I only know one phrase in Arabic but when I greet Ahmed, his eyes light up. We talk about being a Muslim in the USA. ISIS, the cost of living and putting two children through college. I can barely get a word in edgeways. Taxi drivers are the same the world over.

I've been walking for an hour. I'm on 7th Avenue heading towards Madison Square Garden when I see the most amazing chromed up Lamborghini. The owner is standing on the sidewalk on his cell phone. He looks like Tom Cruise. I wonder if he's really on the phone or just using it as an excuse to be seen standing with his car. Other people are taking photos. He kindly opens the door and let's a little girl sit in the drivers seat. I ask him for a ride - he smiles but he keeps taking into his phone.

A lady comes over to congratulate me. She'd flown in from Canada the night before. The first film she'd seen at the festival was Live Before You Die and she said it was so beautiful and free and it had really touched her. Tears well up in my eyes. That film has been around the world and is in 4 languages. Once It won £50 but apart from that it has never made me a bean, I have spent money every time I have gone to see it in a film festival. When a film touches someone enough for them to come up and tell you that, you can't ask for more. It was worth flying 4000 miles to meet that lady and hear her say that.

I love the multi-culturism, people talking in every language. There also a load of crazy people wandering the streets. Everyone walks on by but I can't help stopping in my tracks and smiling at the madness. There's lots of homeless, and homes of cardboard on street corners. I've already given away a few dollars.

I'm staying in a 5th floor apartment in east Village just off 1st Avenue. Winston my host has left a key under the doormat but when I arrive about 10:30pm he's on the roof garden having a beer. Winston looks and is dressed like Jon Snow out of Game Of Thrones but is very welcoming. I have a beer then hit the sack.