I'm off to the Guggenheim today to see some more fine art, then off to Bloomingdales to get the rest of mums cosmetic order.

I got off in Harlem as I wanted to walk through the historic south part of Harlem to the start of Central Park. The streets are wide and there is not much traffic which feels strange, and there are alot of street loiterers which sometimes makes me wonder if I've strayed into some dodgy bits, then the neighbourhood changes to beautiful brownstones, then changes again to multi towered slums with grates on all the windows and overhangs to catch the rubbish. Right until you get to Central Park, then the real estate on 5th Ave becomes very expensive.

I like this part of Central Park, there's a small lake with rocks piled with turtles, and a lively but friendly mix of people. I have a picnic lunch in the park as there's a great vegetarian falafel stand that makes a really good falafel and hommus sandwich and lemon tea, perfect to enjoy today's hot weather and blue skies.

I keep walking all the way through the park till I get to the Guggenheim. Some of the exhibit areas are off limits due to a new installation tgats not ready yet, so the entry fee is halved. I still get to see the famous standard pieces, and of the other exhibits the two that really interest me is a one year project working with schools in New York helping kids express their New York life in art - the kids did great. The other one was a prize winning exhibit of art being made from collections of memorabilia - Vietnamese artist, mostly American memorabilia, some racially un-PC, and a big focus on kitsch and absolutely fascinating.

Then onto Bloomingdales, where you lose all sense of time... And money just flows from your bank account. I got a final foundation from Lancôme and bought the offered purchase with purchase. Got mums final Clinique goodies (sadly no gift with purchase). I had a good look amongst the clothes, and picked up a nice top from DKNY (not on sale - but my favourite clothes shop here), some leggings to replace my heavily worn ones, and a very cute outfit for my soon to be arriving niece. That's it! Shopping is done, everything I set out to get others and myself has been bought, and I got most things heavily discounted and at least half of what they would cost in Australia.