pop across the Ditch

So, I have been home a whole of.. hmm.. less than 60 days, less than a whole 2 months and already I am on the fly again. Not really planned so much but I got an interview in Sydney so I got to pop across the ditch for a couple days at the beginning of May.

Having been to Sydney before, it wasn't a big rush to see the sights and I could take my days a little more casually. The first day was taken up by flying and going to the interview. But on the second, I got to spend a little time just hanging out in and around the city... as normal, I did a walking tour, it was good and informative and a different perspective of Sydney.

In the afternoon I took the ferry out to Manly, but dressed up in jeans I couldn't even really dip my toes in the water, so I just sat on the steps. I was so tired anyway, flight and interview and walking tour had taken it out of me.

So as this was just a little pop over, will just end this here.. relaxing in the botanical gardens..

Grown-ups playground and a big hole in the ground

I was actually a bit apprehensive about going to Las Vegas alone. Sin city - too hard to sin by one's self?
I gave it a good go anyway in my brief amount of time.

I stayed in a hostel - I wanted to stay in a hotel, but that would have been lonely. The hostel was fine, but was definitely geared for partying all the time and didn't have a very good separation of partying and sleeping. So, for a great party hostel in Las Vegas - Hostel Cat. I wasn't there long enough for some all night partying, which is a bit sad, but I had priorities!

The night I got there, I went out with the hostel crowd. Didn't really get enough time to talk to anyone and  it wasn't really my cup of tea. But, there was a silly limo ride, squished together, not exactly comfortable.

Next day I made a bus stop friend who hung out with me around the casinos. Antique seller and dance teacher from Hawaii, must have been my lucky charm as I made about $140 on the slots! I spent most of my time inside the casinos - it's so easy to walk between them without ever going outside, so I don't have many outside night shots, which is a shame.

Below is inside Paris themed casino, see the legs of the Eiffel Tower.. 

 New York, New York - just like being back?

 Really beautiful atriums and conservatories

 Just like being in Venice?

 The next day was a 5am start to be ready for a 5.50am pickup to drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. A long drive, brief stops at the Hoover Dam,


petrol station, lunch pick up with great museum across the road... Pete's Gas Station Museum

that I didn't get to look at and then the big hole in the ground, Grand Canyon...

Spot the animal.

In the big City

Ah, New York, the City, the big Apple.. I was really looking forward to my taxi ride into the city, instead I got bullied into an unregistered cab (i was very tired) and not even taken to my hostel, dropped off somewhere downtown next to a useless subway station, couldn't buy a ticket as I only had $20 notes, it was a Sunday, so my line probably wasn't running anyway.

On the plus side, met a very helpful old man who helped me carry my suitcase back up the subway steps and flagged down a real cab for me. I tend to think I'm a little travel savvy, but being tired from a long flight and standing around waiting for border definitely does weaken the resolve - so watch out if you come out of JFK!

I found New York not as busy as I was expecting - I guess this is having come from London and battled my way down Oxford Street, through the commuter rush Northern Line where if you get breathing space in the tube, you've done well.

What I really think makes this city is the high rises on a small bit of land, smooshed together. Most cities are melting pots of different cultures, great cities embrace their melting pots and make them part of the city and I think if I had spent a bit more time in New York, I would have grown to love it, as I do London.

There seemed to be a great deal of history around, but not so overt as other places.

5 days worth of things to see - walking is a big thing in NY, I did a lot of walking. Got a Citypass and I found it really worth it.

So, time for some pictures!

Times Square - I forced myself down here on my first night in the city, I had to try to not get jet lag. Night time doesn't exist under these lights.

Central Park - quite a few roads run through it and maybe it was just the winter/early spring feel, but I wasn't that impressed by it.

Natural History Museum - I love the dioramas.

 Flatiron Building with nearby scrummy burgers, Shake Shack, very tasty, but didn't score a heater so was a bit chilly while eating, should have got the chips too.

New York skyline from the Empire State

 

 The Chelsea High Line walk - really worthwhile doing, I love being up amongst the buildings.

View from Top of the Rock at night

 

 Circle Line tour - didn't take that many photos, it was ridiculously windy and we stayed inside most of the time. The boat went around the top part of the island and the all the people on the bow got drenched in the spray as it came around - glad we were inside.

Brisk Barcelona

My last European stop, for a while at least... Barcelona! Sadly it was just basically a day, got there late Friday, left early Sunday so Saturday was a bit of a whirlwind.

I went with my flatmate so my first trip with someone else, luckily there was no problem with what was planned to see.

First we went on a Runner Beans walking tour through the old city, which was great and pointed out places that would be hard to find by oneself.

Then after lunch at a great little place with fantastic tapas we went to Sagrada Familia and then ended the day at Park Güell.

Would love to go back one day. Perhaps at a warmer time, surprisingly chilly!