New York, New York

We have been in New York for six days now, and finally have found some time to update our blogs. We arrived in Manhattan on Saturday 17th July. We missed the small earthquake that they had in nearby Maryland (a measly 3.4) and arrived at the start of a heart wave. By Australian standards it's not too ridiculous - it's about 30 degrees Celsius everyday, but the pavements are blisteringly hot and the humidity is high.

The first photo is the obligatory one of the Empire State Building, taken from just outside our hotel. We stayed at the Gershwin Hotel which describes itself as the funkiest hotel in Manhattan. It wasn't too bad, although there are only so many Andy Warhol prints and crazily-coloured doors and floors that a hotel needs. After that, it just becomes cluttered. And a two-metre tall portrait of Picasso's face staring at you when you get dressed, well that's just a little creepy. The accommodation was much like a backpacker hotel, despite the glamorous photos on the website. I think that 'funky' is an artistic way of saying 'tatty'. In my efforts to sell my home in Canberra I think that I'll start calling it 'funky'.


We have done all the obligatory things to do in New York. We went to Saks Fifth Avenue and marvelled at all the ways one could waste money on clothes. I fondled a $17,400 mink coat. It was a bit like stroking Abby, Ellie's white cat. I guess you wouldn't have to feed the mink coat or get it speyed. The photo shows some handbags in a storefront window on Fifth Avenue. We didn't buy any.


We went to the top of the Empire State Building, which was brilliant. We have spent several afternoons in Central Park, lying under trees and watching street performers. We took a ferry out to see the Statue of Liberty, which was enjoyable and the guide's monologue was informative. We have visited many, many museums and art galleries. We've been on the subway and we've eaten hot dogs on the street. We have been to Times Square several times on our way back and forth. The next photo gives an impresssion of what a crazy, crazy place it is. Nearly all the signs move and glitter and flash. It's quite overwhelming. Even the McDonalds store in Times Square has millions of flashing light bulbs to attract attention.

We are having a fantastic time in New York. I was genuinely surprised at how clean and well-organised it all was. We felt safe walking the streets, even after midnight. Maybe that was because no matter where we were (and we were only in midtown and uptown Manhattan) there were always so many people around. There was no graffitti anywhere that we saw. I guess that, again, it's because there were always so many people around, and so many police around for that matter.

We've had the chance to eat all sorts of food. Ellie bought a packet of chocolate-covered ants (yes, real ants) at the 'Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum'. She's yet to eat them though.

So what's New York like so far? Expensive. Outrageous. Sweltering. Stimulating. Fattening. Fun!