The good thing with hostels is that you meet new people every day and you can often find people to travel around with, even in that city. It was great having someone else to cruise around NY with. The first stop for the day was off to one of the two MOST famous NY landmarks, The Empire State Building. I was excited to see the entrance to the building, just as I had seen on many movies. I was also quite surprised at the most frequently asked question by people who visit the building ..... (The answer later) ..... First through yet another security check. After all of the plane flights I was getting quite used to emptying out the pockets and having people poke through your bag. Up to the first floor to buy tickets, along with the 50 meter line-up of other people. After this, into an elevator which takes you up quite a number of floors. Then around yet another walk area and into the elevator which takes you right to the top at the viewing platform. WOW!!! The view is absolutely spectacular and well worth the wait to get there. New York is HUGE. I thought that you may be able to look around and see just how big the city is but it just keeps on going all of the way to the horizon and beyond. There was something really magical about being there on top of the Empire State Building and looking down into the city streets. North looking over Central Park, to the south where the Trade Centre buildings used to be and then beyond to the Statue of Liberty looking out over the ocean as a greeting to anyone entering by sea. Looking out to the east and seeing Brooklyn, and then west and changing states completely with New Jersey. Jersey pressing its borders against that of New York State, only the Hudson River deviding the two and making the city of Manhattan stand alone on this island which is the centrepiece in such a huge arrangement that makes New York what it is. It was very easy to stay there for hours and take in all of the scenery. Although it was time to move on and see more of this city that you could spend weeks only starting to explore. Being influenced by a fairly cold December breeze at that hight made the quick dash inside for a few souvenirs and then back down to the city streets fairly welcoming. Oh and the most commonly asked question by tourists that enter the Empire State building is ....... "Could you please tell us where the entrance to the Empire State Building is????" (Bloody stupid tourists). http://www.empirestatebuilding.com

Turning North on 5th street and heading towards Central Park I went past some Very expensive stores to shop at (all though a good friend of mine told me that you can take quite a lot of stuff home on trial no questions asked ..... um ...... something Ryder I think her name was.)

Central park was just wonderful with Iced over lakes, the ice skating arena and Strawberry Fields, the John Lennon Memorial area of the Park. Although a day short, they were making a movie at the water fountain. I have no idea as to what the movie is but they had most of the lighting set up and people getting the scenery ready. It was pretty cool to be there. So was the look of the park as the sun slowly set between the trees. On that note it was decided to go back to the hostel and then off south to visit Bill in New Jersey. Farewell to New York.