Williamsburg

Hi all!

Today we decided to have a fairly easygoing day due to going out for New Years tonight. I set an alarm for 9am, but I woke up at 7.50am. This made me happy as I counted down the new year with Melbourne at 8am!

The four of us set off at about 10.30am and caught the train the short distance to Williamsburg, the hipster neighbourhood of Brooklyn. The area has a large Jewish population so a lot was closed due to it being Saturday. However, we still enjoyed our walk around the neighbourhood. We spotted a few hipsters too!

One of the main roads had a railway over the top of it the entire way which was pretty depressing, but once we ventured away from there it was much better. We loved the streets and agreed the area looked like the typical "Brooklyn" image portrayed in movies and TV shows. Williamsburg often is nicknamed 'Little Berlin' due to its vibrant nightlife and grunge culture. 

We stopped at a very busy bagel shop and Shannon, Alisha and I each enjoyed a salami, cheese and garlic cream cheese bagel. It was delicious! The shop had all different colours of bagels, and about 20 or so types of cream cheese. Some of them sounded nice (garlic, sun dried tomato) and some of them made me sick thinking about them (cotton candy, spiced pumpkin, Oreo cookie). Our bagels were amazing though! 

We kept on walking and got very cold at one point, Jess started drinking her coffee through the folds of her scarf! It's really sunny today but bitter cold. I think I'm going to wear thermals under my outfit tonight and then take them off later and put them in my bag. 

We crossed to the middle of the Williamsburg Bridge and enjoyed the lovely, sunny view and then walked the half an hour or so back to our flat. We went through a massive Hasidic Jewish neighbourhood, passing many people on their way to and from the synagogue for Sabbath. 

Now we are in the flat in our pyjamas (even though it's only 2.30pm!) having a rest until we leave to go out tonight. There are going to be lots of police on patrol in the Times Square area, we are going to a club right near the square. Our ticket includes all food and drinks and we are looking forward to a fun night filled with good company and music!

Tomorrow sadly I leave these three beautiful people, but I'm excited about heading to Toronto to see my friend Courtney who has moved there. I'll post tomorrow night my time all about New Year's Eve and my journey to Toronto. I can't believe our ten days in New York City have gone so quickly, but I have had such an amazing time and am really grateful I got to spend it with Jess, Alisha and Shannon. There has been no tension at all, we have laughed so much we cried on many occasions and been a great team at figuring out where to go and what to do. I will never forget it and can't wait to see them all again somewhere else in the world one day!

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox