Wow - I love New York! This place is amasing! Sorry this is only my first post but its been a manic past few days. I ll talk you through them.

Monday 20th - After landing at JFK we caught a cab up to our hostel - 45th street 5th avenue (it was between 5th and 6th avenue). We chucked our bags in and headed straight out - like children with new toys at Christmas. 30 seconds down the road we were hit by Broadway, right through Times Square! I think we all stopped in our tracks and were simply amased by the the sheer size of everything (i hope my pictures do the place justice). After strolling around Times Square we headed for some food. We found a typical American diner to eat in - it was nice, but i wont bore you with all that sort of stuff, not today. Rockafella's was the first main attraction on the cards. After a few lifts and flights of stairs we got to the top (which i think is one of the biggest buildings in New York, with approx 90 floors). The view was breathtaking - there we stood overlooking the whole of New York with the Empire State building right in front of us! I cant describe in words how i felt - just wow.

Tuesday 21st November - it was an early start, getting the subway from Times Sqare to downtown Manhattan. We got off and headed for Wall Street and the financial district. In fairness i was not all that impressed although nice to say i have been and seen it. Next was "Ground Zero". This on the other hand was brilliant. It was moving to stand and see where these two great buildings (bigger than the ones towering over us nearby) had collapsed and affected so many lives over the world. There was a real strange vibe around the place. After spending 20 minutes or so taking photos and reading the time line we headed to The Staue Of Liberty. That was also good to see and walk around although not as exciting and breath taking as other places. That eveing we opted to go up the Empire State Building. If Rockafella's was good this beat it hands down (not taking anything away from Rockafella's). It was just so incredible looking over such a beautiful city at such a height!

Wednesday 22nd - this was our last day and we had not been to Central Park so we made our way up for a walk around. It was very sureal to think there was such a quiet tranquil place so close to the hustle and bustle of Broadway which was only 5 minutes away. Anyway we had a walk around - found the ice rink and it was nice not to be caught up in all the New York city life (which is lived at such a frantic pace). After this we had a few hours to burn so we thought it Macey's department store was worth a visit, although none of us really had the money to buy anything so that was a quiet trip. That evening i opted to pop down to Madison Square Garden. Nobody else fancied it so it gave me a bit of "Tim" time. It took about 20 minutes to walk - i got there and was disappointed to be fair (then i realised i was round the back). Round the front i went and into the lobby i strolled. It was the National College Basketball semi finals. I got chatting to some random guy who subsequently gave me a free ticket for the game. So there i was sat in Madison Square Garden watching basketball - result! I only stayed for one of the two semi finals because i was so tired!

This has been a crazy few days but defo not a forgetable few days. I ll try to get the pictures on soon but this computer is bottling (not conforming we me if you dont use the lingo).

Hope all are well - and keep you updated again soon. In San Francisco now writing this