Whistler, B.C.

A patch of sun hits the trees the morning we carved first tracks in the snow.











Close to the top section of Blue Line. Hit this first thing in the morning and there's an inch of powder sitting on top of the groomed run and its just like skiing whipped cream.











View from Whistler across to Blackcomb's awesome runs.


Snow angels were ahem, compulsory...





















Check out the angle on some of those slopes....
















Sam came up the last day to board with Coops and I. He had the most perfect weather on the last day of our holiday. This was at the bottom of Blackcomb Glacier Bowl.

NYC Words

New York was one of those trips where its only an hour flight away, but you have to get to the airport at one of those times that should not ever register in your consciousness. It was only the promise of the Big Apple and its hustle and bustle that enable me to function that morning I think. Subsequently we arrived bleary eyed at La Guardia 7am on a Wednesday morning anticipating a ridiculously jam packed day of sight-seeing.

The great thing about landing in New York during the week is that there is rarely a line up for the Empire State building. We found it easily by looking for the tallest pointy bit, and unwittingly crossed off many a famous landmark on the way because they are everywhere in Manhattan. It was pretty breezy up there, and a little hazy, but done.

Never passing up a free ride we headed to Staten Island for the view of Liberty Island - and not to sound tight, but I don't actually see the point in paying to get to the island now that you have to stand in line, go through security tighter than their airports (and that's saying something) only to walk around the base now that the internal structural tour has been closed down permanently.

As is customary, we wore our feet out because we were kind of intimidated by the subway at first. Subsequently we fell in love with it shortly thereafter. Unfortunately there was no travellator to take us the span of Brooklyn Bridge, but surprisingly it was interesting enough that I barely noticed my aching feet. I've never been that in amid of man made structures - well modern ones anyway - but the bridge was just kinda cool, the sun was shining, and I wasn't having to deal with slippery ice underfoot.

I was keen to see the architecture at the Guggenheim, but the Council of Frustrating the Tourists by having Famous Architectural Sites Scaffolded had been at it again, and there was nothing to see here. Buying hot dogs and walking through Central Park seemed to fill the void.

What else? As I mentioned we were staying just off Times Square, so passing through often brought comments of using enough electricity to power a small country to the lips. I was also interested to discover m&m World - a bit of a play on Disney where you could find all thing Red and Yellow m&m. Very interesting.

I have to say, New York didn't quite blow me away, but it fascinated me from a distant standpoint. I think New Yorkers are different to any other Americans I've met, but were not the rude people I had imagined. Not that friendly, but didn't blank you like other nationalities might...