New York... Not quite what we were hoping it would be unfortunatley (and flippin' FREEZIN').... I think we had it all so hyped up in our heads that we were a bit disappointed. It was really really busy because it was Easter so we had problems finding places to stay and had to move about a lot. First night we stayed in a dodgy place near central park, Tara went down stairs in the middle of the night to find drugs and fights going on everywhere and riots outside, so we promptly left the next morning and went to Stamford to stay with Andy's relatives; Chris and Tim were kind enough to put us up and then we visited Pat and Mary, Tommy, Erin and Madison and finally Sean and Renee with little Lennon. Back in Manhattan, Soph came to visit!! - was great to see a friendly face!!! We had fun and introduced her to the backpacking life style - which she is now convinced is definatley not for her; check out the photo with the backpack in situ (!) We did all the sights....Went to Wall Street, Ground Zero, Liberty Island, (this day it pissed it down and was very cold and foggy!!) Empire State Building by night (after a 2 hr queue), Central Park Tour - which was great but it was cold so not much going on - would be great to go back in the summer to see all the hussle and bussel. Went to FAO Swartz and played on the big piano out of the movie BIG; (with Tom Hanks)!! We saw the Plaza, Radio City Music Hall ( Annie), Trump Towers, Chrysler Building, Bloomy's, Macy's etc etc. -You can catergorically say our feet hurt by the end of the week! Went on the Manhattan T.V / Movie Tour - saw the Friends Building (actually really small - and Ross' appartment where the Ugly naked Guy lives is not opposite!) Ghost busters buildings, Seinfeld sights (inc. The Soup Nazi - he is a real person!!)....blah blah blah.. loads of them - see the piccies. Tara got 'Freestyle Rapped at' about her slippers - on the Subway - Bo Selecta'! Obviously went out drinking quite a bit (!) Tara and Andy devised a plan when out drinking in a Brazilian bar one evening (you can imagine how hot the barmaids were!?!) that they were brother and sister. However, Andy stuffed it up by saying that they were both 27 - but pulled it back at the last minute by saying that they were both twins (but not identical!) What a Mupp. However, worked quite well, will be using that one again. On the last day we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge back towards Manhattan and it does look just like the picture on the postcard. I think this is when it hit most of us about what we are actually doing and that we are away for a whole year! Ate Loads, didnt sleep much... think we would all like to go back again and have another go at New York in better weather. Phrase of the week: We're Twins - but not identical! (No s*** Sherlock). Next onto Toronto...