Day 4.
Today started with another big, fat, American-chain breakfast. This time, IHOP! Eggs, bacon, maple syrup and pancakes - the only way to eat brekkie! It was so gut busting...thankfully, we walked it off in the amazing Central Park. You all probably appreciate this already, but it is SO big! We started exploring at the reservoir, which is over 4 miles in circumference, and then wended our way past Belvedere Castle, down through the wooded Ramble, had a walk around the boating lake and that only covered about a third of the park. Platt Fields it ain't! It is a really special place, all at once calm and exciting, spacious and busy, peaceful and dynamic. Hopefully we'll have time to go back before we leave, as I could have spent a lot more time there.

We then revisited the Times Square area, to get some ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery, and spent a merry half hour eating it at Bryant Park. This was a really New York-y corner of the city - the hum of Times Square was just behind us, the Empire State Building loomed over the top of other skyscrapers ahead of us, while in this little green space old local men played pétanque and chess as the yellow cabs honked impatiently past. There's so much here to discover and explore - I'm already planning my next visit!!

After a cheeky afternoon snooze, we met up with a friend who moved here last year, and her mum. It was lovely to see them, and to have some great info from a local! We met in a bar in the Lower East Side called Antler, and then went to a delicious Jewish restaurant called Russ and Daughters. Highly recommended if you like fish! The salmon was just yummy. I am loving the food here! I have put on about 10 stone. But I DON'T CARE.

In the evening, the rain had cleared up completely, so as the night sky was clear and bright we went up the Empire State Building. It is open til 2am, and whilst it was still busier than I'd expected, it was a lot less crowded than during the day. I would recommend going up at about midnight. It was SO cool. The night time skyline was glittering and exciting. Of course, as soon as we got up there it started s***ting it down again. Andrew darted back inside like a frightened wet cat, but like Andie Macdowell in Four Weddings, I didn't notice. I took some s*** photos (have a look!) but they didn't really do it justice.

More tomorrow! Seeing a Broadway show tomorrow evening, so I can barely contain my excitement!x