I always thought New Yorkers were like the people of most big cities, i.e. unfriendly, rushed and in their own world. Now I’m not sure.

Earlier I needed stamps for my postcards. The hotel were useless, couldn’t even really tell me where to get them from, so I went out looking. After a few blocks I approached a business woman having a cigarette outside a cafe. She was not only helpful, but also while trying to work out where the nearest post office was, looked in her handbag, found she had a book containing more stamps than I needed, then insisted I had them all, plus was unwilling to take anything for them.

Next I’m in the local starbucks. Ended up in friendly conversations with two of the locals. Perhaps there’s hope for Manhatten yet.