The Financial District, Manhattan NY

I have been here for a month, staying at my nephew Tom's apartment on Wall Street and close to this famous bronze of the charging bull - symbol of the financial markets.

After leaving Alexia in early July, we drove north and stayed with Tom & Audra on their farm in Virginia. Frances then flew to London for family visits and I relocated to New York where Tom's Company has a lovely apartment on Wall Street.

When Frances returned in late August I had a great time showing her all the interesting places, bars and restaurants that I discovered whilst she was away!

Wall Street is a wonderfully central point for sightseeing: We frequently took the 'Red' Metro line for the 15 minute ride to Greenwich Village, Times Square and Central Park, where we walked for miles. The place is pristine.

From the apartment, our walks each morning took us through Battery Park where the original Dutch settlers had their guns to protect 'New Amsterdam' (before it was renamed 'New York') from the British Navy and where today ferries crisscross the East & Hudson Rivers to Staten Island, New Jersey and Liberty Island.

We rented bikes and rode for miles along the beautifully landscaped riverfront cyclepath surrounding Manhattan.

We have had a great visit and the summer has flown by - we still would like to spend time in China Town, Little Italy and dozens of the other places on our list but that will have to wait a while.

Sadly, we have run out of time and need to start heading back to Alexia.