The more I travel, the less focused I become on visiting mainstream tourist attractions. For me, the best part of travelling is getting out there amongst the people, the culture, the food, the skies, the green, the day-to-day life and rhythm of an unknown place. I like to wake up in new surroundings and simply walk out the door, then keep walking. Sure, I’ll usually have a few general ideas in my head about what I might want to do, see, or eat that day, but more often than not these plans will shift according to where the invisible pixies of joy and adventure push or pull me.
For example, if I find myself faced with “calorie free” caramel dip whilst wandering through a midtown deli on my first morning in New York, the pixies will order me to flee. Flee and never look back.
If, on the other hand, a wall of kombucha greets my eyes in a grocery store near my hotel, then I know the pixies have led me to a slice of New York that fits my soul just right.
After a restless first night in New York, I woke up on Friday morning with a vague map in my head and the knowledge that I needed to sort out a few errands as soon as possible. First, though, in order to prove that I really am in New York, I created for you a fancy Self-Portrait-of-a-Starbucks-Reflected-Girl-Amidst-Yellow-Cabs:
As you know by now, I am unfailingly and irresistibly drawn to anything that sparkles. Thus on my quest to find summer-appropriate shoes with which to walk around Americaland, I found myself lured into a Steve Madden store by the promise of glitter.
Alas, I knew full well that such glorious heels would not be suitable to hours of walking around city streets, and so I put them back on the shelf. (Now that I think about it, those shoes probably are perfect for “walking the streets”.)
To reward myself for procuring sensible black shoes as well as an American cellphone, I bought myself a Soy Mocha Frappuccino. Frappuccinos may taste nothing like real coffee but, dear heavens, I delighted in every sweetly caffeinated sip.
My plan had been to walk to Union Square’s farmers market as well as its Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Garden of Eden, but en route I discovered each of these stores in the Chelsea area. Over an hour later, I emerged from their shining embraces with bags full of goodies to partake in for dinner.
Oh Karen & Sisters vegan creations, I have loved you since I first met you in 2007, and it gives me great delight that you still exist.
I love your lemony-zingy “turkey” mimicry, your lemongrass-chilli-tamari-sesame-marinated carrots and kale, and the fact that you are ridiculously high in protein and calcium. Seriously, where does all the calcium come from? Why is the sky blue? Will I wake up every night at 4am due to jet lag? Is the moon really a dolphin in disguise?
While in Trader Joe’s, I resisted buying an entire tub of mini chocolate peanut butter cups, but was powerless before this Dark Chocolate Bar filled with Speculoos Cookie Spread.
The dark chocolate melted into sweet richness, giving way to the rich, butterscotch- and ANZAC biscuit-like flavours of the Speculoos filling. I must say I didn’t detect many spice notes but, for the Australians reading this, I thought it tasted like Butternut Biscuits. Very easy to eat very quickly.
After nibbling at two Apple Cranberry Bran Muffins (also from Trader Joe’s), I plotted out a few goals for the following day, sent several of my American friends my new cell number, set my alarm, and snuggled under the covers of my hotel bed.
It may not have been the most whizz-bang of travel days, but it was mine and it was perfect.
I do so like this New York place.
Oh yes, flee FAR away from those Walden Farm calorie-free nightmares. Far.
But oh my gawd, the Speculoos spread…I must flee far away from that stuff for very different reasons. Have you tried the plain straight-out-of-the-jar cookie butter? TJ’s even has a store brand version. Ohitssogood.
On the very day described above, my hand reached and picked up the TJ’s crunchy Speculoos Spread. I then came to my sense and put it back on the shelf, because I knew that if I bought it, I’d somehow justify eating the entire jar in one night the way I’ve justified eating entire pints of gelato and sorbet. Perhaps we could buy it in a few weeks’ time, and keep each other accountable for how many spoonfuls we steal?
Something tells me we’d fail miserably at that…Let’s do it.
Bahaha! You’re right, we’ll totally just enable each other. High five!
Sounds like a fantastic start. One of the brilliant things about a longer stay somewhere is that you don’t have to hit the ground running. Suffering much food jealousy at the moment, why oh why do we not have such goodness on offer?
Also, it’s my fifth trip to New York and I’m not allowing myself any Broadway shows this time, so I’m really enjoying simply wandering around in familiar/unfamiliar surroundings
You haven’t even seen the half of such deliciousness! Start planning your trip
You won’t believe the amount of time I’ve just spent trying to work out what you mean by Broadway shoes … and I can’t even blame Monday morning anymore!! (I worked it out by the way)
Oops, thank you for pointing out that typo!
