It's a glorious morning, cold but crisp and bright. I treat myself to a hearty buffet breakfast at the Citizen M hotel nearby. Cosy lobby, good atmosphere, and yummy food. I go for scrambled eggs, succulent fried tomatoes with black pepper, crunchy hash brown, grapefruit juice and tea. Perfect opportunity to write my diary post for yesterday. I'm going for another plate of the same. Then croissant with blackberry jam. I must try that pancake, I think I'll top it with some fruit, pecans, granola and raisins. My post is nearly ready to publish. Just one more pancake. 

I get my stuff ready, thank Alan for the warm and generous hospitality (I am a lucky boy!), and head downtown where I'm to join Katrin for a yoga class. I naturally go to the wrong platform, then manage to just miss the train on the right platform. As it's a weekend the stop I need is closed and I have three more blocks to walk. I make it just in time, dragging my suitcase and bags up the stairs to the reception. Just as well Katrin prepared a mattress for me. 

"Ah, you're the guy with the suitcase!" Says the teacher when I say my name. I must have made an impression. I am so out of shape, but the stretching and squeezing and holding and twisting feels good. Eventually. It's a very collaborative class, the very flexible guy just in front of me gives me a correction, then a lady with long grey hair suddenly materialises behind me and twists my back a but further. The flexible guy tells me I should bring my foot forward. More forward. More than that. And all the while the dynamic teacher, who seem to remember everybody's names, gives corrections praises the participants and tells funny stories. No wonder she has a hoarse voice. By the end of the 90min class I feel exhausted and liberated in equal measure. 

We head off to Brooklyn, I have some delicious French toast at the lovely local bar-restaurant, a well deserved nap, and I'm off to town again. At Washington Square a group of drummers practice circle dancing while in another corner someone raps. I'm hungry and find a quick fix in the form of pizza slice in a run down corner kiosk. A few more steps down the road I spot an atmospheric Israeli falafel restaurant and top up with a nice plate of humus falafel aubergine and salad. 'If you need anything else at all sir just give me a shout' says the handsome Puerto-Rican waiter. I do like being called sir.