New York, New York

I've always wanted to go to NYC. It's the one place that has always pulled me.

I didn't start traveling until I got married though and as three babies arrived in lightening speed a city vacation has never been an option for us.

Now that they are a bit older I think that they would adore New York.

Despite my initial enthusiasm I didn't really get to see much of the city. The conference got in the way of my site seeing but yesterday I did manage to take in Central Park via a whirlwind tour on the back of a rickshaw.

It really is the way to do it. Speed Central Park in the 100 degree heat.

It's odd coming from a country steeped in history (there is evidence of a Roman settlement close to our small village) to a place where the oldest structure was built in 1850. If our tour of Central Park was anything to go by the history of NYC is defined by the movies shot there. Spiderman, Face Off, Home Alone, Ghostbusters, Stuart Little, Kramer vs Kramer and a memorial to one of England's greatest musicians.

I took in the tourist hot spot that is The Empire State Building. Rode the subway to South Ferry port to take the free ferry to Staten Island, leaving the Manhattan skyline behind me as I looked in awe at 

Lady Liberty. 

Time Square, 42nd Street, Broadway. The places I dreamt of as a young dancer.

Steaming streets, yellow cabs, bright lights, tall tall buildings. A melting pot of language and race where anything goes or anyone goes.

New York is officially my favorite city in the world.