New York, New York

Just one good gust of wind...
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With Customs successfully cleared (including fingerprinting and iris scan) we arrived at New York's JFK airport to a bit of relative luxury courtesy of Kieren's Mom and Dad (Helen and Ken).  They thought the Pennsylvania Hotel was a bit rough around the edges - we thought it was nice to have a toilet with a seat which you could flush toilet paper down.  New York matches many of its stereotypes.  You end up with neck ache from gawping at the skyscrapers that tower above.  The yellow taxis swarm around you constantly honking their horns and there is always a siren going off in the distance.  What surprised us, given our depth of knowledge of American culture weaned from the Jerry Springer show, was that New Yorkers are - on the whole - dead friendly, helpful and nowhere near as brash as we'd expected.

Bloody tourists!
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On our first day we had some sorting out to do so Charlotte, figuring that she was in an English speaking country, thought a haircut was overdue.  The Russian hairdresser she eventually found quickly established that she was travelling with Kieren for a year.  Two minutes later a mullet haired freak popped his head in through the door and asked where in the neighbourhood he could get his hair cut.  It took longer than expected to establish that, as the place he was in was in fact a hairdressers, he could indeed have his haircut there!  Sitting together like two peas in a pod, the freak soon guessed that Charlotte was from England and also not too fussy over who she spoke to.  The Russian quickly established on Charlotte's behalf that she was here working with her newly wed husband.  When he asked Charlotte what she did for a living she didn't miss a beat and told him that she was working for the government but couldn't divulge the secret nature of her work.  She did however state that "If you knew why I was here you'd be glad I was in your country".  Clearly shaken, the freak turned the conversation to something he was more familiar with - education.  Apparently 'Mullet Boy' was on his way to Cambridge University soon where, as we all know 'they give each student a piece of the robe that Crist was crucified in'.  This is the first of many oddballs we've met in New York.

No comment.
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Early in our trip we strolled around Central Park - a massive green expanse in the heart of the city complete with BMX riders, renditions of Shakespeare, yoga sessions and trapeze artists.  One particular highlight was a breakdance troupe (honestly) called 'the Afrobats'.  They'd managed to weave some edgy comedy into their dance act ('Black people don't have to stand at the back no more').  Now if only they could think of another name...

Time Square is the wall of neon light you'd expect to see.  Even the Police get in on the act.  The sign on the Police Station is in six foot tall glowing letters and the Police themselves walk around wearing 'diamond' encrusted sunglasses (see photos).  The Toys R Us store on Time Square is so big it has a huge (but not as big as Birmingham's) ferris wheel inside it.

Even the Police are bling in Time Square.
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We took a walk over Brooklyn Bridge to take in some great views of the New York skyline however these views were bettered by the trip on the (free) Staten Island Ferry.  On the way out you pass within a hundred yards or so of the Statue of Liberty.  On the way back you have unbeatable views of the Manhattan skyline (minus the Twin Towers).

The site of the World Trade Centre is a big hole in the ground - nothing more.  I don't know what else we expected to be honest - a fairground ride perhaps?

Sunset at Manhattan
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On the way back we stumbled across the filming of Spiderman 3 and one particular scene that might just have us in the background.  Charlotte's agreed to wave her fee in lieu of future royalties and has since been very much looking forward to getting to LA for some reason.

On Tuesday it was nice e to return to a bit of normality so Charlotte and Helen went shopping and Kieren and Ken went to the pub to watch the football.  It won't surprise many to learn that after a 'few drinks' Kieren wandered into the nearest fast food establishment and, after a brief discussion, established that the American term for a kebab is a 'gyro' (and probably with good reason).  Even less of a surprise was that half the meal ended up on his lap, the other half was split between the side of his face, his stomach and the New York sidewalk.

Time Square at night
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A trip to the Empire State Building later and our time in NYC has come to an end.  It's truly a unique place but we can't help feel that we've seen most of it before (probably in a movie).  Even if you haven't been here you'll have seen the lights in Time Square, the New York skyline and Central Park.  Don't get us wrong - it's been really enjoyable (particularly catching up with Kieren's Mom and Dad) - however a week has been long enough and we're ready to move onto Toronto where we're joined by Neil (from Brum) and Sarah (from Toronto).