Honday Indy TO was NO picnic!

I was so excited about the Indy coming back to TO! and so thankful to Andretti Green for bring it back!

I still am, but for the future they better change a little bit or they will be in trouble easily.

What i'm about to tell you is the story of my own adventure through the weekend.

I ordered the tickets at the end of May. I bought only GA as i didn't know what was gonna happen, so i wanted to see before spending money on a grandstand. As i saw the plan and didn't see many of them. And yes, i was skeptical, but optimistic it was gonna be great!.

My usual friends didn't wanna make it, so i told them it was ok, i was gonna go and then give them my report.

I must say that i have been going on to this race since 1996, every year, and i'm also a F1 fan, which i have many trips to Montreal.

Friday, i was watching practice through the IndyCar.com and twitter. I must say it was very good the quality of the stream at the site. I took the chance to ask through twitter if they knew about the radio station at the track, which AM or FM we could listen it when in there. Did you get an answer? me neither.

Ok, i let it go!

I printed the schedule at the same time that i bought the tickets, but looking at it again had changed. So i printed again.

Saturday - In the past they opened the gate at 7:00 a.m. to the public, gave me time to grab the Toronto Sun, get a coffee/muffin at the Caffe at Hall "A" and then go out and watch the cars. Not this time!
They open the gate for to the public at 8:00 a.m., at the same time that qualify for the Vintage GT starts, smart eh?

I passed by McDonald and grabbed a coffee, thinking i'll get my muffin inside. Was not the case. The line up was so long, and when i looked at the muffin tray were only 4 left!. What were the chances after 20 people in front of me i could still have one? none!
I wasn't happy!

Sunday - Went to McDonald grabbed a coffee and a McMuffin, yummy! Well, when i got to the gate, they didn't let me in!!! because i had my little McDonald bag! I was really pissed off by then. To the point that i thought to go back home. But as i'm Italian, i calmed down eating my breakfast standing up, at the outside of the gate!! Disgusting!

The day didn't run smoothly, many other things happen!!
The only good thing was that Tim, gave me his pass to the pits, and before the race i went in and took pics! Of course they kicked me out from there too!

I was so upset that they cut off the view at Turn 3 from the west side!! the most important point on the track! That was mean, and a slap on the face.

I'll send an email to Michael Andretti's organizers.

I won't go next year if they don't change their insane track rules. There is no way!

Ok, I won't let it go!
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The Big Apple trip - June 19 - 23, 2009 - Day 4

Last day cloudy but not rain expected.

Everything ready by 9:30 a.m. pay $2.00 each for luggage storage and there we went for last trip in the Big Apple.

Just a quick breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts which i couldn't finished, passed by the pharmacy as i needed some bandit for my hurting feet. Keep walking to 86 St to take the subway.

We got off at 50 St. and walked to our double deck tour bus (citysightsny.com) to continue the downtown to Trade Center, market at Union Square and Brooklyn.

Took a few pictures around Trade Center (i'll post them later) and we went for another little shopping at Century 21 which i liked very much.

The weather was good and a little bit sunny, took the tour to Brooklyn and OMG! the tour guy was obsessed with Brooklyn, he told us though. He was comparing everything to Manhattan and of course Brooklyn has more of everything. He was funny but like reading a book, sometimes i wanted to tell him "just SHUT UP!".

Something that i learned with those buses is that you have to tip them, i knew that something like that was gonna happen so i was prepared. I bought before the trip 5 canadian pins to give them away, smart eh? well, not really, i forgot them in the luggage, never made them to my daily purse. Also i brought bandits and fastwipes, never made it to my purse either, sigh.

We ended up around 14:30, took the tour back to Time Square and look for a place where to eat. We went to T. I. Fridays but too expensive for lunch, so we ended up at this place which i can't remember the name, I'm sure Kathy will.

We walked a little bit more and around 17:30 took the subway back.

We didn't wanna get to the hotel, as we had a lot of time still to 21:30.
We chilled out at our regular bakery spot, but we were sooo tired that went to the hotel and waited another half hour there.

I changed to my long pants and shoes, and made it to the bus stop actually just at Madison Square Garden! where there is also the Penn Station there.
We lined up and waited.

The trip was very good and i had that chance to sleep for around 2:30 hours! which it was very good! Getting into TO was a hassle as it was rush hour! but i made it to work by 10:00 a.m. as i had to wait for the streetcar at home for 15 minutes! at that point i wanted to go back to NYC transit system!

I had a great time in NYC and i hope Kathy had it too! I believe i wasn't much a pain in the butt, just i didn't know where the east, south, west or north was and i got frustrated with myself consequence of that.

Now i'm studying the NYC maps, and i believe i'm ready for the next time! if i have a next time!

'til next trip!
thank you!
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The Big Apple trip - June 19 - 23, 2009 - Day 3

My legs and feet are walking by themselves already.
Since 9:30 in the morning that we left the hotel 'til 20:30 we didn't come back!

Go subway, went for the double deck tour, uptown and a little of downtown, we got off went to Bloomingdales, Serendipity, H&M, NHL store, Ann Taylor Loft, Rockefeller center, M&M, Hershey store, Apple store, and a few more that at this moment i don't remember.

I'll have to check the pictures and through them i'll know where i was. I bought also a map which will help me with the names.

Nice city, never ends, but definitely i'll have to come back, to much to do.

