I went 5 whole days without blogging! In my defence, I'm in New York and I have literally just got the chance.
I'm going to split this off into days rather than just diving in, give everyone a bit of structure for this about-to-be mammoth of a blog post.
DAY 17
I had about 2 hours sleep in a hotel at Montreal airport and caught my flight to NYC.
The flight was delayed, but it actually worked better for me because I was able to check in to my hotel shortly after arriving instead of having to wait!
England were playing in the World Cup semi-final at 7pm, but I had a ticket for Billy Joel's record breaking show at Madison Square Garden - with doors at 8. So I found a sports bar across the street to watch the first half, after having my first Chipotle of 2015.
If you remember back to Day 2, Chipotle is my top ranking of burrito places, so I was happy. I also had sweetcorn for the first time on a burrito, which was interesting. I don't think I'd go for that again, in a burrito bowl - yes, in a burrito wrap - no.
During the first half Japan took the lead, before FARA WILLIAMS equalised with a penalty. The score was tied at half-time, I paid my bar bill and heading into MSG to watch the show. (I bought a data package for my phone so I could check the score during the second half)
Billy took to the stage, after no support act, about half 8. He was boss. Like really, really good. I'll admit I went just because it was Billy Joel, at Madison Square Garden but I walked away a big fan. I knew almost all the songs anyway, he even covered my favourite Elton John song 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' which was amazing.
By time he sung 'Piano Man' I was an emotional wreck, I adore that song and hearing it live, there, with the massive crowd singing along. It hit right in the feels.
I should also mention the people I was sitting with, a guy further up the row bought everyone on our row a drink before the show started and the two sets of people sitting either side of me were chatting away to me. Which was nice, travelling solo is cool, but sometimes it's just nice to have a conversation and from this part of my trip I have learnt that Americans/ New Yorkers are a lot friendlier than Canadians.
The encore was about 4-5 songs long, I was beginning to think he was never leaving the stage and that was that.
DAY 18
Now, I had a long, long lie in on Thursday morning. I was shattered so caught up on the sleep I'd missed the previous night.
At lunch time, I'm unashamed to say I had a burrito at Chipotle and headed to... wait for it.... A HUNGER GAMES EXHIBITION. Yes, in Times Square they have a whole section of a museum stocked with costumes, props, set designs, and just everything Hunger Games. For a huge fan, like me, it was amazing. I spent a good 2 hours nosing around at everything they had, my favourite was the final section where they had 4 Katniss costumes in a row, with video clips of her playing and a Mockingjay pin in the centre - oh and the part where you could get a picture taken with Caeser Flickerman, as if he was interviewing you before you went into the games, oh and the hologram, and the part where you could make your own propo film. I just loved it all, ok!
Following this I went to the TKTS booth and bought a ticket for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I don't know if I've put the caps in the right place there or not, but I'm tired and I'm not googling it.
I had about 2 hours until the show started, so I grabbed some dinner at MY FAVOURITE FALAFEL PLACE IN THE WORLD and went back to my hotel to eat and get changed. I also skyped my mum and dad and Quinn.
The play was so good. I didn't know anything about it before going, other than it had just won the Tony for Best Play. The staging was fascinating, the script emotional and beautiful and Alex Sharp as the lead was simply outstanding - you couldn't take your eyes off him.
DAY 19
I had a train to catch at 7:15am... yes 7:15 AM and that train was 7 hours long. God it was long.
Day 19 was Friday 3rd July and I was off to upstate New York to watch WNY Flash play Seattle Reign. I will never again complain about getting the train to Widnes to watch Liverpool play.
Anyway, as you may recall from twitter/ facebook/ my blog last year, my NWSL team is Washington Spirit. But disappointingly my dates here this year did not coincide with one of their home games, next year I'm going to plan a trip around one of their home games because I had the best time there last year.
WNY Flash, did coincide with my dates. They also happen to be the team where my favourite player - Whitney Engen - now plays her club football, of course she wasn't there on the 3rd because she was still in Canada at the World Cup. But the Flash have Chantel Jones, Ashley Nick and Sam Mewis, while Seattle have Kim Little, Jess Fishlock and Keelin Winters so I was excited to watch the sides play.
Admittedly, it's hard at times to follow the NWSL from the UK. As such the team I've watched most are Spirit, 2nd probably being Reign and I did not know a whole lot about the Flash.
When I arrived in Rochester I got to the hotel and half skyped my bestie back home, hi Sian! I say half, because it connected for 5 minutes and then cut out. Which was sad because after almost 3 weeks away now I am really missing my mates back home!
I met up with Chrissy who I met via my LFCladiesfans blog and we went the game.
Expectations, blown out the water.
So I bought a shirt, they printed 'Engen 3' on it there and then for me which was pretty cool and I also bought a scarf.
The game started and at first Reign were on top, their passing in the final 3rd between an interchanging front 4 was great to watch.
However as the half went on, Flash got more and more into it. Sam Mewis was everywhere, Ashley Nick was clearing up in front of the back 4 - dealt with probably the toughest task of the game facing Kim Little while Jaelene Hinkle became my new favourite player, I love full-backs anyway and she was great bombing up and down the wing all game.
It was goalless at the break but Reign scored from a penalty shortly into the second half, Flash did equalise - Elizabeth Eddy with a brilliant run and cut back to Lynn Williams who smashed the ball home.