If 2013 is already too busy for travel, that might be a good thing? As long as it’s good busy
Oh dear, my intention was to pick on me not on your typo!
Good busy in a way, the travel plans for 2013 are The Sparky’s more than mine but should still be fun. Plus if things go the way I want them to I won’t be able to take much leave time … but that’s getting a step or two ahead of myself!
I have never seen vegan turkey. They have everything in America. I love those sparkly shoes – yes, difficult for the pavement and not too practical but I’d call those a ‘must-have’. Hope you get over the jet-lag soon xx
They really, really do. Try gluten-free dairy-free chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream made with coconut milk. BEST.
Ohhhhhh, Charlie Louie, the shoes are tempting beyond belief! But alas, suitcase space is limited/at a premium, so I don’t think I can justify throwing out my sneakers for them. Can’t really hike in glittery heels!
New York is my favorite city too! Love all your photos…the shoes are gorgeous by the way.
A whole day of exploring another city, food browsing and eating, and shoe shopping -that sounds like a damn fine day indeed. The sparkle shoes are so pretty!
If only they were slightly more practical! My suitcase is too small to justify the splurge on something I won’t be able to wear around town.
Perhaps, if/when I settle down, I could hunt for their likeness in Canada…
I want that chocolate bar. So bad.
So so envious of your sparkly adventures.
Check out those PINS! You go girly, rock those sequins
Aw, thanks lovely! I wish I could justify buying them!
deeeelightful!!!!
Those shoes are gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!
Keep having fun in the big city
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Very glad you decided not to walk the streets! And, your Dad and I agree with you. We like to see some sights but there can be a surfeit of them … getting out into “real” life is so much fun, walking, eating, shopping etc with “normal” people around you is just the thing.
Oh how I want the shoes though! Oh how I want them! And high five for finding the true/valuable joy of travel. I think of our time in Mauritius in this regard (Blue Bay in particularly, if I recall correctly?).
Oh my gawd, what on earth is in that calorie free stuff? Next, they’ll come up with calorie burning food. You just know that they’re working on it!
BTW nice legs!!
Teehee, thank you! I think I’m blinding all the tanned Americans with the whiteness of my legs though
Food needs to have calories because that’s the whole “gives us energy” thing! Stupid diet scientists.
What is the turkey made from?
“Textured vegetable protein”. Mm-mmm.
Thanks. I’m glad you like it. I’m not a turkey fan, I probably wouldn’t notice
It tastes nothing at all like turkey.
Now I’m tempted to fly to New York and try it
Oh deary me. So much excitement. So much goodness. So much speculoos (my new favourite word) cookie filling. I am so glad you’re having a good time and your edible treats look and sound so wonderful
I am also pleased to have some support for my ‘wandering’ approach to cities – I made such detailed plans for NYC (so many museums, so much culture), but when I got there I just walked. I wanted to be outside or in the shops or seeing the architecture, not stuck inside. I’m a bit the same with London. The downside is that I didn’t see any of the museums in NYC, and I’ve only been the once, but at least I have an excuse to go again
There’s always an excuse to go again!
I’ve definitely spent some time in the Met and MOMA during my past trips to New York, but I truly believe that you learn more about a place through its grocery stores and people-watching than in a museum. Normally, in New York, I see a few Broadway shows, but I’ve resisted due to knowing I’ll see a lot of shows in Utah 
I think that pretty much everything I’ve eaten here, you’d love.
You seem to be having such fun! I love your attitude towards travelling. I completely agree that you get to know a city best by wandering where your heart desires as opposed to having a plan. And yummm soy mocha frappucinos- I work at Starbucks and rarely ever get these but for a special treat, that’s my go-to!
Continue having wonderful adventures my dear
You work at Starbucks?! WOOT. Teehee! In truth, I actually prefer the plain coffee frappuccinos, but I was proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone. But oh my heavens, people in the line before me were ordering drinks with fourteen syllables or more! So much customisation!! Do you have any tips or tricks for me, on how to create something unique and delicious?
Yes, some people have crazy ridiculous drinks, I always wondered just how they arrived at all those particular tweaks and whether or not they really make a difference lol. But that’s what Starbucks is all about I suppose- customization!
