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Last night was good. I met up with Eric in Harvard Square and we went to a shop called ‘Hootenanny’ which was deadly. I bought a t-shirt and a very smart Ben Sherman polo for a total of $90. Not the smartest move as that’s left me less than $25 a day for New York but I don’t regret it. It’s only a few days, I’ll have a roof over my head and I’ll just make the most of the free brekkie (bagels in me pockets style).

After that we went to a bar that had a punk night on with 3 bands playing. Was a cool place, Eric seemed to know everyone. I enjoyed it.

To finish the night off I took a butchers at the very impressive classic scooters collection hiding in his garage(s). There was some very rare stuff including lots of old Lammies and a load of Maicolettas from the 50s which I’ve never seen before in the flesh. The real jewel in the crown for me though was the 1970 Innocenti Mini Clubman Mk 2 wooden station wagon, 1 of only 1540 ever made. I nearly got a lift home in it but the battery wasn’t playing, it was like the scene in ‘The Lost Boys’ – “Let’s go to town”.

I’ve been impressed with the hospitality the Boston boys have shown me, I hope to get the chance to return the favour one day back home.

I’m just on route to get the Chinese bus to NY now. I’ve took the 5 bottles of Rolling Rock I have left (because you couldn’t drink in the Boston hostel) with me. Is a pain lugging them round but I couldn’t leave them could I, I mean what’s a man without self-respect and dignity?

A busker in an underground station has just impressed me a lot, he was playing Spanish guitar in a most excellent fashion. Good stuff.

What I don’t like about some of these Yank buses is you start with pretty limited leg room and then they allow the geezer or sheezer in front of you to recline at leisure and whack your knees. It plays havoc with the synthetic mesh in my right leg. 4 hours and I’m off the bugger though so I’ll manage.

Finally off the bleeder. It took 5 hours in the end because of gridlocks in Brooklyn. Not an enjoyable journey but Bright Eyes, Bob Dylan and The Libertines kept me company so that helped.

It’s nearly 22:00 and consequently close to 12 hours since I last ate, man I’m proper Hank Marvin’. Got some water boiling now for some pasta. Can’t wait.

My budget per day is now down to $22 but this is not due to extravagance. I bought a weekly subway pass for 25 bucks which by my calculations would mean once I get past 14 trips (which I will do) I’m quids in. My other expense was 13 dollars in a supermarket, but that has likely covered all my evening meal needs as well as my apple juice and water requirements for the week. Good work all round I reckon.

The supermarket was in a well dodgy area, lots of shady characters about but it’s not like I was getting evils so it wasn’t intimidating or anything. The coolest bit was that there were overhead rail platforms everywhere, exactly like the ones in ‘The French Connection’. I could just watch that flick now.

I’m actually glad to be in New York again. I feel relaxed because I have 5 days but I’ve already done most of the stuff I wanted to so I can be lazy and just relax and cross off the few things left I’ve still to see at my leisure. I’m also looking forward to getting home and catching up with everyone.

There really is no place on Earth like New York City. Half an hour on the subways and you see every sort of race, ethnicity, culture, religion and style of person there is to see. It’s just such a diverse city.

That’s my final thought of the day readers. See ya.