Hi all,

Yesterday we walked up to the Empire State building and got tickets to take the open top bus tours, firstly we went Downtown which takes you along Broadway, through Greenwich village and Soho, down to Wall Street then the Wharf, up through China town and Little Italy, under the Brooklyn bridge and passed the United nations building along with a load of churches and cathedrals.

We then got off that bus and stopped for a bowl of soup as it was a little bit chilly on the bus. I haven’t mentioned the weather - Mon and Tues it was 85 degrees it was roasting then it cooled down to the high 60’s on Wed and yesterday the 50’s, so it’s been a bit of a mix.

Anyway then we got back on the bus which takes you Uptown. The tour guide looked a bit like Dyke Van Dyke! Edna complained she couldn’t hear him so he sat beside her the whole way and gave her the commentary, he even got her to sing into the mike, the others on board had no idea what was going on………anyway this tour took you around Central park, passed the Dakota building where john Lennon lived and was gunned down, through Harlem and passed the museum area which has the NY museum, National museum of art and the Guggenheim to mention a few, we are going to do these on Saturday.

When we got of the bus we walked down to 42nd Street and visited Grand Central station, its really wierd because it has been in so many films you feel like you have been there before!

Finally we headed for a few light refreshments before getting a lasagne from our local deli and yacking to a few folk in the hostel, Edna was very entertaining although I’m not sure the 2 Japanese tourists knew what was going on…..then to bed.

Today we are going to Brooklyn and ground zero and taking a boat trip under the Brooklyn and Manhatten bridges…it’s all go!!

Nicola nice to hear from you, maybe one day all the girls in the family can save up and come to NY!

Keep blogging

Lindy and Callum xxx