Today I decided to use two more of the passes from my 'New York City Pass' so I went to the Museum of Modern Art and then to the Empire State Building.

MOMA had some great pieces, and so many of those very famous pieces that you have always wanted to see. Monet Waterlilies and Agapanthas, Jackson Pollock, Warhol, Matisse and Van Gogh. So it was great. There were a couple of great pieces by some American artists as well.

The Museum building in itself is amazing. Has this massive 6 story atrium with glass and painted all white. It is a massive space. The sculpture garden is also really pretty. One of the things that is different is that the MOMA does not sit in a gothic building standing alone near a park like many of the others I have seen. This one is right in the middle of the city, bordering office buildings and apartment buildings just off 5th avenue. So the use of space is great.

However, the Museum was totally packed with tourists and school groups which does take away from the experience quite a bit. Particularly when you are trying to admire a painting but your view is obstructed by Asian tourists posing for photos in front of the paintings. I like that you are able to take photos of the works, the posing in front of them is a little odd, and, quite irritating to others.....

After spending a good 1/2 hour wandering around the museum shop I headed back to 5th Avenue for a 20 block stroll down to the Empire State Building. Getting from the ground floor of the building up to the 86th is a journey in itself. I have never negotiated so many roped lines in my life. And you were lead on a kind of magical mystery tour down corridors and inevitable straight in to souvenir shops or spots to get your photo taken in front of blue screens (which are later photo shopped to include the view). So it took quite a bit of time to make it from getting the ticket actually up to the top.

With my City Pass I did get a complimentary audio phone. The commentary provided was, well, odd. Was the voice of an older New Yorker from an Italian immigrant neighbourhood. He pointed out one or two landmarks but otherwise just prattled on about the New York experience which is all well and good but I actually would have preferred to have a few more landmarks or things pointed out.

It was probably not the best day to be up there though. The weather was quite overcast I actually could not see very far at all - could not even see Harlem! But it was great to see the City from a different angle.

So that was my day.

At the moment as well as trying to get out and get some fresh air I am also trying to study for an exam which I have to do over this weekend and job hunting. Tough trying to juggle it all.

Weather seems to be getting more mild - perhaps Punxsutawney Phil was wrong after all!

Kath xx