New York

Then a miracle (not on 34th street!). Whilst stuck in traffic on who knows what street a bus pulled along side. This was a red double decker (London Style) sightseeing bus. The driver looked down on us with Rayls and her lap covered with maps and a computer. He opened his window. Rayls opened hers and the driver gave us the advice we needed. Turn left at 36th Street and keep going to the midtown tunnel you cant miss it. Rayls couldnt thank this guy enough and soon I turned into 36th. The traffic cleared and within a few minutes we came across the tunnel we were looking for.

It was still tough going but we eventually made it to JFK airport. I have to say the set up here is very good and the correct terminal and parking was easy to find.

One think we wonder about!!!!! When traffic is gridlocked, intersections are chocked, and there is nowhere to go, why do people honk their horn??????? Rayls actually saw a sign that said there was a penalty of $320 for honking your horn. Enforce that law and the authorities would be very rich.

There are no rules in NYC traffic just get there, doesn't matter from which lane you turn just do what you have to do. Amazing. Gaz was am tempted to leave the car at JFK and forget about it. However, our luggage was in the back and then there was Glen's luggage as well.

For interest sake it was $6 a car to enter the Lincoln tunnel, the midtown tunnel was $4.50. Parking at JFK is $3 for the first 30 minutes and $6 per hour after that. More tolls as we head back to the hotel.

After Glen came through Immigration/Customs we took the long way back to the hotel. Down below Brooklyn, across Staten Island and then into New Jersey. We turned right onto JFK Boulevard and seemed to be driving on it for a long time before we got close to the hotel and stumbled our way to the front door.

We checked back in, Glen went to his room and organized himself and then around 4:30pm we took the hotel shuttle bus into New York City another struggle with the traffic, especially getting into the Lincoln Tunnel, what a disaster that is. Big difference this time, Gary wasnt driving. Gaz knows it wont take him long to start complaining about traffic in Perth after he gets back but it is a breeze compared to NYC. He admires the bus drivers here, how they keep to a schedule is beyond him.

After the bus dropped us off we walked too the Empire State Building. A 15 minute line to get tickets and about 30 minutes for the elevator and up we went. 80 floors on the first elevator, then another 6 on a second elevator. The outside observation desk was very windy but the views are just amazing. Apparently you can see 25 miles, it was a little overcast but interesting to see the sights from so high p.

We spent only about 30 minutes at the top of the building too windy and crowded to stay longer.

Next was a bite to eat at a Burger King (where we seemed to be the only white people) and then onto Macys so Rayls could check out the kitchenware department and do some comparison with Myer.

By the time we got to Time Square it was dark. This is an amazing place. People everywhere and we wondered around for a couple of hours.

Finally it was back to the Port Authority Bus Terminal for the 15 minute bus drive back to the hotel.