Kennebunkport and The City that doesn't sleep
Or New York as it is otherwise known. My second trip was somewhat more spontaneous. Let's begin!
I travelled to America on a J1 Visa as a student with two friends to work as a Chef Apprentice at One of the most beautiful hotels in Maine. The White Barn Inn has multiple accolades such as 'Five AA Diamond and Forbes Top 50 hotels in the world' (which have both been maintained for other five years).
Set in picturesque Kennebunkport, a small fishing town with just over 4000 inhabitants. The White Barn Inn is the exclusive place to go for fine dining and relaxation, with cottages overlooking the harbour, a sea-water swimming pool and luxurious en-suite rooms. Anyway that's enough about the hotel. If you fancy peace and tranquil surroundings with a combination of good food, this place is a must-travel to on your bucket list. CHECK IT OUT!! and all the stay are friendly.
As an excitable young Englishmen I wanted to make the most of my adventure across the big lake, I bought a 1998 Volvo V70R from Portland with my travel buddies. One night after work me and Eliot (my hilarious housemate and road-trip buddy) decided we wanted to go to New York. So that evening, about 12.30pm we booked a hotel in the middle of Manhattan and planned our trip. The next week, straight after work we gathered what we needed for a short break in the big city. Our road-trip became at 2am. Eliot started after the drive for a few hours through New Hampshire, Massachusetts and then woke me up abruptly at the gas station. The surprising thing about a 1998 car is the seats are comfy. I found that out as soon as Eliot's head touched the head rest.
We arrived after three hours on the I90. Bum-sore, but absolutely stoked for the next part of the journey.
We parked the car in a car park in Inner city, New Rochelle and caught the train in from there. We safely arrived in Grand Central Station, didn't have a clue where were really and just walked around, went up the Empire State Building, walked around Times Square and chilled out on the rooftop pool, before heading out in the evening for a posh meal at Porter House Bar and Grill in the Columbus Circus Shopping Mall.
The next day we woke up around midday in the middle of New York living the dream, grabbed a coffee and headed home. Some would say a very short journey, but considering we accomplished so much the day before, it felted like we had been there for a while. It was almost certain we would travel back and stay for longer next time round. We weren't too upset, our journey home was most enjoyable- loud music, road rage and back and forth banter.
