Hey there, how y'all doin??
Well, I think I've pretty well done Manhatten! Just about recovered now from jet lag. I do think the grid system they have for the streets is fantastic. Totally unlike me, I always had a pretty good idea of where I was. And I liked the really long straight streets, so that dispite the huge buildings all around you don't get that closed in feeling that you get in most UK cities, as there is always a long view.
Didn't do Macys or Bloomingdales, reasoning that there was no point in tempting myself to buy things I can't afford. Did pick up a few bargains in more down market shops.
Two meals in China Town were very disappointing.....must just have been unlucky, I suppose. Had a lovely Korean lunch on the last day, good value and loads of variety. Never did find the cheese cake, and only got to try pizza at the airport so probably not the best place for quality, but over all I found the food good.
Did get to the top of the Rock, and views were clear and very impressive. Saw ice skating in Central park. Went to Grand Central station, which I really liked....certainly puts any train station I've been in before to shame. Did ground zero and the memorial center there.
I was surprised at how slim New Yorker's are (dispite the size of the portions); I would say you see more obviously overweight people on the streets of Birmingham, which was a shame, as I was looking forward to seeming positively emaciated beside massively overweight Americans!!
Cosmetic ingredients arrived at hotel as planned, and according to notice in airport on return, I could have bought nearly 3 times as much without having to pay tax/ duty.....next time!
Must have walked about 10 - 15 miles a day, never did get a bus, and only one taxi.
I hate the tipping culture, and found the pushyness for tips and trying to sell stuff vaguly reminiscent of 3rd world countries I have been in, which was a bit odd.
Glad I saw it, and it has some great architecture, but unlike my normal reaction when on holiday, I didn't think for a moment that I would like to live there. And I certainly wouldn't like to be poor there........although I must say that homeless people being allowed to use shopping trolleys seems like a good idea. You'ld need a shopping trolley full of sleeping bags to survive a night on the streets in those temperatures.
