I'm in New York for nearly two weeks

[Maljonic]

So, after a trip by ship across the Atlantic I arrived in New York City yesterday at 6AM. I met my sister-in-law and her husband for the first time tonight, which was cool after only speaking on the phone for the last 3 years.

I kept up going to the gym on the ship, which oddly had the exact same equipment as the gym back home only it was all in pounds instead of kilograms. The gym here at the hotel isn't so good, but I'm not going to bother about it too much - I'll just sort of keep the motor ticking over till I get home.

I don't know if it's the same everywhere in the US, but there sure is a lot of food ads on TV here. It must be like 60% food ads, 15% medical, 20% money-related and only 5% beer. It seems there's loads more temptation to drink in UK commercials, which is replaced by tempting fast food ads in the US, or NY anyway. I'm not saying it means anything, just that it's something I noticed.

Anyway I've spent most of my money already on renting a Mustang convertible. Just been driving round the streets in it, and been told to come inside and stop looking at it.

[winnie]

There are a lot of food ads over here. There also seem to be more food ads when you are unable to eat whatever you want. Murphey's law.

[Chris]

Welcome to the US! Remember, we drive on the right side here... just in case you hadn't discovered that yet. Ha!

I guess I hadn't thought about the food ads, but you're right. There are a lot. My wife and I have a DVR and we FF through most of the ads. Most of the time we joke about how gross the food looks in those ads, which I think is funny, b/c they are obviously trying to make it look good.

Have a nice trip. I've been living in upstate NY for just over 2 years and still haven't been to the city. So you're 1 up on me. Enjoy!

[Maljonic]

I haven't actually got around to visiting the city yet, been visiting relatives and went driving out into the countryside yesterday. I haven't crashed the car yet, but had a near miss driving in that hurricane the other night.

[Rhone]

I went to school on Long Island for 2 years and lived in Queens for the next 2 years, and never went into Manhattan outside of the times I absolutely had to. It seems like most people who live in the area talk about "going into the city" like it's the only way to have fun. To me, Manhattan was like Queens except everything was twice as expensive and 10 times more crowded. I could see going there if you're into Broadway plays or worshiping celebrities, but otherwise I never understood the appeal.

[Maljonic]

I drove through Manhattan today, hardly anyone suspected I didn't have a clue where I was going. I probably go have a proper look on Wednesday though.

[winnie]

So how was the trip?

[Maljonic]

I had a wonderful time, got back home yesterday - though yesterday to us was actually Sunday and now it's Tuesday, which feels kind of odd.

I just went into Manhattan to walk around once, and drove around a couple of times. We drove up Long Island a bit to a place called Shirley, in fact I drove all over the place - even to the dreaded New Jersey.

[Rhone]

Originally Posted by Maljonic

I drove all over the place - even to the dreaded New Jersey.

If you smelled anything foul in the car, don't worry--that's just New Jersey.

[Maljonic]

Everyone I met in New York seems to have something bad to say about New Jersey. Someone did say though that New Jersey has some nice places, only they never saw them.

[Rhone]

One thing I noticed about New Yorkers (when I lived there) is that many of them tend to think of New York as the center of the world--and think of New Jersey as being kind of like their arm pit.

I doubt it it's all that bad, but my previous comment is definitely based on my own experience driving through some of the more industrialized areas along the turnpike. I've actually had the experience of thinking something must be wrong with my car, or dead in my car, and then realized "oh, wait, that's just New Jersey".

[Maljonic]

I was told that it was the cancer capital of America, especially the area you're talking about. I must admit it does feel as though you've arrived somewhere much worse when you first cross over to New Jersey, but then it is all the industrial areas like you said.

[TheHappyFamily]

Originally Posted by Maljonic

I was told that it was the cancer capital of America, especially the area you're talking about. I must admit it does feel as though you've arrived somewhere much worse when you first cross over to New Jersey, but then it is all the industrial areas like you said.

Just read this thread for some reason --- wow! All the Jersey bashing!

I'm a Jersey girl, and yeah, it's considered the armpit of the US because when people fly in and out of Newark, all they ever see is industrial ... but it's motto is "The Garden State"...

We've got barren lands in the south of Jersey, the Pine Barrens, the Jersey shore, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Cape May, the Ski Slopes and mountains in the north, the mid section is FULL of horse farms, cow farms, vegetable farms, hay farms. Horse racing and the horse industry alone is worth billions in the state. New Jersey accounts for the majority percentage of cranberries produced in the world! Jersey Tomatoes are some of the best in the region.

Jersey can't do all that by only being industrial

Now I grew up in the shadow of Giants Stadium and in and around the areas most of the mafia called home. I saw the twin towers burning and you could smell it from where I was in Jersey at the time, that's how close I lived to NYC. Scared me so bad, I didn't leave my house very much for weeks.

I always loved NYC ... I spent many many a night in there. Drove around for the first time when I was 17, got lost in Harlem, had some pretty nice guys give me directions out, loved driving around 42nd street and downtown. I miss the city! I LOVE to drive a big F-150 around the streets of NY and play chicken with the cabs. I live in the south now ... no such fun like that down here.

But yeah, New Jersey gets a bad rap for no reason really. It's exceptionally eclectic and very beautiful in many areas. We just have a little bit of every topography and every type of town you can imagine.

We're not bad peeps

[Maljonic]

I went to a big Jewish cemetery in New Jersey, it was very nice countryside around there.

I just assumed that New York New Jersey bashing was because they are neighbors, with a river between them, and no one really believes it's that bad - just sort of a running gag. Like here in England people like to pretend they hate the French, but everyone knows they're all right really.

[TheHappyFamily]

Originally Posted by Maljonic

I went to a big Jewish cemetery in New Jersey, it was very nice countryside around there.

I just assumed that New York New Jersey bashing was because they are neighbors, with a river between them, and no one really believes it's that bad - just sort of a running gag. Like here in England people like to pretend they hate the French, but everyone knows they're all right really.

I was a bit tongue in cheek. Most of the time it is a running gag ... between people that live up there ... but I run into people that don't live up there, have only flown into NJ, and say "EW, what a disgusting place. I don't ever want to visit there!"

When I lived there I always said good! Less traffic! LOL!

And when I lived in England, I tried not to let anyone know I was a quarter French...

[Hamoth]

The first part of Jersey that most New Yorkers see is Newark...I lived there for a year and can say with certainty that Newark is as bad as all the rumors say. Or at least it was in 93'.

[TheHappyFamily]

Originally Posted by Hamoth

The first part of Jersey that most New Yorkers see is Newark...I lived there for a year and can say with certainty that Newark is as bad as all the rumors say. Or at least it was in 93'.

Newark itself is a "little" better today due to recent cleaning up ... but yeah, Newark is not a pretty place. Camden shares the same bad rap.

I was always told if you wanted your car stolen, leave it with the doors unlocked on a street out of the way. Come back a few days later and it's most certainly gone.

[Maljonic]

Surely if you leave your car unlocked it will be stolen wherever you leave it after a few days, apart from Walton's Mountain perhaps? Actually someone may even steal it in Walton's Mountain, but then they'd undergo a life-changing experience and bring it right on back.