First time climbing in NY

Before I left, somebody told me I won't be able to go climbing in NY. I didn't believed it. And now I have prooven it!

Thanks to the website www.meetup.com (to find people with common interests), I found a group to climb with very easy and went to Brooklyn. Even though it was a bit windy, I choose to go by bike (what else?). When I was on the street, I realized that it is really windy. 15 minutes later, I got a text from my University:

"Tornado watch this evening Rose Hill & Westchester class 6.pm. on cancelled."

Luckily, Rose Hill (my university) is in the Bronx, I didn't had any classes anyway and I was on my way to Brooklyn. So no worries ;)

After loosing my way 2 times, I finally arrived at the climbing gym. It is almost as big as Walfischgasse (austrian climbing gym), when you add up the lower and upper floor. However, it's almost only top-rope up to ~7m.

Before you are allowed to go in, you have to sign a waiver - so far so good, the fancy feature: Registration is done with an Ipad ;). Done, paid a high entrance fee, let's go and climb - that's what I thought. Not so fast... first I need to get a Belay-certification! Wait - haven't I already signed a waiver that I'm sure I really know what I'm do? Yeah I have,.. anyway I still need to proove that I know how to use a KriKri. To bad, I didn't really knew it as I have used ATC all my climbing life. But as all of you climbers know... using KriKri is no art ;)

Something also for all non-climbers:

They have a big advent wreath there. It was really dusty. Apparently it's hanging there at least since last christmas. Pretty smart, as it will be actual in little more than 2 months again!