BUSHWICK BÉBÉ.

My third train ride on this journey was unquestionably the most engaging. I managed to get several hours of studying before a fascinating fisherman joined me at my table. He had just finished a season of commercial fishing in the Florida Keys. Between stories and pictures, I was tempted to jump on a ship and live the sailor life. He was much more social than I and attracted many others to conversate. We chatted with many amtrak employees, including the conductor. They informed us about the typical train life and our current route.

The social hour must have started because people poured into the dining cart. All different types of people were joining our area and contributing to the various conversations. Of course, I found a guy who spoke French and Spanish. Whenever I find someone fluent in my target languages, I geek out pretty hard. With my notebook on the table, we chatted and improved our skills. That night the dining cart ran out of booze. My group may be to blame for this premature depletion. We spent the remainder of the night playing my go-to card game, peeky-peeky.

Sleeping on the train is always a challenging experience. Waking up in the heart of New York City made it all worth it. The moment I walked out of Penn station, I was in the belly of the beast! It is hard to believe this was my first time in the big apple. I consider myself well-traveled, but the East Coast is entirely foreign to me. My sleeping spot was in Brooklyn, so I started skating that way. When I crossed over the Williamsburg Bridge, my mind was blown. From this viewpoint, I could see just how gigantic this city was.

My new home was located on Broadway street in Bushwick. It was a cozy little Airbnb that I shared with other travelers. The turnover rate for the other rooms was every few days. I was able to meet some interesting people and even made a new friend. The sleeping situation here ranks relatively high in terms of this trip. I had a decent-sized bed and my own room. Another perk was the kitchen, where I created many low-budget gourmet meals. The only time I came here was to cook or sleep, for there was a whole city to explore.

Every day, I started with a skateboarding journey to an unknown part of this mega-metropolis. The determined destination was always a coffee shop, where I completed many hours of studying. During this pilgrimage, I visited an estimated fifty different coffee spots in six major cities. I have seen every type of concept, from the classic cafe to the hipster hangout. This tour of the American coffee culture was successful, but many of the shots could have been better. I did find several succulent double shots, but my cozy cafe coffee claims the crown. Welp, ladies and gentlemen, the search continues.

After completing my customary computer chores, the search for a cheap beer would commence. Beer is the great equalizer. I can sit at the swankiest spot in town or the local dive bar and pay roughly the same price. Regardless of where I ended up, my analysis was activated. This voyage is not solely for pleasure but for research. Exploring different dives, restaurants, eateries, food trucks, cafes, and etcetera is a must for me. Each place I have visited has inspired me in one form or another. I will not give away all my secrets, but here are a few places to grab a beer: Duff's, The Fish Market, Fiction Bar/Cafe, Spritzenhaus33, Turtles All The Way Down, Wonderville, and The Dead Rabbit.

Most evenings, you would find me in the kitchen. A few bites here and there is fine, but eating out adds up quickly. I often used the bare minimum equipment and turned the cheapest ingredients into something fantastic. While I occupied several kitchens during this stay, my favorite meal was crafted in apartment 5F. My college homie Jenna generously allowed me to take over the kitchen for a night. Our entree was pan-seared shrimp with a shallot and jalapeno butter sauce. Other tastes on the plate included oven-roast asparagus, crispy bacon, avocado toast, and a side salad. We washed it all down with a sweet riesling from Alsace. Second place goes to the Chinatown-inspired breakfast at Gilette's spot.

After my daily meal, I would search for a nighttime activity. This included more studying at a late-night coffee spot, playing arcade games at the bar across the street, boozing at a nearby dive, meeting up with homies for a night on the town, or simply searching the streets on my skateboard. While there were countless legendary nights, my first Friday night in the city is one for my record books. My new fashionista friend Christian decided to give me a tour of his favorite hangout spots. After bar hopping and too many tequila shots, we found ourselves at an underground rave. I am not a rave type of guy, but with a little help from my friends, I was down to clown. Sleep was sacrificed that night, and that sunrise will never be forgotten.

This peculiar people paragraph is crucial. During this trip, I have interacted with a plethora of interesting individuals. Unquestionably, the crown must go to New York City for the most magical characters. My conversation with the Rastaman was enlightening. My multi-lingual Venezuelan buddy further inspired my vagabond ways. The most memorable moment was with this lifelong Brooklyn gangbanger. This proclaimed crip chatted with me for hours. We spent the evening discussing life's greatest questions. That is to name a few interactions. I could fill these pages full of the curious characters encountered on this trip.

On my last day in town, I offloaded a few items, including my skateboard. You know I like to have the mindset of never missing anyone or anything and living life free from attachments. Departing from my board was one of the hardest things on this trip. In Europe, it would likely be a hindrance. We had some fantastic moments during this US tour. My skateboard went everywhere with me, and I logged many miles with it. Skating amongst that chaotic NYC traffic was unforgettable. After roughly three months of usage, my vans were ready to be retired. That is a testament to how much boarding I did. It was time to part ways.

I would like to think that I made my way around the city. Two weeks in most cities is plenty of time to unlock most of the map. New York City is indisputably a different beast. Every day was a new adventure, full of novel people, places, and experiences. Bushwick is my baby, and getting around this neighborhood was definitely doable. Another spot that I found myself frequenting was Williamsburg. I spent a lot of time exploring the Lower East Side as well. Chinatown, Two Bridges, Greenpoint, and Greenwich Village all deserve a shoutout. With so much more to explore, I will certainly be back.

The journey to John F. Kennedy Internation Airport was simple enough. That superb subway system can take you everywhere. Luckily, I arrived extra early because it took hours to get through check-in and security. After scanning the faces of the line, it was clear to gauge the general tone. Most people were pissed, impatient, and frustrated. My maniacal mind could not help but laugh at the situation we were all in. First time at an airport, I suppose? Fun fact, you spend an average of six years of your life waiting in lines. Happy to have finished the ritual airport bullshit, I awaited my plane. After thumbing through a few chapters, it was time to board.