NEW YORK

Even flying into this place was amazing. Got through customs, bag collection and immigration in less than 30 mins, this place rocks.  As soon as you leave the airport you see how everything is so big, their cars are MASSIVE!!!  The drive to my hostel in Uptown Manhattan was Awesome, drove past some recognisable sites. I was so excited to be here and i must have looked like a right tool just staring at everything with my big mouth wide open :) couldn't wait to throw my bags in my room and take off to explore. I started in Central Park, man that place is HUGE. I started at 106th St and walked to the end which is 59th Street. It took me 2 hours. It was amazing. Now for Times Square, u see this place way before your even there, it's massive and so bright. I have no idea how I didn't fall over or bump into people because I was walking around looking up everywhere. I ended up walking round for about 5 hours then booked in for a Blue Bus Tour. $54 and I got a tour of Uptown, Downtown, (these both hop on hop off) Night Tour, Tour of Brooklyn and a cruise - awesome value. I jumped on my first tour and that was the Downtown one. Man this place just comes alive at night, it never sleeps. We went downtown to Wall St, Ground Zero, SOHO, NOHOk, China Town, Empire State Bldg, Chrysler Bldg, saw apartments of the likes of Speilberg, McEnroe, Tiger Woods,  Chris Martin & Gwenyth, Tyra Banks, beyond & Jay Z, Dakota Fanning, John Mayer and so many more. Didn't see anyone famous tho. Took lots of pix and got back to Times Sq about 9ish. Walked around for a bit more then started walking back to my room. Got back just before midnight. A long day starting with a long flight from London but man it was an awesome day.  Day 2 was going to be a day of Tours. Started at 96th Street and the Uptown tour. This went down as far as Times Sq then  up past where Captain Sully landed the plane in the Hudson River in 2009 then all the way up to Jazz City AKA Harlem. Saw the Dakota which is where John Lennon was shot. Other famous people's apartments like Sting, Samuel L Jackson, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Al Pacino and of course Madonna. :( no Madonna sightings!! My head wash all filled with everything that I had seen the last 2 days, it was crazy. After this tour I took the other tour to Battery Garden to catch the Staten Island Ferry across and past the Statue of Liberty. I didn't wanna get off and go up I just wanted to look from the water. The ride out there was spectacular when u looked back towards Manhattan and saw the skyline, amazing. Just as awesome was the Statue of Liberty. Pretty amazing.  I am definitely well n truly in Love with New York City. Decided to take the night time tour. This one pretty much goes to all the major spots in NYC plus over to Brooklyn. The guide was cool, typical American tho, arrogant, laughed at all his stupid jokes, loud as, i mean the world had to heat him and everything he had to say not just our bus but all in all he was cool. It was good driving round and seeing things again but this time at night and Brooklyn looked pretty cool. Walked back to my room through Central Park and got back about 12. Day 3 = early start, moving to Downtown Manhattan today in the Financial District. I was gonna do the whole taxi thing but though I would walk a little ways cause it was such a beautiful day, I packed my little bag into my big bag and off I set. It was so hot and I was enjoying my music and the sights before I even realized that I had walked from 106th St to 14th Street with my big bag in toe. It was a long way and took about 1 1/2 hours. I had had enough though and hailed a cab to take me the rest. My new pad is pretty cool. Once again threw my bags down and took off for Battery Park and time to take my Water Taxi tour. This was awesome, went all the way upto the Brooklyn Bridge, past Liberty and Ellis Island, Uptown 1/2 way up the Hudson past the infamous landing then back again. I could not have asked for a better day. Day 4 was a day to start my shopping and shopping I did, took the Metro to Times Square and just went from there. I shopped and shopped saw so many cool things. Still have my fetish for shoes. Got back and had a bit if dinner with Sophie, an English girl I met. We then decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. It was drizzly but so warm. That was nice, bit foggy tho but still good. Next day was my last day to do anything as I was leaving early so what else to do but shop! After all I am in NYC!!!! Yes more shoes, clothes, it was ridiculous.  I've only been in America 5 days and I've filled both my suit cases to the max - dam!!!!  Sophie is staying in NY for 9 weeks so shes been busy finding a more permanent place to stay. She had a viewing at 8pm so I offered to go with her if she wanted a friend. That as good to, nice pad, nice guy. It was close to Times Sq so we walked back there, had a look around and went into Wonkas :) came out and who do we see????? Snoop Dog & Pharrell.  Well we don't really know but man they were doubles. Complete with entourage. We didn't care if they were or they weren't it was still fun. A good way to finish up my NEW YORK adventure. To sum it up I absolutely LOVE New York and am definitely coming back here and definitely for a lot longer than 5 nights. Im sitting here at Newark airport a little sad I didn't have longer here to explore but excited also for Miami and meeting Ami James :) Till My Miami adventure is over - see ya xxx