downtown

Earlier, in my sleepy haze I forgot to say that I am sleeping on THE most comfortable bed in THE world. My 12-hour sleep last night is a testament to that. I did wake up a few times though. Once, as it’s amazing how much traffic and sirens that one can hear 13 floors up. Plus, I am sleeping next to the computer that actually powers the Tardis and it kicks off a hell of a racket…. it has it’s own TV!!! TH was embarrassed to tell me it only has 6 channels plus a couple of Spanish channels. He thought 3 TVs with 250 channels would be overdoing it. I agree and remain incredibly impressed with his boffin skills. He spoke Japanese to us the other night. Wow. I also woke up with a parched mouth but we can glaze over that……..



Today Shark suggested that we do our ferry ride. I had suggested the Staten Island route as a visitor’s option, which I had done 11 years ago, but as I came determined to live a New York life for a week, I am very open to suggestions from a real New Yorker and the Shark counting as that now is brilliant. The best thing ever in fact. So, we went to Liberty and Ellis Island instead. This involved a ride on the subway, which passed unremarkably. No one was wearing a Walkman or an I-pod and no one was playing any MP3s through their mobile phones and there was no unnecessary announcements on the platforms either. Bliss. Actually leaving the Island though was quite an ordeal. The queue was huge and involved listening to a steel drum version of many popular classics: My Way, New York New York, London Bridge is Falling Down, plus numerous other numbers and a security procedure worthy of any good Airport. I volunteered the knowledge that I was carrying a miniature manicure Swiss Army knife and I was allowed through the security system that allowed no photos or indeed anything that might pass as entertainment for a good 20 minutes. I don’t think any more visitors this year will be accompanying the Shark anywhere on a ferry anytime soon. It was worth it simply to huddle like penguins, remembering of course that they have no arms. The winds were glacial and we were frozen to the bone. I am a tourist so I took several shaky pictures before my batteries ran out, which was all too soon. By the by we discovered that it is quite the trend for young Japanese girls to wear winkle picker dolly shoes a size too big so that they slip up and down with every step. Not at all annoying.

By the time we hit the shore again the Shark had come up with a wonderful plan which involved hitting her SECOND favourite bar Live Bait while we warmed up with spirits and waited for TH who was bunking off work early on my account. Due to our struggling immune systems the drinks went to our head quite quickly. We were in high spirits before his surprise early entry and quite frankly the rest of the evening passed in a whirlwind, although I can remember every minute of it. Shark cooked a lovely curry, TH did the rice and I did nothing apart from read out updated blogs (oh yes we are watching). They are in bed now, which is where I am going now, but I cannot go to bed without rejoicing lyrically in what a wonderful host and hostess that they are. Oh, and wonderful cooks too.