C'mon Irene

This trip will be talked about for years to come I think.... Hurricane Irene is making its way towards us, and it has already caused deaths and damage in North Carolina.

This morning I was conscious of needing to go out and get some supplies before the rains came in. It seems that even if it's not such a severe hurricane, that it could cause storm water flooding and power outages. (Our hotel is on high ground though.) So we needed to prepare for two days of no power or being able to go out. I showered and got dressed and went out for brekky, Ros was still asleep.

Back at the hotel, all the lifts in the hotel were not working (or so we thought) and up seven flights I went. After Ros got up we went out before it started to rain hard for supplies. The one dollar plastic raincoat I had brought with me from Oz turned out to be useful, but the rain was gentle then stopped. With our supplies we marched up the stairs. Most standard hotels in NYC don't have fridges so we couldn't buy perishables. It's peanut butter sandwiches and fruit for the next two days.

After a while in the hotel, and a nanna nap (bad nights sleep again), I needed to go out and get some exercise (14 flights of stairs is not enough). I grabbed my iPod, one dollar raincoat, shoot-and-point, and made my way to Central Park. The subway had been shut down from midday so we couldn't get around and most shops were either shut or shutting. Perfect opportunity to explore Central Park.

I wandered across 94th, taking a few shots of the lovely apartment housing, then to the park. The size of it is just mind-blowing. And it is just so pretty. I found the reservoir and walked along that for a while. There were plenty of other walkers and joggers (and dogs).

When I got close to 84th I saw a police car. I took my earphones out, and sure enough, the people were being told to evacuate the park. I had been enjoying it so much that I was walking around like an idiot with a big smile on my face because I couldn't believe I was THERE, in Central Park FFS, and now I was being told to leave! Three hours later and it is still relatively calm outside. I could have still been there.

On my return back to the hotel, I saw a swag of Japanese firemen and one Swedish one from memory. They are reassuring for some reason. Then I noticed the other set of lifts! Hah!

We were supposed to go out to dinner at the Riverpark (Tom Collicchio) tonight, but I just checked the website, and it is located in Zone A so is shut. I quickly booked us in for Wednesday night instead. I don't want to leave New York and not eat there. It's peanut butter sandwiches for dinner tonight though.

I am not so worried yet about the hurricane but I suspect, in the middle of the night, when it's due to hit us, it will be a different story. I don't expect anything too scary to happen, but I know the noise alone will be unbearable, and I don't suspect we will get any sleep once it starts. I also worry that my mum will be worried, so I hope my family lie to her about my exact location.

I will report back later, and fingers crossed that that bitch Irene turns east.




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