After booking the trip early September 2006, all of a sudden it was 9th February 2007, and we were due to fly off to the US of A the next morning at 8.30am.  Were we worried by the sudden dumping of snow on the UK?

Of course we bloody were!  After hearing about various delays only days before due to flurries of snow and bad weather, visions of being stuck in Birmingham airport for hours with only Starbucks and my DS to keep me busy were not enticing.  Well the DS bit would have been cool as it’s not often I get chance to sit and play it for a good while.

There was no need to fret as all went well.  After 8 hours and a few minutes, with a healthy dose of Digital Fortress by Dan Brown to keep my mind off the boredom along the way and Gridiron Gang starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, we land in Newark International Airport, New Jersey.  The cool thing was, everything was known to us as we’d been there only a year and a half previous, but it still un-nerves me slightly seeing each security officer walking around with a 9mm pistol strapped to their hip.

So we do the security checks, claim our luggage and head off to the hotel on 49th Street, just off 7th Avenue.  And oh my god what a cool moment arriving there was!

The cases got virtually chucked in the room, and after a quick change of clothes we were out in Manhatten again.  Imagine this.  Walk out your hotel, walk left about 60 yards, turn to your left and there is central Times Square staring right back at you in all it’s neon bathed glory.  The beating heart of Broadway itself, with a throng of people from early in the morning till way into the night.  The place positively glows even in the bright midday sunshine.

Once we got over that initial ‘This is so fucking cool!!’ mentality, the desire for sustenance took over.  Airplane lunches are ok, but I tend not to eat much of them after a somewhat dodgy experience on a flight back from Paris a while ago.  Let’s just say I have never been so happy to see a grubby airport toilet in my life; not a nice experience.

Again, another of the beauties of stopping in NY comes to light.  If you’re hungry you only have to walk a few feet to find something tasty to chomp down on.  Between the delis, pizza parlours, little Italian restaurants, Sushi bars, ice cream parlours, street pretzel sellers and expensive shirt and tie restaurants, there is something for every palette and budget.  If you’re can’t find something you want, you’re either a finnicky sod who can’t make up their mind, or some kind of weird fresh air eater!

You know what, it’s the food choice around every corner that I really miss now I’m back in the UK.  The occasional chinese takeaway, chippy or restaurant we get here just doesn’t compare.  It’s amazing that I haven’t come back a few stone heavier, but to be honest I’m not brave enough to weigh myself. I figure the middle age spread will hit in a few years, so screw it!

Food in hand it was back to the room.  It’s amazing how much adrenaline wakes you up again with the excitement of it all, but seeing as by this point we’d hardly slept the night before after a later night than planned (why is this country so damn inept when snow hits?), some last minute packing, and had been up around 14 hours, never mind the flight over which was strangley tiring, rest was calling.  At 4 in the afternoon?!?!?

The East coast of America is five hours behind the UK, for those of you who don’t know.  So we’re starting to think about going to bed (no, not like that you dirty muppets), but it’s hitting tea time!  Gotta love that jet lag!

Not to be beaten, we headed off towards Times Square again for a little wander round to reaqaiunt ourselves with the area, followed by a brisk stroll towards the Rockefeller Plaza and it’s temporary ice-skating rink.  I say brisk because New Yorkers don’t do slow.  It’s either now or yesterday, but this is another thing that appeals to me about the place.  The people there seem to be without the bullshit you find here.

For instance, go into a deli, pick what you want.  It gets made for you, you pay, say your thank yous and go on about your business.  All of it done with a courteous quick service, and a willingness to get the job done efficiently and quickly but with quality.  That I respect a lot, and it’s something that is missing somewhat in the UK.  Not everywhere I’ll admit, but think about it next time you’re in a shop, or restaurant, or somewhere that is selling a product or service.  I guarantee you can count on one hand the number of places that give you that kind of service and mean it.

Despite all the mocking, and Yankie gags that I’ve made, I genuinely believe that we as a nation could learn something.  Maybe it’s just the New York style, the expectations are higher, and there is alot of competition for business, but I like it.  And you know what, the F word never sounded so good than when said with a strong NY accent. It seems to take on a whole new meaning; when they swear it means one helluva lot more!

Forget The Sopranos, the real life New York is soo much fuckin’ better!