The game finished 1-1, but Flash really deserved to, and probably should have taken all 3 points.
After the game, the players all go down what is called 'Autograph Alley' so they all signed my programme, I took a lot of selfies and even managed to get pics with some Seattle players - Fishlock, Little and Steph Cox!
I joked afterwards that they're my new team, while I will definitely be looking out for their results and following them more closely. Spirit still remain my #1 US team, because you have to be loyal to your side.. yada, yada.
Also, Seattle Reign were in the same hotel. I got a funny look with my new shirt on.
DAY 20
This blog is so long, but hey, this is almost the final one! We're nearly there!
After getting to Rochester on a 7 hour train, of course we had to go back on a 7 hour train. This time the train had wifi, which made the journey go a little faster. Althought Netflix would not work, which was sad.
When we got back in NYC, it was just in time for the Women's World Cup 3rd place play off.. England v Germany. It was great, from the second half onwards. England's defence was throwing themselves in front of every ball.
Then, FARA WILLIAMS scored the winner in extra time. Which was pretty boss and I was made up and proud. Hopefully England's performance at the World Cup has actually inspired the nation, and we see an increase in attendances across the league.
Next! This day was of course 4th July, America's celebration of independence so we headed over to the East River and watched the fireworks. Also boss.
DAY 21
I was planning on going down to the World Trade Center & up to the observation deck there. But again, I slept in a little and didn't fancy going so far downtown when I wanted to watch the World Cup final.
Instead I headed across town and then up towards Central Park. I decided to go find Strawberry Fields and then go up a tall building, debating between Top of the Rock or the Empire State.
I stopped for lunch at an Irish bar, the girl there immediately spotted my accent and asked if I was from Liverpool! Which was weird, I've gotten "English?" a lot, but she's the first to get the specific place. I had a nice chicken and cheese burger there, watched the 99ers documentary on the last USWNT to win the World Cup and logged into the wifi. (the password was 'drinkmorebeer).
Sending a few messages, first to my dad who panics if I don't message back within seconds and then to Katie and Nic... now Katie here comes up with a great idea, which I never thought of. Go to the Nike store on 5th Avenue and see what USWNT stuff they have!
I was on 57th already so just head to walk a couple of streets across to find it and WOW. It was a-mazing! They have USWNT everywhere - none of the USMNT! The shirts line the wall, there's posters of Alex Morgan everywhere. I think I totally bought into the subliminal marketing as well because I bought an Alex Morgan away shirt. I'm going back tomorrow to buy the home, I couldn't decide which name while there - do I go with Whitney, again, as normal or Krieger, O'Hara, Heath?? I just can't decide so I'm sleeping on it.
From there I walked up to Central Park, bought a lolly ice and just had a nice walk up and across the park. I found Strawberry Fields, which had been closed the first time I visited NYC and then me and Louise completely missed it last summer while cycling round so I was happy to finally get to see the peace garden.
One of the problems with travelling alone, apart from the lack of conversation, is that there's no one to take a photo for you, of you. I was standing looking at the Imagine mosaic and about to walk away, when a girl next to me - also alone - asked me to take a picture of her, and said she'd take one for me! So that was really cool, I know I probably should have asked someone anyway, but it was cool that she offered!
It was almost 5pm now, kick off in the WC final was at 7 so I decided I didn't have the time to go up the Empire State and headed to Top of the Rock - detouring majorly to the Port Authority bus terminal to check where I get my bus to the airport tomorrow.
I like the view from the Top of the Rock, that sounds daft doesn't it. But the Empire State is cool because it's the Empire State but TOTR you can see the Empire State, and I don't know, I just prefer it! I spent ages walking around the top.
Final stop of the day came when I went to find a bar to watch the game in, I swear on my walking around earlier I stumbled upon hundreds of sports bars and now, when it came to almost time for the game I couldn't find one. There were a couple of bars/ restaurants I walked past, I even waited at the door of one waiting for the guy to come back to sit me down at a table but he didn't come back and their screens didn't look great so I moved on.
It was now 5 to and I was starting to worry thinking I'd miss kick off, when I walked past Ruby Tuesday's and they had a massive screen behind the bar showing the national anthems. I didn't want food so I was worried I wouldn't be able to go in, but I asked the guy at the door and he said I could sit at the bar to watch it so I had a prime spec!
Lucky I did catch the start because USA went full-on beast mode. Carli Lloyd playing the game of her life with the fastest WC hat trick in history - her third and USA's 4th was just a player absolutely high of confidence and probably one of my favourite goals ever.
Say what you like about USA, they certainly peaked at the right time. 5-2 the final score, USA are 3 times World Cup champions & what a tournament it had been!
So tomorrow I fly home, I'm aiming to get the bus to JFK around 4, I have to be there for 6:30 and the guy at the bus terminal said it takes around an hour so I'm giving myself plenty of time but I worry so bad that I'm going to miss my flight so I'd rather get there early!
My friend Jack lands at 12:15, so hopefully we'll have a chance to meet up quickly. I want to introduce him to Chipotle because we go to Barburrito all the time in Liverpool.
Over and out! The next blog I write will likely be when I'm home, I'll round everything up/ summarize it. I'm sad this trip is coming to an end, but I'm really excited to see my family, friends and Quinn! It's been an epic 3 weeks.
