Well we survived our first full day in the largest city in this country.  We landed about 10 p.m. last night at Newark. After getting out bags (4 very large checked bags and 2 backpacks) we found our way to the train station.  The combination of narrow aisle ways, large bags, and stairs made getting on the train a challenge and very funny.  We arrived at Penn Station (under Madison Square Gardens) and made our way street side, and there I was for my first time, on the streets of NYC.  It was everything you would expect, lots of people, noise, and bright lights.  We loaded into a cab and made our way north along Central Park West, to Elizabeth's aunt Mary's apartment.  We were greeted by the doorman, received our key and dropped off our bags.  I needed a beer, so we hit the streets at about midnight in search.  I think Martin's Market Place is open as late as the Whole Foods we went to.  Isn't this 'the city that never sleeps'?  So we hit the local gourmet deli, complete with loitering teens, and picked up our $12 6-pack!!!  Made our way back past the housing project and settled in for the night.

Today we woke up early to go to Linclon Medical and Mental Hospital where Elizabeth will be working for the next 3 years.  We walked through Central Park to catch our subway on 110th, my first subway experience, it again did not dissappoint, it was dirt, smelly, and hot.  A quick ride into the South Bronx and we were in a whole new environment. Its a predominatley spanish speaking population, many signs with in the hospital itself were only in spanish.  We went to several departments so Elizabeth could fill out paperwork.  Some were very welcoming and helpful, others exemplefied the nasty New York attitude (dirty bitches). While Elizabeth was filling out paperwork, I went on my own little hospital adventure.  I attempted to find a restroom, after wandering the hallways only finding employee restrooms, I located an unlocked one.  But it wasn't meant to be, after waiting for the occupant to leave the stall, I found there was no toilet paper(that guy didn't wipe).  So my search continued, the next one I found the door latches did not function, and there was no toilet paper in either stall, strike two.  Third times a charm, founding a nice, unlocked restroom in a quiet wing, just cleaned, and there was Toilet Paper!  I suppose because we are in the city, and its a city run hospital that they have a lot of low class people going through there eveidentley stealing toilet paper.  After the hospital we jumped on a bus (we were the only white faces to be had) back over to Harlem to meet a real estate broker to start our apartment search.  Randomly enough she was from Washington, should be a good sign.  We saw several apartments, all old, but not to bad.  Most had been remodeled recently.  We decided to jump on a pretty nice 1 bedroom with an actual view of the sky.  After being raped and jerked around by the NYC apartment game ( to keep it short), we should be signing and getting the keys tomorrow. 

To sum up my experience so far; I have two blisters from todays walk, we watched some lady scream and cuss at a subway attendant, some dispute on the street, and got an apartment.  This is crazy, overwhelming, and just not real yet.  I Love Elizabeth!!