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Coffee House => Coffee House Boards => CH / General => Topic started by: motorollin on March 19, 2008, 01:48:29 PM
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Just got back to England from 5 days in New York. I really love it there! The people are (generally) really friendly and the atmosphere is like nowhere else I've ever been. It's really nice to go to a coffee shop and be able to have a conversation with the people who work there, rather than being grunted at, and for "have a nice day" to sound genuine rather than seeming like a thinly-veiled threat of a stabbing if you look at them the wrong way, as it so often does in England.
I do have two suggestions though. Please, please America, sort your bloody tea out. Tea leaves should remain separate when wet in the bag, not turn to pulp which refuses to brew. Also, please start importing Cadbury's chocolate. Much appreciated.
Apart from those two misdemeanours, I had a fantastic time in NY. And all the complements from locals about my bleach blonde mohican and Union Jack DMs more than made up for the lack of decent tea and chocolate ;-)
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moto
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Union Jacks DM?
And a bleached mohican is plain wrong (but I do like it :oops: )
Btw. you British better do something about your coffee :-P
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Union Jack DMs:
(http://www.cloggs.co.uk/content/ebiz/cloggs/invt/2256/m-dm-8417-blk.jpg)
As for the mohican, you know I can pull of that look ;-) I don't care much about British coffee. Real Brits don't drink the foul stuff :-P
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moto
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motorollin wrote:
Union Jack DMs:
(http://www.cloggs.co.uk/content/ebiz/cloggs/invt/2256/m-dm-8417-blk.jpg)
Ah, boots.
As for the mohican, you know I can pull of that look ;-)
:oops:
I don't care much about British coffee. Real Brits don't drink the foul stuff :-P
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moto
And what's about that stuff, what's it called again, something like "Irn Bru"? :-P :-P :-P
*enjoying his espresso arabica corazon au lait
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For those living in the UK, I have yet to find coffee as nice as "Costa Coffee"... They do sell their beans too, which I also recommend for your coffee makers!
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Well, here in NL, you should try Simon Levelt. Also for tea.
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@Speel
Nah, Irn Bru is more (stereo)typically associated with the Scots. English people drink tea from floral bone-china cups and saucers with a doily on the table.
@bloodline
The problem with Costa is that they make their tea using the coffee steamer. The water is far too hot and not only spoils the taste of the tea, but makes it too hot to drink. Then they serve it in a ridiculously shaped cup which is only about 3" deep but with a massive rim. This has the result of a massive surface area, meaning that the tea goes from boiling hot to luke warm within about 2 minutes.
Given the choice of sitting in a crowded coffee shop gulping down scorching hot and then room temperature water mildly flavoured with cheap tea, or a nice hot mug of PG in the comfort of my own home, I would choose the PG any day...
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moto
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motorollin wrote:
@Speel
Nah, Irn Bru is more (stereo)typically associated with the Scots.
I drank it after a bet (http://bp1.blogger.com/_SwsFaXTO5jw/ReGD_QAh7jI/AAAAAAAAABk/7auI_h8b4hI/s1600-h/IMG_6539.JPG)
(and no, I didn't drink all of it)
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motorollin wrote:
@Speel
Nah, Irn Bru is more (stereo)typically associated with the Scots. English people drink tea from floral bone-china cups and saucers with a doily on the table.
Rab C. Nesbit... I rest my case...
@bloodline
The problem with Costa is that they make their tea using the coffee steamer. The water is far too hot and not only spoils the taste of the tea, but makes it too hot to drink. Then they serve it in a ridiculously shaped cup which is only about 3" deep but with a massive rim. This has the result of a massive surface area, meaning that the tea goes from boiling hot to luke warm within about 2 minutes.
Never had their Tea... Their Coffee is the stuff of legend though...
Given the choice of sitting in a crowded coffee shop gulping down scorching hot and then room temperature water mildly flavoured with cheap tea, or a nice hot mug of PG in the comfort of my own home, I would choose the PG any day...
Next time you are in London, I will drag you to a Costa for a latte and a Muffin :-)
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motorollin wrote:
I really love it there! The people are (generally) really friendly and the atmosphere is like nowhere else I've ever been.
NY is a great city. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Please, please America, sort your bloody tea out. Tea leaves should remain separate when wet in the bag, not turn to pulp which refuses to brew. Also, please start importing Cadbury's chocolate. Much appreciated.
