So after a thorough grilling at the hands of the Department of Homeland Security ("There are FOUR LIGHTS!") we were free to enter the US of A.
Also, the snack bar was open again. Win.
Since the train ride is an ungodly 11 hours, the conductor was kind enough to make a pit stop in Albany.
For those that don't know, Albany is like a ghost town, filled with people. Now hear me out. We had 45 minutes to wander around and I walked 20 minutes in one direction and found... nothing.
Now don't get me wrong, Albany is a wonderful place. To refuel.
Once it was clear my butt had permanently molded to the seat, we arrived in the "Big Apple" -- sorry, but the REAL Big Apple has PIE. Next, I met my friend at Penn Station.
At least, that was the plan.
Penn Station is friggin' HUGE. And decidedly unlike Albany, it is bustling with people. In fact, it is difficult to cross the mezzanine without getting to third base at least four times. If you're thinking of living in New York, this is something you'd better get used to.
We finally found each other, somehow, then set out immediately to find some food.
Since I am something of a connoisseur, and my stomach was practically eating itself, we stopped at the first place we found: Chipotle's.
My friends, the rumours are true.
Now that my stomach was no longer figuratively -- but in fact, literally -- eating itself, we decided to walk the 80 blocks to the apartment we were staying at.
One thing you notice when walking Manhattan is that it is a deceptively huge mo'-fuggin' island. It's like the island from Lost -- they just keep cramming more and more stuff into it. And every other person is probably packing.
Another thing one notices is the steady decline in socioeconomic status as you move away from Times Square.
At 2am we arrived -- in East Harlem.
