Starting off

Right, it's taken a while to do any blogging because apparently internet cafes are quite a rare thing in New York. Not surprising I suppose, it's not like it's a huge magnet for foreign tourists or anything.

Anyway, after a typically petrifying flight from Heathrow (the valium prescribed to calm my nerves had no effect) I arrived in New York early enough to dump my stuff at the hostel and venture out in to the city. By the evening I found myself in Battery Park at the south of the island, and here I had a conversation with a man who was deluded enough to not only believe that he was the King of the Jews, but that I should join the military for the purpose of influencing Great Britain's great movers and shakers, like Prince Charles. I've made him sound completely mental, but he was nice enough really and I found the whole thing amusing for my first night. After we parted ways I found a nearby outside bar with a jazz band playing, got myself a pint and watched the sunset over Jersey City and the Atlantic.

On day two, after a short stroll through Central Park I got the subway down to Coney Island in Brooklyn, which has a beach and is apparently where the hotdog was invented. Coney Island is sort of comparable to Brighton in that it's eccentric and quirky. However, despite the heat (about 26c), summer is officially over in America, and the area was out of season. Still, I had a good look round and it was great to break away from the typical spots in Manhattan. In the evening I sat just below Manhattan Bridge on the Brooklyn side, joining some other tourists as we watched the skyline light up as night drew in.

Yesterday I went to the American Museum of Natural History, which took up a few hours, including the impressive planetarium. After I left I realised I was wearing a t-shirt with the Moon on it, and suddenly became aware that I must've looked like some massive space-loving geek. I tried to pretend not to care. Later on, I grabbed some food in Greenwich Village, which has great heritage with the beat movement of the 40s and 50s and is a student hotspot due to it's location near the University. However, I was after a flavour of something more bohemium, so I headed to the East Village, where I stumbled across a bar that sold good European beers (including Old Speckled Hen!). I got chatting to a couple of guys at the bar, and we finished the night at a place called The Box, and what was apparently Charlize Theron's private party for the launch of her new  film or something. Bill Murray was sitting in the booth next to us. I felt a little out of place - still wearing my Moon t-shirt while in the company of young professionals and with Dr. Venkman just feet away from me - but it was free to get in, it was an open bar and everyone really felt pretty welcoming. So yeah, pretty good night.

I spent most of today trying to find an internet cafe. Done it! But I'm sorry if it's a bit rushed. It's expensive. Oh and I'll post pictures later.