I just finished packing, and it's heavy!
I'm tired, tomorrow last day, we are going back to the double deck bus for a final tour to downtown. I want to go to the Trade Center. Getting up early as we have to put our luggage in storage 'til the afternoon.

I'll continue tomorrow the final day!

This one is short as i have to come to the launch to connect with the internet tonight, sigh.
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The Big Apple trip - June 19 - 23, 2009 - Day 2

I slept like a baby.
Today was raining again in the morning.
We went out to the bakery around the corner for a croissant and crossing Broadway to Sturbacks coffe. Went back to the hotel to wait for Phil and Wendy, but they called us said that they were running late, so we decided to go to "Payless"!!

So, around 11:00 a.m. Wendy, Phil, Oliver (8 years old - last time i saw him he was 9 months old in Montreal - Canadian GP) and Gabriel (4 years old) showed up! We went to Central Park but before on Columbus Ave, they had like a market place for a few blocks so we ate something just walking to the park. I had a coconut shrimp on a stick! yyuummyy!

At the park the sun decided to show up! and then we went to the Museum of Natural History!
Phil got us all in for free!! . . . over there we had lunch, Phil and I had a Corona!

Then we went separate ways. We continue our walking on Broadway 'til 60th street to do some shopping, took the subway and came to the hotel.
I called my parents from a public phone with a phone-card i brought from home. We also went to the drug store to get some frizz-ease stuff for our hair. I can't tell you how idiotic my hair looks with this humidity!

I have to mention their subways!
Ok, why they don't have escalators!!?? ggeezzz, i get all my exercise just for going up and down those stairs! and i'm still confuse which train to take and which way to go! But i remember where they stop! 59, 66, 72, 79, 86, 96 and i don't know more because didn't go pass our stop, . . . well not yet.
Also still confuse about north, east, west and south. Totally lost!.

At this point, despite the rain, we had done our plan coming here up to today!

Almost everyone speaks spanish!

Next:
Tomorrow Monday will be taking the double deck bus, doing downtown plus Statue of Liberty or the Empire State building, let you know what will do!
And of course i want to go to Bloomingdales!
Of course rain is in the forecast, but hoping not much.

That's all for now!
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The Big Apple trip - June 19 - 23, 2009 - Day 1

We left TO on Friday, June 19 at exactly 21:30.

My trip to the bus station was delay as TO has "Taste of little Italy" through the weekend! i wasn't amused! We were waiting for the bus to make its appearance and i was picking a bus that i would like to be on the trip from the ones already there, but when i saw the Megabus! wowowow, my mouth dropped! I wasn't expecting that! HUGE and double deck! just awesome!

We were one of the first ones to go in so i told Kathy "we are going up!!" she said "are u sure?" i said "YES". And there we went! - (In England i did the same, double deck bus, only us, up and at front, it was just amazing!)

Customs at the boarder was a breeze. Then at Buffalo they changed drivers and we got the most antipathic, mean, woman driver you could have!
Anyhow, the trip was awesome, i couldn't sleep but . . . oh and i forgot to tell you the most important or amazing part also!
The bus ceiling is GLASS!!! shame we didn't have a full moon! . . i took pictures so i'll post them soon!

The rest went ok as it started raining as we were walking on Broadway Ave, went for some shopping but to my taste was tooo expensive, i told Kathy to take me next time to a place more . .. like me!

Tomorrow i'm going to meet with Phil, Wendy and the kids! I don't see them since 2003, i believe! depending if rain or not we'll do Central Park or a museum!

Oh, and we went to check tickets for a show but the line up was RIDICULOUS and it was raining like never rained before, so that's for another trip.

Honestly, i'm not ready to leave my TO!

I'll continue more tomorrow! stay tunned! i have to get ready to go for dinner, and still raining!

love the internet! . . i was also connected after breakfast at Starbucks!
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My hockey team picks - 2008/09

East conference:

Boston vs Montreal = Boston (5 games)

Washington vs NY Rangers = NY Rangers (6)

New Jersey vs Carolina = Carolina (7)

Pittsburgh vs Philadelphia = Pittsburgh (6)

2nd round:

Boston vs NY Rangers = Boston (6)
Carolina vs Pittsburgh = Carolina (5)

Semi final:

Boston vs Carolina = Boston (5)


West conference:

San Jose vs Anaheim = San Jose (5)

Detroit vs Columbus = Detroit (6)

Vancouver vs St. Louis = Vancouver (6)

Chicago vs Calgary = Calgary (6)

2nd Round:

San Jose vs Calgary = San Jose (4)
Detroit vs Vancouver = Vancouver (6)

Semi final:

San Jose vs Vancouver = Vancouver (6)


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Boston vs Vancouver = BOSTON

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Playoffs time!! \o/\o/\o/

. . . and here we go again! another year, another playoffs!

I don't like the playoffs very much. But in a way I do like it better than the regular season as there are no fights!

Very happy for Mats Sundin as he will play in this playoffs!

Vancouver Canucks are in a good position to get to the finals, but as we all know, no canadian team will get the cup.

My only concern is for Mats to stay healthy and have fun, after that, the rest will follow alone.

Hoping for the habs to play with the bruins first round as this ones will kill them!

I don't know if it will be a real advantage for the canucks to get home ice, as they tend to get "lazy" at home. Specially Kyle!!

Ok playoffs 209, here we come!! . . . fast and furious!! . .

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