‘Not all those that wander are lost’ – Tolkien
Not such an early start today as I didn’t get in until nearly 3 am. The Subway is really warm, no wonder some of the homeless ride it end to end through the night. Still it’s a not unrespectable 10.30am when I leave my hotel clutching my coffee, large espresso today!
Today’s plan is see the Empire State Building and walk the Brooklyn bridge while generally wandering around midtown and downtown soaking up the sights and atmosphere.
I hopped on the subway, rather than walk, as it’s about 4 miles. There was a huge queue outside to go up to the observatory on the 86th floor or the breathtaking 102nd floor open air observatory. To be honest I’ve seen so many amazing views in my travels that I’m just happy to stand next to it and lay my hand on the cool stone of its construction. I’ve visited the building itself and that’s what I wanted to do.
I also visited the Flatiron building and passed by the Trump Hotel. 
Now I am walking to the Brooklyn bridge and starting to clock up those steps again. Definitely need to burn the calories that I’m consuming with all this wonderful food.
I also popped into Macey’s for a quick look around and I had a go on the big piano, my rendition of the Moonlight Sonata wasn’t a hit. I think you have to be able to the splits for that one!
The server at the blues bar last night, told me that although the bridge is great to walk across, it doesn’t land in an interesting part of Brooklyn. For that you need to go north, so the bottom line is to walk across the bridge and walk back again enjoying the views as you do.
There are a lot of people doing the same thing and there are vendors every so often selling pictures, keys rings, hats and other general tat. One guy is sitting on his own with a little table piled high with just one book, so I assume it is his own publication. The title of this magnum opus? ‘How to roll the perfect joint’.
Next up was Chinatown, sadly I was very underwhelmed. I expected bustling narrow alleys and markets akin to the Hutongs in Beijing, but it wasn’t like that at all. I stopped for some steamed dumplings which were great. 
There was a busker outside playing an electric guitar, what was amazing was that the lead solos were chinese style music. How on earth do you get authentic Chinese music out of an electric guitar!
I then walked into little Italy, but there is not all that much there anymore. Some nice restaurants, but the main enclave is, I believe, in the Bronx these days.
There are a lot of Police around, but they mostly appear to be there to help, answer questions and make you feel safe. It’s the same in the shops, there is always someone welcoming you in to the store and to help. This, I feel, is gone from Europe. In the race to maximise profits every ounce of help and service has been done away with. Here in the States they have clearly decided that service and visibility are an integral part of a company or public service and not something to be thrown away lightly.
I passed by the NBC studios and I had dinner at a local dive bar, which wasn’t a dive at all. I went for Mike and Adam’s grilled chicken sandwich. One half of the creative duo, Adam, was actually sitting at the bar. I felt I had better make sure to eat it all up, which was no mean feat given the size of it.
I then took thing upmarket and went to a snazzy cocktail bar called Pekarana, in the best of my 4 outfits. 
They have a private hire lounge area downstairs and also do some Alice in Wonderland tea parties, in a special setting with all the tea things laid out and characters from the book. but the bar itself is lovely. It’s owned by an Aussie and the ultra cool barman, Jay, is great with the banter and a genius with cocktails.
Clearly there is a lot more than a grain of truth contained in the New York bar scene from Love Actually with my namesake. The women here really do love an English accent…