Manhattan

We got our luggage at the end of day 2 but it meant we had to spend an entire day doing a lot of walking in rolled up jeans and the same t shirts and underwear as the day before. But that happens, and we're on our way again now.

So long Manhattan - what a place!
I've always liked NY but it's felt like I wanted to like it, rather than actually having a real love of the place, but that all changed this visit. It was incredible.  They get a hard time, but the people of Manhattan are funny, friendly and approachable, they just don't want to talk about the weather or the usual crap that we talk about in Britain when stuck in a lift with people.

I was walking along a street and had wandered onto a road while gazing at some buildings I'm not paying much attention to anything (it was a really quiet road), but my mind slowly filters in that a woman has shouted 'there's a car coming' casually as she walks by. She wasn't going to go out her way to let me know, she wouldn't run onto the street to push me out the way but, you know, she was happy to toss me a warning. And people talk to you on trains, or ask if you need a hand when you're looking at a map, they walk along singing, they tell you stories, rap and dance. It's great, I will definitely be back.

We cycled round Central Park, walked across Brooklyn Bridge, had terrible cheesecake, lots of bagels, pancakes with banana and bacon, hot dogs from street vendors, went up the Empire State building, checked out Grand Central Terminal (not station), gawked at Times Square during the day and night, 'celebrated' Independence Day watching the fireworks.

Good job, Manhattan.