ON TO BOSTON

hi everyone, you all been waiting on my next update, yeah i bet!! well ive been here since wednesday and its now sunday. been a good couple of days but im looking forward to moving on....and to resting my legs! ive been walking about 10 hours a day and im legs dont know whats hit them! or my feet, huge blisters! :-) Well ive seen and done loads of stuff, ill try remember them so i can tell you.
First place i went was central park, its a lovely big park , no wonder new yorkers love it. nice place to have a stroll, you could sit all day, its a nice atmosphere, families having picnics and stuff. all that chaos aswell just outside. Then i went to the Crysler Building, which is a beautiful building, just a pity you are only allowed into the lobby. Not sure why, maybe security. the lobby is still pretty to look at though, all marble and murals.
Walked down 5th avenue which was fun looking in all the shop windows and not being able to buy anything :-) Never spotted any celebrities either which was dull, maybe i just didnt notice them behind the shades...and their dogs. Everyone has a dog and they are all small, havent since a medium size dog anywhere yet. Its funny seeing them walking the dogs in Central Park. Walking them, jogging them, pushing them in prams, walking them 10 at a time!! Seriously....
On 5th avenue i went into the Trump Tower aswell, which again, was closed upstairs so i couldnt get up to the outdoor garden but what a lobby that has. Huge waterfall right down the middle of it, over 5 stories i think.
The subway has been fun, ive been back and forth till im dizzy cos i keep getting on the wrong lines!! Its pretty straightforward once you get used to it and i definately couldnt get about without it!! Its too hot to walk all that distance in the afternoon heat, and its nice and cool down there for a wee breather.

Next day, Fri 22nd, i made straight for the Empire State Building and am i glad i went early, queues over an hour time i left. Its so breathtaking up there, its something else seeing over the whole of manhattan and the surrounding areas. The weather was great when i was up and apparently you could see for 20 miles. Also you go from 1st floor to 80th floor in about 20 seconds, i counted! Then another lift to the 86th floor which is where you get out. For more money you can go to 102nd or something like that but 86 was high enough for photos :-) my ears were popping!!
Went to Macys Department Store, largest in the world apparently, and a look around inside, trying to think of something i needed, but no, couldnt think of anything , so didnt hang about, i get bored in shops.
Took the Staten Island Ferry across the way and back, spectacular views and all for free. Now i know why they call the top deck, the Hurricane Deck!! I couldnt feel my upper body the time i got off!!

Sat 23rd- - Up at 6.30 this morn, still getting used to the time difference. Wanted to head out early to get up to The Bronx as was visitng the zoo today. Ended up there the whole day. Got the subway and didnt realise how far it is to get up there. The subway ride was interesting :-) I had to walk for 3 blocks when i got off to get to the zoo and it really is like it is in the movies :-) Lots of graffitti and guys hanging about street corners with ghettoblasters, but then it was Saturday so im convinced they're just hanging cos its the weekend..... I got a few stares but sure they were just checkin out my new Gucci sunglasses that Big Raymy bought me!! The zoo was great, seen lots of animals ahvent seen before..... polar bear, bengal tiger, anaconda, snow leapord, flamingos and loads of other weird ones that i cant mind the name of. Took lots of photos of the gorillas, they were so cute. I usually feel rotten when i leave zoos cos the animals r locked up, but this one doesnt feel like that. The animals have huge wide open parks to roam about in.

The crazy woman in the bed below me, im convinced she is, gave me into trouble for eating a croissant in the room. huh! shes been staying in the hostel for months and says she has to leave every 26days for 2 days due to regulations and then she comes back. She is trying to make it as a producer and cant afford to live in new york that is why she stays here. She goes to college she says, even though she went today and it is Sunday!! she says this is normal. I dont think she is!! She says it isnt unusual for professionals to stay at hostels, that there is a guy from NBC staying here, but that he isnt taking it very well cos he starts drinking at 6am but hey most of the guys in the mens dorm do that!! Maybe ill get another instalment before i leave tomorrow.....

Sun 24th - today i went to the World Trade Cente site, it was so sad , there were people in the visitors centre crying when i was there. They have all the missing posters up in the centre that got posted at the time and artifacts from the wreckage - teddies, mobiles, keys, shoes...it really is heartbreaking. They show films and messages of voice recordings. The new building thats gonna replace them though is really going to be something!! Would like to come back some day to visit that.
I went to Times Square which is just crazy!!! Your senses just go into over-drive. SOO much going, and you cant even stop to take it all in cos there are about 40,000 people wanting to bang into you or run you over!!
Walked over the Brooklyn Bridge, asked some-one to take a photo of me with Manhattan in the background. Thought id try and get in at least 1!! Its some walk over there, Brooklyn was nice, a welcome change from Downtown. At least i could cross the road without someone trying to run me over! Strolled about Brooklyn Heights, which was quite posh. Went in for lunchto a nice Italians and had a wee glass of vino and a big bowl of Linguine Carbonara for only $10.30. couldnt believe it, especially as i had a linen napkin!! :-) The two ladies at the next table were wearing big ascot hats and were ever so ever.... Who knows what they thought of me in my shorts and t-shirt ( twice worn) and my fresh sunburn :-)

Well that is me for now, off to Boston tomorrow so ill update again in a few days

Missing you all
Gill x x x x x

ps girl in toilet last night, attending a function at the hostel

:- excuse me can you tell me what this place is?
Me:- do you mean the building? its a hostel
girl:- oh im sorry ma'am you dont speak english!

i repeated myself and she said - oh you're german!!
You see what im up against here!! English girl staying in my dorm thought i was irish, what chance have i got :-) x x x x x xx x x

---

---