day six, August 12, New York

I think that I shall never see
A thing as lovely as a tree
Until some bastard chopped them all down - Spike Milligan

In comparison with Boston's trees and green space, New York is all buildings and roads. That's impressive of course, in a different way. But you do miss the greenery.

Lots of walking today. About three hours of it and the feet are a bit sore though I'm not tired otherwise. I started in jandals, but it was actually raining when I went outside today and has rained on and off all day so had to change footwear. It's humid here but not exactly hot. Actually the coolish wind reminds me a bit of a Wellington summer!

Started doing a long walk around the area to try and get my bearings. I am essentially in the heart of Broadway. Times Square is a few blocks away and David Letterman's theatre literally around the corner. I would have got tickets but he's on hiatus. Still I'm also around the corner from all the big shows. Al Pacinmo in The Merchant of Venice looks enticing. Several big musicals around too, including such names as Sean Hayes and Bebe Neuwirth. I would probably try to get tickets to something tonight, but have decided to bathe the feet instead and try again tomorrow.

Spent part of the day with my RNZ colleague Duncan Wilson who is studying here. We went on a cruise around the Hudson River seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero among other things. It is 369 steps to the top of the Statue so I may have to give that a miss. All very impressive though. Duncan has yet to start his course in Journalism, but has been on an induction - in Nashville! And is off to Minneapolis tomorrow. He was very kind as always.

I am also in the heart of the media hub that is New York. The big TV networks are all nearby. My Mum will be pleased to know that the Fox News Channel is just a block away. I may get up early and wave through the glass at the Fox and Friends as I know that will please Mum, a fan of that breakfast show.

Hotel is huge, and - I have a bath. I hate showers and the previous hotel had only a shower. It was though the first shower I have been in a hotel that worked properly. Normally hotel showers are hard to get the right temperature in, so you keep jumping in and out of the water as the temperature changes. And they're positioned oddly. I am shorter in height than average but in Hobart, the hotel's shower head was positioned for a dwarf. And then at the end... they drip. But the Boston one worked well. Having said all that, here the bathwater all comes out of one tap and is hard to get the temperature right for! Most annoying! Is there anyone who wants a lukewarm bath? So why have that? I don't get it.

The thing I notice so far about New Yorkers is their aggression. They drive aggressively, they shout on mobile phones aggressively, they smoke aggressively - no furtive puffs as is the way in New Zealand these days. And they swear aggressively. They know how to use the F-word to such good effect that it becomes a pleasure to listen to. Back home, I remember we had a persistent complainer who wanted Sean reprimanded after he asked someone if they were pissed off. "My seven-year-old boy was listening", he bemoaned. I hope he doesn't bring the boy to New York...