Today I went to Bay Shore in Long Island to buy a second hand Martin 000-28 acoustic guitar.
I started off by heading to China town as I was told there would be a bank open and I could withdraw larger sums then an ATM.
I found a bank but was not allowed to withdraw, so I had to use the ATM which has an $800 max.
I had $400 cash on me but I needed to make the $1700 for the guitar. I tried my current account and no joy!
I tried it at a few different spots, with no luck, so I called my bank in the UK (having already taken out $800 from my business account.)
They told me 24 hours to get it working again! So I took money out from my business credit card ($500 - but it gets cleared every month so hopefully the charges wont be crazy!! Not that I should be using my business account for this anyway!)
And all of this is under a time constraint of me trying to get to the train which leaves at 11:09am
I make it to the train, get on all OK. But I feel a little sick as all I have had to eat is a dunkin dohnut and a nasty ice coffee - American coffee is not good!
The train ride is an hour and an half but it gets delayed right before the last stop (where I have to change to get one stop to Bay Shore.) I called Phil the guy selling the guitar and he was cool to wait for me.
I finally get there get the guitar which is sweet! But because the train was delayed I missed my connection back by 10 mins so I had to wait for 2 hours for the next train!
Phil told me not to go the other direction as it was "the bad side of town" and said there were some shops I could have a coffee in, or I could get a cab to the beach (I have $10 in my pocket and that's ALL THE MONEY I GOT), so I go for a walk (I found a wi-fi spot so i checked Maps) and found a pier (maybe the beach?) or something and walked towards it. Nothing there and its really humid. I took a couple of pics nothing special though (had my camera too). Headed back, walked through the town very quiet little place! Found my way back to the station but still had half hour to wait.
My iPhone is also running low and juice (battery sucks and I'm contemplating getting the nano just to use for music as its not convenient to run out of battery by 5pm!!)
I get back to New York, long walk from Penn station platform to street then a block to 34th street subway and then a long walk to the subway entrance (I did this all in the morning and there are really long underground tunnels to walk)
Finally get to the subway and I have this big heavy guitar and someone had the door open and figured the turn styles would be a mission so I walked through it - thinking nothing of it, as I have a weekly pass in my hand - something I would do in London without thinking about.
All of a sudden a Police stops me and asks me why I went through the door. I explained, had the guitar and its heavy, got a ticket in my hand, didn't realise was a big issue, new to town etc. Another 2 Police have turned up and they are all huge, carrying guns etc.
I found a bank but was not allowed to withdraw, so I had to use the ATM which has an $800 max.
I had $400 cash on me but I needed to make the $1700 for the guitar. I tried my current account and no joy!
I tried it at a few different spots, with no luck, so I called my bank in the UK (having already taken out $800 from my business account.)
They told me 24 hours to get it working again! So I took money out from my business credit card ($500 - but it gets cleared every month so hopefully the charges wont be crazy!! Not that I should be using my business account for this anyway!)
And all of this is under a time constraint of me trying to get to the train which leaves at 11:09am
I make it to the train, get on all OK. But I feel a little sick as all I have had to eat is a dunkin dohnut and a nasty ice coffee - American coffee is not good!
The train ride is an hour and an half but it gets delayed right before the last stop (where I have to change to get one stop to Bay Shore.) I called Phil the guy selling the guitar and he was cool to wait for me.
I finally get there get the guitar which is sweet! But because the train was delayed I missed my connection back by 10 mins so I had to wait for 2 hours for the next train!
Phil told me not to go the other direction as it was "the bad side of town" and said there were some shops I could have a coffee in, or I could get a cab to the beach (I have $10 in my pocket and that's ALL THE MONEY I GOT), so I go for a walk (I found a wi-fi spot so i checked Maps) and found a pier (maybe the beach?) or something and walked towards it. Nothing there and its really humid. I took a couple of pics nothing special though (had my camera too). Headed back, walked through the town very quiet little place! Found my way back to the station but still had half hour to wait.
