Well, we lazed for a couple of hours while Yo Yo Ma played his way through the Bach Cello Concertos, then we got cleaned up and headed down to the lobby to meet the guys. Sure enough, most of the new arrivals were in the bar when we got there about 8:20. We ordered drinks and set about catching up.
John Holt, the organiser of the dinner this evening, started to lead us off shortly after the drinks had arrived though and, as we didn't know where the restaurant was, we ended up following him - Martini glasses in hand. I've a sneaking suspicion that it's illegal to be on the streets with an open container of alcohol, but the locals we passed either ignored us or smiled. I guess we were just another bunch of eccentric Brits abroad.
We got to the restaurant and it turned out the hotel had booked a different one, but nobody knew where, so there was some milling about on the pavement until a new venue, that could set twenty at short notice. was found.
The restaurant turned out to be a steakhouse not far from the hotel where I duly ordered steak (the smallest one on the menu, as I've had experience with american portion sizes before!) and a good time was had by all. Between twenty-two of us, the bill only came to $580 and we had all eaten and drunk well.
Some of the more adventurous ones went on to a club, but about half the group meandered our way back to the hotel, stopping only for the smokers to buy cigarettes at the local pharmacy. Someone remarked on the strangeness of a pharmacy selling cigarettes, which is a bit odd if you think about it.
Off to bed now. We're meeting up again for breakfast and then I think a number of us are going to the Air & Space museum with Gerry Carter (a bass who is fascinated by the American Space Programme.)
Goodnight.
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