New York - Category of Transportation

At 840 acres, Central Park which runs from 59th to 110th streets and is flanked by Fifth Avenue to Central Park West is so enormous that it's almost impossible to miss and nearly as impossible to cover in one visit. Nevertheless, the intricate footpaths that meander with no discernible organization through the park are one of its greatest successes; after all, the point here is to lose yourself or at least to feel like you can. To figure out exactly where you are , find the nearest lamppost the first two digits on the post signify the number of the nearest cross street.

Getting around the city is likely to take some getting used to; public transit here is on the whole quite good, extremely cheap, and covers most conceivable corners of the city, whether by bus or subway. Don't be afraid to ask someone for help if you're confused. You'll no doubt find the need for a taxi from time to time, especially if you feel uncomfortable in an area at night; you shouldn't ever have trouble tracking one down the ubiquitous yellow cabs are always on the prowl for passengers.

Ferries , run by Circle Line, go to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and leave from the pier in Battery Park, every twenty minutes between 8.30am and 4.30pm all year long. Round-trip tickets are $8 (senior citizens $6, children 317 $3) and can be purchased inside Castle Clinton in Battery Park (tel 212/269-5755, www.statueoflibertyferry.com ).