My iPhone is also running low and juice (battery sucks and I'm contemplating getting the nano just to use for music as its not convenient to run out of battery by 5pm!!)
I get back to New York, long walk from Penn station platform to street then a block to 34th street subway and then a long walk to the subway entrance (I did this all in the morning and there are really long underground tunnels to walk)
Finally get to the subway and I have this big heavy guitar and someone had the door open and figured the turn styles would be a mission so I walked through it - thinking nothing of it, as I have a weekly pass in my hand - something I would do in London without thinking about.
All of a sudden a Police stops me and asks me why I went through the door. I explained, had the guitar and its heavy, got a ticket in my hand, didn't realise was a big issue, new to town etc. Another 2 Police have turned up and they are all huge, carrying guns etc.
I am kinda nervous now, didn't think it was a big deal!!
They ask for my ID, give them my passport, they ask where am I staying how long I'm in New York. Then he's like have you got another piece of ID. I got my bank card but he's like "No, photo ID". Then he walked off leaving me with the other 2 or 3 cops with me frantically looking for my work pass, and I was like surely my passport is enough.
At this point, one cop now says don't worry the passport is enough (after a few minutes of me on the floor frantically searching my bag) Now the head honcho cop shows asks all the same shit again. I explain new to town and I have a ticket etc. And he is writing up a ticket I'm hoping its like a warning or something. He gets my address, and enters my details from my passport... Finally he hands me a copy of the ticket says its $100 fine or I can go to court on the set date and appeal.
At this point, one cop now says don't worry the passport is enough (after a few minutes of me on the floor frantically searching my bag) Now the head honcho cop shows asks all the same shit again. I explain new to town and I have a ticket etc. And he is writing up a ticket I'm hoping its like a warning or something. He gets my address, and enters my details from my passport... Finally he hands me a copy of the ticket says its $100 fine or I can go to court on the set date and appeal.
I asked if its worth appealing because I have a ticket etc, he's like nah the Judge wont care sorta thing.
He's turns to walk and I'm like wait, how do I pay, he's like write a cheque or some other shit asks me if I have an account I'm like obviously not I'm a tourist! Tells me I can pay at the post office blah blah.
So I walk off to my train. Its also fricking hot and muggy. I wait on the platform look at the ticket...
The dumb ass has handwriting like an 8 year old forced to write with the wrong hand, describes my height as 5ft 6in, I mean seriously I know they are all tall here and shit but seriously I'M NOT THAT SHORT!!!!!!
And then in the "details of violation" it says "officer did observe respondent enter subway through exit gate to avoid payment of fare"
WTF
Seriously I explained 3 times that I just bought i guitar in long island, I have a ticket etc and this is what he writes!!!
On the back of the ticket is says I can choose to have a hearing by going to the Transit Office and take documents and witness' (like I have any!!)
I'm not sure if I should just pay it or go and complain!!
But my guitar is sweet so I guess it will be a story to tell!
He's turns to walk and I'm like wait, how do I pay, he's like write a cheque or some other shit asks me if I have an account I'm like obviously not I'm a tourist! Tells me I can pay at the post office blah blah.
So I walk off to my train. Its also fricking hot and muggy. I wait on the platform look at the ticket...
The dumb ass has handwriting like an 8 year old forced to write with the wrong hand, describes my height as 5ft 6in, I mean seriously I know they are all tall here and shit but seriously I'M NOT THAT SHORT!!!!!!
And then in the "details of violation" it says "officer did observe respondent enter subway through exit gate to avoid payment of fare"
WTF
Seriously I explained 3 times that I just bought i guitar in long island, I have a ticket etc and this is what he writes!!!
On the back of the ticket is says I can choose to have a hearing by going to the Transit Office and take documents and witness' (like I have any!!)
I'm not sure if I should just pay it or go and complain!!
But my guitar is sweet so I guess it will be a story to tell!
