My name is beautiful, spelled the normal way S-H-A-R-O-N.” Our bus driver whirled us around the airport in high spirits hardly pausing for breath, turning a repetitive job into a witty little routine.

I was worried that New York would be disappointing. So hyped, so in your face, even Dylan had loved his 24hours there, how could it live up to expectation? But it did, i felt it not at the blinding lights of times square and its droves of tourists , but on our first late night walk along Madison avenue. Gorgeous old buildings rising in elaborate white arches, decoration down to the tiny lights hanging over the doors.

We had Dylan’s promised 2nd best pizza in NYC and for the first time in my life i finished the meal not stuffed with dough, but taste buds tingling, wanting but not needing more of that delicious Buffalo mozzarella. He came good, that Dylan and he was right, the Santa Barbara pizza was the perfect precursor to this delight. All the better the staff were lovely Italians who made us feel welcome our first night exploring NYC.