:lol: personally I like herbal tea. And we can get Belgian chocolate so great choclate can be had here. In fact Anything can be had in NY if you know where to look.
And all the complements from locals about my bleach blonde mohican and Union Jack DMs more than made up for the lack of decent tea and chocolate ;-)
I had a friend who had 40 hole Doc Martins!
and how did they like your tattoo :-D
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Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
Btw. you British better do something about your coffee :-P
oh, yeah, the English have a problem with coffee.....I would just do without if I ever was to visit.
:pint:
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@bloodline
Well I actually do like Costa's muffins, so I will take you up on that (and chuck the latte in a plant when your back is turned).
@cecilia
I did think of you actually as we were travelling from JFK to Manhattan and saw Brooklyn on the map. I was thinking of popping in to see you :-) You could see my tattoo in person then! I haven't been to the gym for ages so don't really have the body for vests at the moment, but I was wearing rather snug t-shirts which let the tatt poke out :-D A few heads turned in the hotel (it was very posh, and I'm not...) but that could have been anything - the hair, the boots, the tattoo... ;-)
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moto
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cecilia wrote:
Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
Btw. you British better do something about your coffee :-P
oh, yeah, the English have a problem with coffee.....I would just do without if I ever was to visit.
:pint:
You better go to my place for coffee, since I have mastered the art of making espresso :-)
When I went to GB I always drank coffee at home (well, my sis' home that is)
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cecilia wrote:
:lol: personally I like herbal tea.
Don't tell me you also love carrot-cake ;-)
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I'm actually now quite interested in NY...
Isn't it too much of a hassle to go to NY? Getting a visa and all that kind of stuff?
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I don't know what the requirements are if you're travelling from the Netherlands, but from the UK you don't need a visa to enter the US as long as you have a British biometric passport they will let you in. A visa waiver is issued during the flight, which entitles you to stay for 90 days as long as you don't breach any of the requirements listed on the waiver. I suspect the rules are the same for the Netherlands as they are for Britain since they are both EU countries.
[EDIT]
Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_Waiver_Program) is a link to the Wikipedia page on the Visa Waiver programme. It lists the Netherlands as one of the entitled countries.
[/EDIT]
[EDIT 2]
Here (http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html) is the official document which states what is required of you, and also states that the Netherlands participates in the Waiver programme.
[/EDIT 2]
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moto
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motorollin wrote:
but I was wearing rather snug t-shirts which let the tatt poke out :-D A few heads turned in the hotel (it was very posh, and I'm not...) but that could have been anything - the hair, the boots, the tattoo... ;-)
:-D creating quite the scene, I see!
believe me, New Yorkers are used to seeing all sorts of "odd" and interesting things and people.....we enjoy the view
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Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
cecilia wrote:
Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
Btw. you British better do something about your coffee :-P
oh, yeah, the English have a problem with coffee.....I would just do without if I ever was to visit.
:pint:
You better go to my place for coffee, since I have mastered the art of making espresso :-)
When I went to GB I always drank coffee at home (well, my sis' home that is)
It's a deal!
I'm sure your coffee is so good my mother would approve (that's the coffee lover in my family)
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Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
cecilia wrote:
:lol: personally I like herbal tea.
Don't tell me you also love carrot-cake ;-)
sure, why not? I love veggies. I love carrots. I love cake. I also love sweet potatoes and sweet potatoe pie!
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Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
I'm actually now quite interested in NY...
Isn't it too much of a hassle to go to NY? Getting a visa and all that kind of stuff?
Strangly enough (and happily so) my relatives from Belgium are planning a visit later this year.
My mother is literally jumping for joy :lol:
I'm compiling a list of hotels right now - the US dollar is in the [d]s**t[/d] house so it's cheaper for the rest of the world to visit me :lol:
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cecilia wrote:
I love cake.
(http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_03/fatfighters1710_468x386.jpg)
OH MY SHE DOES LOVES THE CAKE!
;-)
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cecilia wrote:
My mother is literally jumping for joy :lol:
How sweet :-) :lol:
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cecilia wrote:
Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
cecilia wrote:
Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
Btw. you British better do something about your coffee :-P
oh, yeah, the English have a problem with coffee.....I would just do without if I ever was to visit.
:pint:
You better go to my place for coffee, since I have mastered the art of making espresso :-)
When I went to GB I always drank coffee at home (well, my sis' home that is)
It's a deal!
