I sat down and found the nearest pharmacy on the internet (which was at the local supermarket) and thought I could simply go along and get my over-the-counter medicine, no worries. This was not the case at all!! I went to the pharmacist and explained my problem, and although she was kind and concerned, she could not give me the medicine I needed! I won't divulge my health situation, but believe you me, it's an over the counter exercise in Oz, and untreated, I would remain very very uncomfortable for the rest of the trip. She told me my best shot was to visit an Emergency Room, or to somehow find a doctor, which is usually via recommendation by a current patient on the books (these is no such thing as a medical centre here.) The whole situation was laughable!
Defeated, I came home and had a cry in the kitchen, then looked up the internet to see if there was any way possible to get some medication prescription-free. I found a list on the internet, wrote it down in my little notebook, then headed out to the local drug store. Long story short, the lovely Jewish pharmacist found the medication I needed and had it delivered to his pharmacy for me this afternoon! I have never felt more grateful in my life!! All thanks to the internet, because the pharmacist had never even heard of the medication brand I needed! Phew!! The lesson here: bring every drug you need with you. Try and think of every possible situation! I had NO IDEA it would be this difficult. Thank God I eventually got the help I needed!!
Anyway, moving on from embarrassing personal health matters, Mark and I decided today was the day to visit The Guggenheim, only to arrive and find it is shut on Thursdays!! We were still impressed with the building though, we are just not sure that we will have time to go back now, so are a little unhappy about it. However, we were lucky enough to visit The Neue Galerie which is a small and impeccable space dedicated to German and Austrian Art and the sucessionist movement. We saw works by Klimt, Kokoschka, and Schiele amongst others, as well as a collection of furniture and design from the 1890s-1940s. The gallery housed an impressive bookstore and a very cosy wood-paneled cafe. I definitely recommend it!
The Neue Galerie
We strolled back down to Little Korea (32nd Street) and had our weekly fill of Bulgogi and BiBimBap, (little Korea is much nicer than Chinatown) and then walked back towards Greenwich Village, our main purpose being to visit The Magnolia Bakery to sample a red velvet cupcake. The aroma of baking filled the air even a block away from the store, and we waited in line for about 5 minutes before going in. Once inside, people were snatching cupcakes everywhere, I thought I was going to miss out! But a whole fresh lot was delivered from the kitchen and I got to try three different flavours, and yes the red velvet. What is red velvet cake? I have never seen it in Sydney. It tasted just like a red-coloured buttercake to me, and when I got back home and looked up recipes I was disappointed to discover it is in fact, exactly that - a light buttercake made with buttermilk, with a little cocoa and red food colouring added. It still tasted great! But the red colour... well, it's not from anything particularly exotic.
Magnolia Bakery!
This is a red velvet cupcake!
We also bought some takeaways and brought them home for our hosts Tim and Fabienne, who are currently in the throes of moving house. Today is our last night in Hoboken, tomorrow we are going to stay in Manhattan for two nights, before heading off on our road trip!
And I have to add, I'm getting used to the walking, now I actually WANT to walk which is a great feeling, and could walk way further than I could just 5 days ago... yeah...!
More news soon, lots of love xxx