DAY 1: Welcome to the BIG APPLE

The day began at 3:15am, leaving us just enough time for last-minute packing and our trip to the airport. We had a short layover in Chicago, where we got a good glimpse of the Sears Tower before departing for the Big Apple.

Our day in New York City started with a crazy ride in a taxi cab to Brooklyn - let's just say we are glad to be alive. Ryan, of course, made pals with the Spanish-speaking cabbie, but failed to procure good directions from him to the best salsa dancing club in NYC. We got out on 13th Street and 4th Ave in Brooklyn and walked into our new home for the next 4 days.

The house we are renting is awesome. It's old and full of brick and wood - perfect NYC experience. The place is over 150 years old - the floor creaks, the halls and stairways are cramped, it's totally awesome.

After getting all moved in, we hopped on the subway and headed for Times Square. By now it was dark, so we got the full effect of the lights, advertisements, billboards, everything. Times Square is totally awesome, and apparently the place to be when visiting NYC. We also stopped by the Rockefeller Center and a few other places of interest. Finally, we met up with Trevor, who flew in at 9pm.

After getting back to the house, we freshened up for some more exitement - a friend of Todd and Ryan, living in Brooklyn, was having a party in her apartment. There, we socialized with genuine New Yorkers and were amused by their "interesting" antics. We made it home just in time to watch the sunrise and catch a few hours of sleep in preperation for Day 2.

DAY 1 Pictures