Best experience of the trip

Today we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is the greatest museum I have ever seen. The most memorable experience of this holiday hands down. Not only is the collection staggering but the space it lives in is equally incredible. The downside was that we could only have the express look in a 2 and a half hour visit. To really see the collection properly would take a very long time. I said to Ronan that if I lived in New York, I would tackle a gallery each weekend and see it in proper detail. Nevertheless, I am so happy that I have seen The Met even if it was a rush job. Famous picture by famous artist, room after room. I started taking pictures but it got silly because there were so many that I loved. Ronan loved it almost as much as me. It was a memorable morning.

We realised that our first 3 days in New York had all been concentrated on the south end of Manhattan below Central Park. We decided that we needed to get a feel for the northern end of the island. In the short time we had left, the quickest way to see the rest of Manhattan was on the uptown tour on the Hop On, Hop Off bus. We saw all the beautiful buildings of the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, the Dakota building where John Lennon lived, 1040 5th Avenue where Jackie Kennedy lived, Columbia University, Harlem and Museum Mile. I feel like I have a really clear image of Manhattan now having seen all four corners of the island.

Throughout the afternoon, the mild weather we have had all week collapsed and the temperature dropped through the floor. Neither of us had eaten since breakfast so we made the decision to get some food and get back to the warmth of our hotel room. We stopped at our favourite local deli, Cafe Oliviero, and stocked up. We are staying in for the evening.

That is it for New York for us. It is an amazing city. So many people, so many buildings in such a small space. It's an intense city. Each neighbourhood has such a distinctive style and offers such a difference experience. I have loved being here but I don't know if I could live here. The intensity is never ending, I don't know how people manage to unwind here. I think we have made good use of our time here but, if I ever come back, I have a whole lot of things to visit.