You can basically customize ANYTHING and add ANYTHING you want to any beverage. If you are looking for something sinful, I recommend the green tea frap with peppermint and add chips- tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream! I also really like adding espresso shots to my chai or addind pumps of chai to my americanos. Some people hate it, but I love it!
You can also ask for caramel to be drizzled into the cup before they pour it (called cali-style) and feel free to ask for multiple flavour shots or change them from what they are supposed to be- 1 toffee nut and one mocha, etc. I really love 1/2 vanilla and 1/2 coconut in earl grey tea lattes!
One more recommendation- it’s called te Starbuck Double Shot and isn’t on the menu any more, but I love it! It’s basically simple syrup with espresso shots, shaken with ice and topped up with milk. Delicious! I get mine 1/2 sweet, but that’s your call!
Oh I could go on and on- just remember, you can change ask for anything! Hope you find something special
THIS HAS BLOWN MY MIND. I’ve had to read it three times in a row simply to begin to understand it… and I still don’t. In Australia, we have long blacks, lattes, cappuccinos, macchiattos, and that’s about it. We don’t even do iced coffee in summer, except for the “iced coffee” which is ice cream and milk with a bit of coffee syrup served with a long spoon.
Seriously lady, when I get to Toronto you must tell me when you’re working, so that I can come in and be the most annoying inquisitive customer of all time. I didn’t even know all those syrups existed!
Haha I worked at other cafes before Starbucks and even still, believe me, I was so overwhelmed when I started at Starbucks- they have their own language!
And deal! I would love to help you navigate the Starbucks waters
Nothing like speculoos filled chocolate to combat jet lag I say. That first shot looks so much like a garden of eden, and quite the antithesis of calorie free caramel- what do they fill the jar with then? I would have to be convinced of the merits of fake turkey.You’ll regret not buying those sparkly shoes I reckon, they’re sensational. Not practical for tourist trip-trapping of course, but sparkly. I bought a pair of sensational shoes in Houston, but have yet to trot out in them.
Is it possible for jetlag to hit on the fourth night? It was either that or the insomnia fairy simply found me again last night. Clearly I need more chocolate.
The first photo IS Garden of Eden, rather than WF, TJ’s, or Food Emporium! Well spotted, my dear. I didn’t even bother to look at the label of the “caramel”. Ugh. Ohhhhh, Louise! Technically I could go back and buy them today… do you really think I should? Luggage space…
Oh I love that fruity photo at the top – I want food shops to look like that when I walk in. The speculoos chocolate sounds interesting but disappointing after that gooey photo on the wrapper – though nowhere near as scary as that caramel – what is in it????? I can do without the shoes but I wanted to be with you in all that foodie shops – did you get to union square market or were you too waylaid?
I should have looked at the label of that horrible caramel “thing”, but I just wanted to get as far away as possible from it.
I’m heading to the Union Square market today 
I went to a smaller, quite unique one yesterday, but am determined to make it to Union Square as it’s my last day in New York today!
‘Tis cellulose gum, mostly, with a sprinkling of xanthan gum, egg whites and corn starch (oh and natural caramel flavour). Just the ingredients I was thinking of using for breakfast. I am known to be a huge embarrassment to my companions in any shop if I happen to spy glittery shoes. I believe this is due to a rather repetitive cry of ‘shiny, shiny shoes’ along with me dashing over to said shoes and refusing to leave them. I think you should BUY THEM. Otherwise you may look back in your golden years with a heavy heart full of yearning for the lost sparkles
That is a TERRIFYING ingredients list. Ugh. Alas, the shoes are now many, many states away from me, so let’s not focus on regrets and yearning and loss or I might cry.
The photo of the golden ‘street walkers’ alongside your sneakers was adorable but you always had me at ‘speculoos’ – they’re easily our favourite biccies here in Switzerland and have also made a brilliant cheesecake base.
I quite like the juxtaposition of the “dream” shoes and the “practical” shoes too
It’s been two years, and I still haven’t forgiven myself for not buying Speculoos spread in Antwerp in 2010. CHEESECAKE. I must try that.
If it’s calorie free, does that mean you can even ‘consume’ it? What are you consuming? In the moment after consumption, do you and your body forget what just took place? Does it exit out your ear? LAME.
Mmm, kombucha. I have to start over:( I grew a scoby from one of those bottles a few months ago, but after only a few batches something went wrong and it diiiiiiiied.
Happy happy joy joy NYC!
My guess is that it makes a speedy exit out of one’s ear-plus-an-extra-syllable.
