23rd July 1991 Day 3

The diary entry "Tea on the terrace of the 23rd floor and then a journey to and up the Empire State Building. 

Visibility was a poor 2 miles which meant the World Trade Center was just about in sight.

Met King Kong, who was smaller than I'd imagined. In fact about 5 foot 9. The Japanese loved him, probably because he appeared tall to them. Had a strained conversation with a Japanese businessman who wanted to know which part of Engrand (sic) we were from. Went up to the 102nd floor observatory which was no better than the 86th but at least it was higher than King Kong managed to get today. 


Caught the train to Niagara from Penn Station underneath Madison Square Garden the third. Arrived about 9pm and the station appeared to be in the middle of nowhere. Asked directions at a gas station and hiked into town. Stumbled across the local YMCA which offered to put us up on mats on the floor for 10 bucks. A bargain we couldn't refuse. Met an 18 year old blonde Italian who seemed to have learnt his English by studying the lyrics to The Wall."


 2011 - Typically we spent little time hanging around anywhere. New York City done in 2 days all by foot. It's a good job I've been back many times since. 
Political correctness - I stand by my Japanese joke 20 years later. Japanese speakers can't distinguish r and l sounds due to the way their own language works. See here for more evidence - Engrish.