I'm sure your coffee is so good my mother would approve (that's the coffee lover in my family)
You're welcome! :banana:
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cecilia wrote:
motorollin wrote:
but I was wearing rather snug t-shirts which let the tatt poke out :-D A few heads turned in the hotel (it was very posh, and I'm not...) but that could have been anything - the hair, the boots, the tattoo... ;-)
:-D creating quite the scene, I see!
believe me, New Yorkers are used to seeing all sorts of "odd" and interesting things and people.....we enjoy the view
And that's the reason why I want to go to NY, to see the free, weird side of life. :-)
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@speel
:lol: Your knowledge of British culture is amazing! Even I had forgotten about that sketch, and I'm one of those really annoying people who is *still* doing impressions of characters from that show... ;-)
Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
And that's the reason why I want to go to NY, to see the free, weird side of life.
Actually I did think you might feel like that. Apart from in the hotel I never once cared what anybody thought of me while I was in NY. And actually after several members of the restaurant staff and the concierge complemented me on my hair, I even felt like I fitted in in a place like that :-) Back home I feel very self-conscious all the time. There's something about NY which makes you feel like you will fit in no matter who you are.
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moto
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motorollin wrote:
@speel
:lol: Your knowledge of British culture is amazing! Even I had forgotten about that sketch, and I'm one of those really annoying people who is *still* doing impressions of characters from that show... ;-)
Well, I just love humour... Too bad you guys don't understand the Dutch language/culture... We have (had) quite a lot of brilliant sketch shows, like Jiskefet or 30 minuten. (the latter being my all time favorite)
But yes, I think I have quite a knowledge about British culture, I've been there countless of times.. without it, I wouldnt find "The Royle Family" as brilliant, for example...
But, thanks for the compliment :-)
Actually I did think you might feel like that. Apart from in the hotel I never once cared what anybody thought of me while I was in NY. And actually after several members of the restaurant staff and the concierge complemented me on my hair, I even felt like I fitted in in a place like that :-) Back home I feel very self-conscious all the time. There's something about NY which makes you feel like you will fit in no matter who you are.
Well, I feel the same in my city, and nowadays do not even think about it anymore... but, you know, the Netherlands... Calvinism has been grown into our bones, so to say...
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motorollin wrote:
Also, please start importing Cadbury's chocolate. Much appreciated.
They don't sell Cadbury's there? Hm. Might have to rethink the entire I'll-visit-the-US-sometime-once-I-can-afford-it thing...
True story: Once I was travelling home from London Waterloo using the Eurostar train (that's the train which passes underneath the English Channel and then heads for Brussels, Belgium). I was looking for a way to spend my last remaining pounds and pennies and noticed that a little shop sold huge tablets of Cadbury's Fruit & Nut chocolate. I bought one---800 grams in total---and I'm ashamed to say that it didn't last the then three-hour trip to Brussels.
Of course, I didn't need to eat anything else for two days after that :lol: . (And not because of a stomach ache or anything.)
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Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
Well, I just love humour...
Maybe you would also enjoy Cheesoid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyxF5ETDY1U) :-D
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moto
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motorollin wrote:
Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
Well, I just love humour...
Maybe you would also enjoy Cheesoid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyxF5ETDY1U) :-D
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moto
I love Mitchell and Webb... the last series isn't so good though :-(
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bloodline wrote:
I love Mitchell and Webb... the last series isn't so good though :-(
I agree. But I think Cheesoid was awesome :lol:
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moto
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motorollin wrote:
bloodline wrote:
I love Mitchell and Webb... the last series isn't so good though :-(
I agree. But I think Cheesoid was awesome :lol:
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moto
Yes, and I'm watching them right now :-)
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Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
cecilia wrote:
motorollin wrote:
but I was wearing rather snug t-shirts which let the tatt poke out :-D A few heads turned in the hotel (it was very posh, and I'm not...) but that could have been anything - the hair, the boots, the tattoo... ;-)
:-D creating quite the scene, I see!
believe me, New Yorkers are used to seeing all sorts of "odd" and interesting things and people.....we enjoy the view
And that's the reason why I want to go to NY, to see the free, weird side of life. :-)
the best place for that is The Village
you will love it!!
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Cymric wrote:
motorollin wrote:
Also, please start importing Cadbury's chocolate. Much appreciated.