Oh, potty humour…
You make kombucha! That is magical! How I love the stuff.
Yes..step away from the zero calorie food. They’re trying to make us forget that bodies actually need energy to live!
Good idea also stepping away from the sparkly shoes. How are you meant to traipse all over New York looking for cookie spread.
Be amazing:)
That’s exactly what I wrote in a comment above, that calories are the energy we need. UGH stupid diet sciencese. *shudder*
Thank you!! Other people are making me so tempted to buy the shoes… I’m trying to figure out if I’ll need fancy shoes in future. OH HANG ON I HAVE A WEDDING….
Sounds like a great day to me, too! And of course I laughed at your sparkly shoe reflection (the cerebral kind, not the mirror kind).
Ah, to try speculoos spread!! To me, only a dream. . . . love that New York place! 
It is one of the most greaterester of places EVER. I totally just realised that I’ll need fancy shoes for Amber’s wedding….
It does sound like a pretty perfect day, gosh, you’re having such a great time with all these discoveries! And your pixies are very wise, very wise indeed.
So much perfect happiness! Thank you my dear
gah! i miss those karen and sisters products like WHOA – its one of the few things i miss from nys, but still its a big one. have every single kind for me okay??
Woot, I love that someone else knows of these things! This is my fifth trip to New York since 2007 and, over time, I think I have tried every single one. As a result, I’m happy now just buying my favourites: the veggie turkey, the soy-tein with spinach, the seaweed ones, and sometimes the brown rice one. I can’t ever eat the edamame and tofu one again, though, because it gave me awful food poisoning in 2009
Oh Hannah I love you! What a splendid day it was xo
Oh my Be Fri (wait, no, you were St Ends, right?), how I long to explore this city with you!! But I will look forward to hearing about your adventures, and having you visit me across the border one day xoxo
Ah NYC! I love that city too. I love being able to get a bottle of kombucha any time of day, and an abundance of raw chocolate and goodies and Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods! Some tasty finds and fabulous sparkly high heels!!!
We are clearly the same person in New York. I have been eating entire blocks of raw chocolate and giant bottle of kombucha daily. It is bliss.
What a great start to your adventures. Love those shoes, such a shame you can’t fit them in your luggage.
I love checking out food stores in other countries. I am already excited about what sort of goodies I will purchase for snacks on my upcoming US road trip.
I have calmed my heart with the knowledge that sparkly heels can be found in many places at present. Once I’ve found a dress for the wedding, I’ll see if sparkly shoes can match.
The snacks in the US are the bestest!
Oh it looks like you’re having such a great time
jealous! Haha enjoy Hannah!!!
I liked the way your legs looked in those sparkly “walking-the-streets” shoes. I’d have gotten them and just stared at them delighting in the sparkliness.
But that’s ok – the abundance of yummy food is more than making up it. *drooling on my laptop*. Oh wait – that was just mandarin juice. Heh.
Aw, shucks! I’ve never been more happy to look like a prostitute! Sadly I really had to get shoes that I can walk around all day in. Except that I can’t walk comfortably right now in any shoes, because yesterday’s shoe debacle led to my feet being torn somewhat to shreds. Ouch.
Hot shoes, but please don’t “walk the streets” haha
Right now I can only limp the streets, so I don’t think I’d earn much.
I’m so grateful you’ve taken us gallivanting with you! I love the photos.
I just realised you were still wearing a sneaker on one foot with the other foot in the high heel! Ha ha
I’ve been making note of who has noticed that anomaly
I’m so grateful you’re reading along!
I adore your traveling sophistication and am very happy and thankful that you allow me to have a glimpse into all this from my kitchen.
Aw, thank you Kath! Hugs!
Oh my goodness I am starving! Forget Italy! I am heeling over! X
Oooh sparkly shoes! But where’s the pic of the ones you bought?
Bahaha, you totally know I took a photo of them too, but the picture was all fuzzy in the end. I’m too scared to wear the ones I actually bought for fear of more blisters, so really this has all been an exercise in shoepidity.
Hannah…I guess I’m glad you didn’t get walking the street shoes…. but they were SO pretty!! I really need to give kombucha another go. I don’t get it. Tastes like foot to me. I never got to visit a Trader Joe’s!! frowny face….
Heidi xo
A part of me still wishes I’d bought them too! Stupid living-out-of-a-suitcase thing. *shakes fist at world*
Darling, as fun as Trader Joe’s is, I’d trade every store in for even one delicious day from your honeymoon. xo