USA - New York Baby!

Very sad
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NYC was our first stop. After a brief spell of navigating the subway system and roads with my 3 ruck sacks i managed to track down the hostel I had chosen from the 'Lonely Planet' - soon to be known bible, only to be greeted with a "Sorry no rooms available". Argh!

So heading off I passed a bar with an outdoor sign reading "Are you hot....? Have a cold beer". I needed no convincing! Chatting with the bar tender I used his knowledge and after a few calls found an excellent cheap and central place. Ditching my stuff I hit the streets and did the usual NY stuff - Broadway and Lower Manhattan. Including grabbing an original NY burger - which was the size of a small house.

NYC from the bridge
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As it was my first night in the big apple I did what any natural nocturnal person does and checked out the bars and clubs. Met various other travellers but I really didn't want to meet other British travellers. I was already tired of saying the same opening script over and over again (David, 25, Travelling for 5-6 months, quit job, round the world...blah blah!). So moving away from tourist central hotspot - Times Square, I searched for local NY'ers in bars. Stopping at various cocktail bars and clubs I went into one bar which had a drink called Total Death. I asked for one and the bar tender looked in almost horror.

Time Square circus
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"Hey, Im British! We can handle our drinks!!!"

That comment was probably my death call....In a country where they free pour, I can say she poured quite very freely. In fact, i saw only a dash of OJ in an already overspilling glass full of spirits! The rest of the night was much a blur - but I do remember smoking cigars in a funky house club.

Over the next few days I did more of the usual site seeing tours cruising up & downtown NY and managed to fall asleep on the Brooklyn tour.

Time Square circus
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By now it was July 4th and I met up with Richard, my travelling buddy (he had been doing family stuff). NY city itself was quiet as most people had left the city for the long weekend. In the morning we set a mission - to do the circle line boat tour around Manhattan island consuming as much alcohol as possible and turn what should be a serious tourinto a booze cruise. With help from Rich's older cousin, some of his mates and a shed load of tequila and beer - our mission was set.

We managed to jump the queue by cunningly distracting the queue attendant using Christine, who is Rich's cousin's girlfriends friend from San Fransisco. She took took it upon herself to grab this guys mic....

NYC skyline from the boat
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"Anyone from San Francisco out there make some noise!!!" [Silent crowd]

"San Francisco-o-oh..give me a whoop-whoop!!!" [predictably silent crowd]

"Uh..anyone gotta ciggy?" [tumbleweed crossed the street as a distant church bell sounds]

Turned out Christine played a sizable role in the memorable aspects of the day, including falling off a wall, tickling a defenceless child on the boat to the point whereby she could barely breathe, and receiving a public spanking. The latter took place later in the evening in a bar called Tortilla Flats, which closely resembled some thing out of Coyote Ugly. Maybe it was a lesson for claiming it was her birthday to get a free drink. (LOL) :)

British drunk tourists shouldnt be allowed to look a fool on boat tours
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As it was the 4th of July we headed to City Battery park (over looking Liberty Island), and established ourselves on a bench armed with all the ingredients for the evening events. Namely more Beer and enough cheese and meats to stock a Deli Counter.The night was filled by a firework orgy. Despite them being miles away, the fireworks filled the sky with light and smoke driftted throughout Manhattan high rises. Through the mist The Empire State is light in Red White and Blue along with many other iconic structures of the skyline. Nice...

Christine (far right, Eben's g/f) gets a public spanking
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After NY we moved onto San Francisco.