New York Day 3: Happy 30th Birthday Kerry

Nice leisurely getting up and breakfast then headed down to the Empire State Building. By the time we'd got organised it was about 12:15pm and queues seemed long. Kerry couldn't do the heights so went to Bloomingdales whilst I waited in the company of ticket selling pests looking to sell dual ESB and Sky Ride tickets. 10 minutes later I thought the 90 minute warnings were estimated too high looking forward to seeing the sights in no time. However after the security scan, a mass of people snaked their way through a huge room and the 90 minutes looked like hours. By 2:10pm I was at the head of the queue though conscious I had to meet Kerry for her birthday treat of the Sex and the City tour for 2:45pm. 10-15 minutes would be all I needed up there but after turning the corner to expect the lifts was another queue with an expected 30 minute wait again! Luckily the ticket could be used on another day so ran back to the pre-arranged meeting place.

The S and TC tour was okay though expecting a bit more stops and walking. Proper coach with TV screens to show clips of where we went. The same Swindon girl we'd met on the transfer bus was there minus husband. Stopped at a sexshop to look at dildos, Magnolia's Bakery for a cupcake and Steve's Bar for a cosmo if anyone's interested.

The late finish of the tour meant a panicked rush back to the hotel in time for our table reservation at the 21 Club for 8pm. I called them to say we'd be there for 8:30pm but getting a taxi at that time was too stressful with their over-complicated Off-duty light system. The drama wasn't really needed as the restaurant was quiet anyway. As we were welcomed I was asked to wear a house tie and tipped the restroom attendant $5 for the complimentary patter and not to look a cheap-skate. The reception guy told us to go upstairs where our 'captain' was waiting. We thought we'd over-heard him incorrectly but after some explanation 'cappy' or Christopher to his customers, was our head waiter. With only two other tables occupied and about finished, we were wined, dined and treated like royalty to the soundtrack of Sinatra and swing. Wine menu was more like a telephone directory with the top price red at $8000 a bottle. A large tip had to be paid as the service was so good.