Veronica, February 2012
Times Square was a dazzling display of colourful, brightly lit up billboards plastered on every building, restaurants, theatres, shopping and entertainment. Just like the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty, this precinct was such a huge iconic landmark in New York, one I'd been dying to visit.
The city was unlike anywhere else I'd ever been, so fast paced with crowded streets and cultural diversity. Everywhere you'd look there was something truely amazing and unique. Sam was captivated by the performers that filtered the square, from people who had painted their entire body in silver or gold paint and were emulating statues, to those walking around in costumes, dressed up as Marvel superheroes or Sesame Street characters.
"There's Iron Man." Sam exclaimed. He was like a big kid, so excited to discover that his favourite superhero was wandering around, taking pictures with tourists. We joined the small group of people who were gathered around the man in the costume and waited until it was Sam's turn to have his picture taken. Even though he knew that this was just an ordinary man dressed up in a costume, you could see it written all over Sam's face that it was like meeting the real Iron Man, especially when the guy pulled a pose that was similar to the one in the movies.
I snapped the picture with my phone and Sam handed the man a generous tip, thanking him for the opportunity. It's usually Sam being asked by fans to take pictures, which he happily does but to see him on the other side, as the fan who was star struck, was very amusing to me.
"That could be a side gig for you, walking around Hyde Park on a weekday and having people pay to get their picture taken with you." I suggest and he chuckles at the notion.
"As apposed to doing it for free at restaurants whenever we get caught out by fans while we're eating dinner?" He laughs. "Maybe I could find someone who could impersonate me, someone who could do all the photo ops and signings, leaving me free to just play the game I love without the drama."
Sam has often spoken about how he longs for us to one day be able to live as ordinary people, away from the spotlight and screaming fans but he knows that would mean he'd have to give up playing professionally.
"Speaking of restaurants, I think it might be time to stop for lunch." I tell him, feeling my empty stomach growl. We hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, which was served on the plane a few hours before we landed.
I look around at what's on offer only to find that there's no shortage of variety. From dinners and trendy cafes, cocktail bars, steakhouses, burger places, hot dog carts, Chinese, Korean, Mexican, Indian, Japanese, Italian, no matter what you were craving, you'd find it here.
"What do you feel like?" Sam asks me, overwhelmed by the choice.
"I feel like a nice, juicy cheeseburger and a side of hot chips." I tell him, pointing to a burger joint that has a picture displayed in their window of the most mouth watering hamburger I've ever laid eye on.
As soon as we step inside the restaurant we were hit with a delicious char-grilled aroma that wafted through the air. The walls were decorated with American memorabilia that celebrated the rock and roll era from the 1950's. Black and white signed photographs of Elvis, Johnny Cash, June Carter, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Buddy Holly lined the walls, along with vinyl records in frames and pictures of classic cars.
The wait staff were decked out in swing dresses for the women and white button down shirts, pinstriped pants and blue bowties for the men, adding to that nostalgic feeling of stepping back in time.
"Hi folks, just the two of you today?" The bubbly red-haired hostess asked, grabbing two sets of menus from under her podium.
"Yes, just two." Sam confirms, his eyes fixated on a photo of 1957 Ford Thunderbird on the wall behind the hostess' station, I don't know much about cars other than how to turn the key and drive but Sam is an enthusiast for anything that has four wheels and an engine that purrs. "That picture isn't a print, like the others, its an actual photograph that looks like it was taken by a more modern camera." Sam points out.
