The Empire State Building

We walked all the way back along fifth avenue and found our way to the Empire State building. Strangely, we hadn't known it was so close to our hotel, supposedly because we didn't think to be looking up as we walked around.

It seemed to take a long time to reach the top, we walked a series of escalators and got our photo taken as a big group before reaching the first lift. I could feel the changing pressure in my ears as we began to climb higher and higher to the top. When the lift reached the final stop, I was surprised to get out and then into another lift that was further along a corridor. It didn't feel like we could possibly get any higher but we did. As we reached the top, we ventured outside and towards the edge to gaze out at the beautiful city, lit up by millions of lights. The view was breath taking but as I got closer I suddenly remembered my crippling fear of heights.

The wind was so intense and bitterly cold that I felt that at any moment I was going to be picked up in a particularly powerful gust and be blown over the side. I took as many photographs as I could with my hands shaking from both the cold and the terror of being so high up. Before long, I started to get the strange sensation that I needed to be lower down and so ran back to the inside, which felt like a safety net.

I ventured out a few more times after that when I began to feel a little braver and to save face with the rest of the girls, but I was desperate to be back on solid ground and so happy when the others had had enough. No one said anything to me about how stupid I look, I think it was probably out of politeness.

Ellen's Stardust Diner

After returning to the hotel for what felt like a few minutes and donning my new purchases, we headed out for dinner at Ellen's Stardust diner in Times Square. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by the singing waiter who directed us to our table whilst singing 'Angels'. We were smiling despite being incredibly exhausted. The mood was uplifting and before long we really got into it. The waiters and waitresses came and sat with us, singing right into our faces, loving our English accents and the fact that we had travelled to New York as fashion students.

We ordered food that was about as American as it could get and really enjoyed the atmosphere. We even managed to surprise Claire with a 'Happy Birthday' song from the waiter who brought a free dessert for her. There was a couple there celebrating 50 years of marriage who were invited to get up and dance together on the dancefloor. It was a brilliant end to the day and put us in such a good mood that we didnt want the night to end. We somehow found a burst of new energy and set out on the walk back to the hotel, preparing to venture up the Empire State Building.