The day of my long awaited trip to New York arrived - got to Heathrow and was out of there.

Arrived in New York safely and New York was very wet. I was quite tired but the thrill of being here and about to see my girlfriend gave me a load of energy. Had an interesting ride - cabbie was a rasta called Steadman Young and he was cool. Very well read and knowledgeable and happy with his place in life. Steadman is amazingly well read and well-informed about most things. The information he had on the gulf war was not the usual TV regurgitated stuff but good solid views backed up by facts. Very impressed and he told me that many people didn't take him seriously because he was a) a rasta and b) a cab driver.

Shame on them.

Went out to a bar for my first NY burger and beer. Proved to be a little bit more expensive but man was I hungry!

Stuff planned: seeing friends, Ellis Island and shopping!