Jonola14

LOCATION: New York City (New York).
DATE: 25/08/01.

TIME: 13.00

We get ourselves ready and head into town to have a look at Times Square, Broadway and the Empire State Building. We are amazed by the sheer number of neon lights flashing all sorts of stuff at us and amused by the incessant preacher of the gospels shouting religious things at his pathetically sized audience. We have a look at the ESPN building in the hope of finding out the football results, but in vain.

New York seems to have every kind of shop that you can think of, and each one has a large neon display trying to flog you something. There are an awful lot of people in this area too, and far too many good-looking women to stare at and drool over, it really puts England to shame.

TIME: 17.00

We get to the Empire State Building and all start staring at the good looking blonde in the ticket queue, much to her boyfriend's annoyance. Quiff is surprisingly calm, despite the prospect of being at the top of a 1200 foot building, his fear of heights obviously not yet affecting him. The elevator climbs 80 floors at 1,200 feet per minute, and we arrive at the observatory where Quiff tries to brave the sights of people and cars being barely visible. Gaz nearly drops his camera in trying to take a vertical shot, Fuller makes for the refreshments and Quiff shouts at a pigeon perched on the railings for being "fuckin' crazy".

The sight from the building is rather magnificent, you can see the majority of New York City, from the pathetic looking Statue of Liberty to the awesome, imposing magnificence of the twin towers of the World Trade Center. After about half an hour, to Quiff's relief, we descend and head for Little Italy to soak up some more culture before going out on the razz again.

TIME: 18.30

We struggle to locate the main area of Little Italy, but settle for the outskirts and Soho too. We go to Milady's restaurant where Quiff falls in love with the lovely waitress, and Payno makes him jealous by grasping her round the hips when squeezing past to go to the restroom. We concoct an excuse as to why coke-head liability can't come out with us tonight and head back to the hostel for a few beers.

TIME: 22.30

We make it into town and ask people for directions to a bar called the Naked Lunch, only to discover that we are, in fact, standing just outside it. This expensive bar offers a classy clientele and a shove for the restrooms. Payno asks some girls how to dance and Fuller wanders off to chat to as many people as possible.

The bar proves to be too hard-hitting on our wallets, so we leave and end up in a British bar called the Red Lion where there is live music and a bustling atmosphere. Fuller and Quiff watch in awe at the superb guitarist, Gaz sits and watches football on the tv and Ellis drinks at the bar. We strike up conversation with a few Irish birds before heading home via the Metro, where Quiff starts a fight with the automated ticket dispenser machine for being crap and not taking his money in time.