Today we ventured out into the world after spending Sunday lazing around & recovering from Karen's 50th Birthday Party which actually finished at 4am Sunday morning. People do not sleep in New York - the street & some restaurants & bars were still a hive of activity when we were walking home.

Karen had to go to work at the Smithsonian National Museum of American Indians, so her friend Jill (who is also from Australia & here on holiday & familiar with New York) took us on a sightseeing tour of New York.

We started at Astor Place & caught the subway to 86th street, past the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, then went into Central Park on the Eastside. Then it started to rain - very heavily - we made it to the Boathouse in Central Park, a beautiful restaurant & take away shop located in the grounds. Central Park is beautiful - such a change from all the high risers.

Then, when the rain stopped & we had had something to eat, we went to the West side of Central park & past the Dakota building where Yoko Lennon still lives & John Lennon was shot in front of.

Then walked down the west side past one of the Trump buildings - the buildings here are so tall it is impossible to get them into your camera shot. Walked down Broadway & Times Square (see photo). Took photos of Empire State Building & Chrysler Building. Bought some great pictures of New York & very cheap from the street vendors. Saw the Ed Sullivan theatre then went to Grand Central Station. What an amazing building - just beautiful & with chandeliers.

That covered some of Uptown & Midtown. Next we caught the sub-way & went Downtown.

Went onto the Brooklyn Bridge & walked part of the way. Took more photos (I am going to have another go at downloading later - was sick yesterday). Went to City Hall Park, saw Empire State Building closer, saw Manhattan Bridge, then St Paul's Church.

St Paul's Church holds great significance. This is where all the support staff & emergency services used as a home base when the Twin Towers collapsed. It is right next door & is still standing. It is the oldest church in New York & George Washington went to church here. Very sad but an honour to go & see & pay tribute to all the people who did not survive.

Ground Zero - almost 7 years later - is being rebuilt, so there is a big meshed fence around most of it. There is a viewing area & because there is a subway under the building site, will take a while for the new buildings to be completed.

Then went to Battery Point & saw Staten Island, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty. Rick wasn't well today & had a lie down on a park bench. Some people took his photo, I said "he is not a homeless man, just not well". What I should have said was, "slip him a fiver, he is homeless!".

After a rest we ventured over to the Smithsonian National Museum of American Indians to see some live entertainment that Karen had helped organise called "La Casita".

Then back on the subway & 2nd Avenue. Met a lovely Irish guy on the way, plus the American's are always so helpful & love to talk to you.

Gotta go - a bird s*** in my hair today & so I need to wash it. This is the 2nd time this has happened, once in LA & now once in NY. Hope it means "good luck".