Philly: More Than Just Cheese Steaks

First night in the city that never sleeps (New York). Sat in the basement of the ‘Jazz in the Park’ hostel, a vibrant, music-filled place of confusing proportions and hip-and-they-know-it staff, just off the north-west corner of Central Park (I can see it beckoning me just metres away at the end of 106th West Street). I arrived in the big city by train from New Jersey - my first double decker, very fancy too - during the early evening hours, taking a locally known, subsidised route from Philadelphia (saving myself $40 in the process - thanks Courtney and Kenada). Have a lot to thank those two for: they played the excellent hosts, allowing me use of their sofa for several nights, driving me around their wonderful city, showing me the sights, taking me to their friends’ parties and even making me breakfast. The smell of maple syrup bacon is still fresh in my nostrils. Courtney really can cook: her boyfriend Kenada’s a very lucky boy.

‘Philly’ was a nice city: much older architecture than anything I saw on or near the west coast (stands to reason, really), which a mix of Victorian and Georgian houses (lots of bricked terraces - not something I’m used to seeing in this country), open-air markets, large, trimmed parks, a Thames-like river lined with University owned boat houses (they have a regatta here) and many large, impressive government buildings. The city has a well known and celebrated history, being the birthplace of the constitution as well as home to Benjamin Franklin and, more recently, the setting for the Rocky films (there’s even a scarily popular - though understandably so - Rocky statue, located right by the steps he slogs his way up whilst training in the first film).

Whilst there, we went to a whopping three parties (two of those on Saturday night) and attended July 4th (Independence Day) celebrations on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (a large, international flag lined road that runs through parkland from the centre, where sits a tall and slender, peaked, whitewashed stone city hall, bunched up amidst multiple skyscrapers, to a grand and ancient museum of art (the steps of which featured in Rocky). For the latter, the street was closed off to cars, busy with food stalls, thousands of people and giant TV screens, providing close-ups of the action on the stage, which was set up in front of the museum. Things were going on all day, but we caught up with it late in the evening, just as the R’n’B’ singer John Legend was performing his encore, which lead onto an enormous firework and music display. The crowds were absolutely lapping it up: it was an event for everyone - parties, couples, families and the like - and despite the huge numbers of people, the atmosphere was friendly and exciting, buzzing with catching enthusiasm. Those that weren’t present in the park were having their own parties in their homes, some of which spilled out into the streets, even taking over entire streets (with granted permission to close them off to traffic). Amazingly, I received next to no jibes for my nationality, despite being the enemy. As I like to look at it - they’ve got us to thank for that day, otherwise what would they have to celebrate? ;)

Thursday night was a trip to Courtney and Kenada’s local: a brewery bar right on a canal where, thanks to Kenada’s connections, we were granted free entry (they were charging $5 on the door) and an unlimited tab for next to no cost (even though it did cost a small amount, I wasn’t allowed to contribute). Like I said, fantastic hosts. It was great to see Courtney again, especially in her element showing me around her home town, and I had a top time getting to know her boyfriend Kenada, who apart from being an all round great bloke and incredibly easy to get on with, spoke like a true movie star. Fritzy’s definitely onto a winner there.

My last night, Saturday, involved a trip to a couple of house parties in New Jersey, the second having a Christmas in July theme. We stopped off at an enormous Target superstore on the way there - think Matalan, only slightly more upmarket and much larger - where I got myself a steal of a deal in a $2 red t-shirt as well as a quality trilby hat. Plenty of party games, some truly excellent vodka jelly (or ‘jello’ as they say here) and my first taste of a home keg and margarita machine lead to a memorable night, where I met a load of Courtney and Kenada’s good friends and family, as well as several they didn’t know. Special nod, winks and more go out to Shannon Murphy, a stunning red-head who I wish I’d had more time to get to know. Facebook, don’t fail me now.

First night in the Big Apple and time to hit the sack. Three nights on the razz and I’m done for. I’m getting too old for this ;)


p.s. Philly Cheese Steaks. Jaw dropping. Glad I waited (rather than buying one on the west coast; so famous, they’re even available three thousand miles away).