Tuesday 18 August

We get up and head into the city. The train in is so so full. It's crushed standing room. Have never seen them this full. Another train wasn't going, so it was like two trains full. Plus pick ups along the way. It's a relief to get off. It's hot enough without being crushed up against hot ppl. We spend the day visiting the city parks and the library. The parks are very popular spots. At the first park, Washington square park, there is a stall advertising vouchers for home cleaning. $19 for 2 hours. They are approached by a park ranger and obviously asked about permits to be there. The girl looks through her phone, but in the end move across the street. There are a few homeless men arguing with police on bikes, and then further back up comes. They give the man a slip of paper after long discussions. I wonder what good it will do. The man doesn't seem quite right. There is another homeless lady keeping her head down trying to avoid attention. Lots of ppl taking photos of the archway. The next park is union square. Most of the seats are taken. On a seat near us there is a black lady with two white twins. I wonder if she is their nanny. It's very hot and the air seems to be pressing down in us from the sun.
I liked Maddison square garden the most. It has unique pagoda's and a fountain where birds splash. We get lunch of street food falafels. After lunch we buy drinks and walk to the library. It's huge and it's architecture amazing. And free public toilets. We head back to our motel via the supermarket for salsa and washing liquid pods. After a shower I put on washing. Once it's done we pack while chatting to mum on viber.