The day started with our normal "jeepney" bus trip into New York from our apartment in Union City New Jersey. This small 20 seater bus system is akin to the Jeepney system in the Phillipines - not what we expected in New York. However it is a delightful and easy way to travel into the Big Apple - we get to chat to the local people, who have roots in many different cultures, The trip,is about 10 minutes and we get dropped off a block fromTimes Square. It costs $3 per person each way, you pay when you get off on the way in - and when you get on, on the way back - just to confuse the tourists.

Macy's, lays claim to the title of biggest department store in the world, I am not sure we will see every department, but we did manage the shoe department before we boarded the metro to Columbia University to meet up with Katrina, for a first hand look at the lovely grounds, and buildings . We arrived a little early, only to find a market right outside the uni gates, so filling in time was easy.

After lunch, at a student cafe near Columbia, we walked through Harlem with Katrina and a uni friend of hers. This is a real eye opener, the streets are wide and filled with grand buildings and a lot of African Americans selling all kinds of perfumes, incense, caps, tee shirts etc from tables on the pavement right outside retail shops. Music both live and from electronic devices is blaring and the vibe is very different from downtown Manhattan.

We ended our sightseeing for the day by walking through a corner of central park, and catching a bus to The Met Art gallery - onto the rooftop for the view via a few of the galleries and a good look at this magnificent building.

We got back to the flat just in time to meet and greet Terry & Rick. We chatted till the wee hours
Over a few beers and vinos and spaghetti ala Tony.
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