They don't sell Cadbury's there? Hm. Might have to rethink the entire I'll-visit-the-US-sometime-once-I-can-afford-it thing...
trust me, NY has Cadbury - I've had it! :-D
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Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
cecilia wrote:
I love cake.
(http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_03/fatfighters1710_468x386.jpg)
OH MY SHE DOES LOVES THE CAKE!
;-)
:lol: :lol:
I love those crazy guys!
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@cecilia
We never found Greenwich Village. But the Meatpacking District sounded quite appealing ;-) And I never saw any Cadbury's chocolate. Believe me I would have snapped it up if I had seen it. Maybe American chocolate is an acquired taste, but it still tastes like dog chocolate to me - no offence! :-P
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moto
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motorollin wrote:
@cecilia
We never found Greenwich Village.
here's a map (http://www.nycgv.com/map.asp) for future travels.
But the Meatpacking District sounded quite appealing ;-)
Oh, MY!! :-D
And I never saw any Cadbury's chocolate. Believe me I would have snapped it up if I had seen it. Maybe American chocolate is an acquired taste, but it still tastes like dog chocolate to me - no offence! :-P
american chocolate is nothing speacial. I've been to the hersey factory in Pennsylvania years ago and when that chocolate is fresh it tastes fine. But, frankly, once you have tasted Belgian chocolate why bother with 2nd best.
Cadbury is very nice.
you really can find ANYTHING in NY. But it's all about knowing where to look.
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cecilia wrote:
you really can find ANYTHING in NY. But it's all about knowing where to look.
Perhaps I need to look harder next time. I don't think I could face another week without any PG or chocolate :-)
By the way I've just remembered a really funny story. Well I thought it was funny, but you might have had to be there. We were walking across Times Square to get to tkts and the lights changed to allow the traffic to go. There was this guy standing in the middle of the road not moving, and within a New York Minute the taxis started beeping him. He turned round to face them, threw his arms up in the air, and in an extremely gruff and broad Brooklyn accent he shouted "Hey! Dis is Noo Yowk Ciddy!" before swaggering off. It was so stereotyped I had to laugh! I just wish the camera had been rolling :-)
[EDIT]
Mr Brooklyn's speech transcribed more phonetically ;-)
[/EDIT]
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moto
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:lol:
oh, yeah! that's NY all right!!
one of my favorite "sights" in Times Square is the infamous Nakid Cowboy (http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/191271.php).
yes, he is real, he does sing and loves posing with the ladies.
no, I never pinched his bottom.
at least not yet :-D
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Er, so wearing underwear is called being naked in the USA? There must a lot of nude beaches over there :p.
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motorollin wrote:
Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
Well, I just love humour...
Maybe you would also enjoy Cheesoid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyxF5ETDY1U) :-D
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moto
Well, I was thinking about a different kind of humour, which is more like 'underneath'...
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odin wrote:
Er, so wearing underwear is called being naked in the USA? There must a lot of nude beaches over there :p.
Yes, I was also hoping to see more....
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Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
odin wrote:
Er, so wearing underwear is called being naked in the USA? There must a lot of nude beaches over there :p.
Yes, I was also hoping to see more....
me too - but there's a bunch of religious uptight folks in these parts.
sigh :roll:
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Well, not only in those parts, here too it wouldn't be allowed. For obvious very subjective reasons.
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Well, I've never been to New York, and frankly, I never plan to, but around here, Cadbury's chocolate can be found anywhere you can find other chocolate. I don't see what's so great about it though. It doesn't taste any different than any Hershey's or Nestlé to me. Of course, that may be because I only appreciate good Swiss chocolate. :-P
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All this chocolate made me think of the dirty man in a bonbonshop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSR3xWMc63U) :lol:
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Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
All this chocolate made me think of the dirty man in a bonbonshop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSR3xWMc63U) :lol:
That was quite amusing, though probably funnier if I could understand Dutch... though I noticed that a few words were similar/same as German...
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bloodline wrote:
Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
All this chocolate made me think of the dirty man in a bonbonshop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSR3xWMc63U) :lol:
That was quite amusing, though probably funnier if I could understand Dutch... though I noticed that a few words were similar/same as German...
Yeah I guessed so, but the main part of this humour is how it's being done, not what's being done (so I thought it might catch on despite you don't understand the language). But intonation and the accent are parts of the 'how', and that's of course a part of the Dutch language...
It's humour you have to learn to appreciate, and when you appreciate, you'll be addicted :lol: