(Sent: Mon, January 26, 2004 12:16 pm)

Well I've done it. If my journey could be stated as four quarters then I have now passed the half way mark and am starting my third quarter now as I write. You see, I am writing this from Times Square, New York.

Asia, then Europe, and now the United States, and only South America remains. Of course my USA time lasts for almost a month, so I will be here for quite a while yet.

My first stop, as you already know is New York. Here I am planted for about 4 days. So far I love the place. Everywhere I turn there are Spanish speakers and language. It is so nice to hear it again, it seems so long since I was in Spain. The place is pretty busy but not crushing crowds as London was, and there are shops here... oh boy are there shops here. Lots and lots of shops. I love this place... I could spend so much money here. There are electronic shops, clothes shops, music shops, food shops, and so much more. How wonderfully exciting.

It is very cold too. I thought I would be ready for how cold, but tonight have dressed with too little warmth and am feeling the cold muchly. My method for getting to the next place is shop-hopping where I wander for a bit then duck into a shop to warm up before wandering for a bit more. This seems to work ok for now.

Jet lag is supposed to be easier when you fly with the sun as I did from London to New York. I'm not convinced. Mind you, being as totally worn out as I have been lately, I'm not sure it is even the jet lag. I took a sleeping pill on the aeroplane to help me sleep and then didn't even sleep after it. I slept before it for a few minutes though. Perhaps it was the tub of Maltesers that kept me company throughout the flight that counteracted the effects of the pill. Hmmm... not sure, but am tired now.

Well, this is not an epistle on my New York experiences... that alone, just for tonight, would take a book. Nope, this is only to let you know that I am now arrived in New York. Sometime later I will head to Washington DC, then to Asheville in North Carolina from about 1st to 7th Feb.

If you would like to txt me then my new mobile phone number (USA based) is:

+1-646-249-6081.

You are also very welcome to call me anytime. If I am sleeping then my phone will be on silent mode so don't worry about mixing up your time zones. For example,

	Australia is about 15hrs different, so take 3hrs off your current time and switch the AM/PM to work it out. (ie. 9am OZ = 6pm US)
	New Zealand is about 18hrs different, so take 6hrs off your current time and switch the AM/PM to work it out. (ie 9am NZ = 3pm US)
	UK is 5hrs out. Take this off your time. (ie 9am UK = 4am US)
	NOTE: This only works for the EAST COAST of the USA.

Well that is all I really wanted to say. I love New York so far and am really looking forward to exploring it a lot more over the next few days. Have a great day and smile lots. :))))))) Rob.