NY Day 1: No Start Like a Late One

Taking advantage of this step in my professional writing career by jet-setting on a lavish vacation I certainly cannot afford. Stay tuned for every inevitable fumble, wrong turn, and overpriced meal as LAUREN TAKES NEW YORK!

(Ya fave dedicated blogger trying to think of something interesting to say @ 35000 ft.)

Day 1) No Start Like a Late One

There is no adventure, I am quickly learning, like the solo trip. I use the term "solo," loosely, as, really, I'm not taking this journey alone. One of my best friends since high school, Kerra, and I decided a few months ago that, dammit, we were going to New York. And in a rare turn very unlike our typical languid procrastination, we actually sat down to purchase flights, create an itinerary, and make the magic happen. And, I mean, I have a blog now. So c'mon girls-- LET'S GET TO TRAVEL POSTING.

So, when I say "solo trip," what I mean is, "a trip without a real adult." Well into my twenties, living with roommates a few hundred miles from home, I still find it hard wrapping my head around being the grown up in the room. How am I supposed to travel cross country when I have to Facetime my mom to get through tax season?

I'll tell you how-- half a bottle of wine, Pinterest, and an non-refundable ticket will get you off your butt and onto a plane faster than my mom can send me the Turbo Tax password. So, without further ado, let's get a little laughing and hysterical crying in for DAY ONE of this New York (kinda) Solo Venture.

The itinerary was saved on Google Docs, our tickets to Apple Wallet. We had packed and repacked and Kerra lost her favorite black thermal, nearly cancelling the trip altogether until my boyfriend, Tyler, found one of relative size to replace it. We set the alarm to an ungodly hour-- 3:30 am so we could wake up, drive to the airport shuttle, and bus the two hour ride to SFO. Deciding we could use at least a few hours rest, we switched off the light and were asleep within seconds.

We slept comfortably, so much so that when the alarm went off at 3:30, we decided we could sleep just a bit longer...

It wasn't until Kerra shook me awake at exactly 4:50 that I realized what we had done. We jumped up in a panic and frantically grabbed for suitcases. I checked the schedule on our phones. We had missed our shuttle, and waiting for the next one might mean missing our flight. So it would be that Tyler saved this trip twice-- first coming in clutch with the thermals, and then with an impromptu drive to San Francisco at 5 am.

But we made it! Frantic and fussy, we pushed through to our seats. I'm sure we made dual visions in mismatched socks and unclasped bras. How they didn't bump us to first class is beyond me. I swallowed the injustice and watched a horrible documentary about the deterioration of Brad and Angelina. After this and some uncomfortable napping, the pilot announced our final descent. We had made it to the Big Apple.

We've learned too much in the short time here since. First of all, an air train is not a subway, and people in NY are definitely helpful when you clearly have no idea what you're doing. Kerra's wallet fell from her purse at the subway station, and my suitcase unzipped while walking to our Airbnb, grinding my laptop against asphalt until Kerra kindly reminded me to get my shit together.

But, in spite of the mayhem, I already see the spark of something beautiful in this bustling city. A man played and sang "Don't Worry About a Thing," on the subway car, and he might have been talking to us directly. The streets are alive with so many people: a diverse cast of professionals and street performers, vendors and families. Scrambling to the apartment, I couldn't help but marvel over making it here. Our Airbnb host is lovely, and laughed at our subway mishaps. When asked for advice she smiled saying, "If you see Freedom Tower, you're headed south. If you can see the Empire State Building, you're probably facing North."

So Ends Day One: Halfway to sleep but alive, I have a feeling this is just the beginning of the wrong turns we'll take during our time here. All I can say is, "Look out New York, and please give us directions to Times Square."

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