New York

New York is very compact, and felt like a very livable city, nobody drives in New York, there is too much traffic! (Futurama quote) I bought a seven day pass for both busses and subway for $23 dollars, which has to be the biggest bargain in town. Just as well, as the accommodation was the most expensive so far. Hugh did not like the idea of couch surfing or bivouacking in Central Park, which had a certain appeal for me.

Thanks to facebook I learned that my friend Janelle, who I had met in Cambodia, who showed me the sights of Sydney, was now in New York. She was on her second holiday, while I had still me been moving, not knowing where I was staying from one night to the next. The three of us went to a gig, explored Times Square and had a pretty awful meal. It seemed the area of town was devoid of good eating spots at that time, but walking back we realized we were only a few streets away from the mother-lode.

My friend from home had been tee-total for about four years, I had been looking forward to his company especially as I do not drink much anymore. It was a surprise therefore when the pair of us left a lock-in at 5am, drunk as skunks!

By anybody's standards New York is a beautiful city, though there were so many attractions, just wandering around and gawping at the toned and tanned and the architecture was entertainment enough. We both enjoyed Greenwich Village and Little Italy the most, the eating was excellent, but an included 20% service charge seemed excessive. I was glad to be headed to a place where tipping in bars is the exception, rather than the norm, and the glasses are bigger!