Harlem

This morning we went to Harlem to see a gospel church choir.
Haylee has become our guide so she directed us through the subway,and we did well until we got to our second stop, when we realised we were running late and then the train didn't come as quick as we expected.

We got to Harlem at about 10.35am and we were supposed to meet our tour guide at 10.30. When we got to the address, there was no one there! I was starting to freak out because although we were right near the subway station, we didn't know where we were or where we we going. The doors to the tour guide place were locked, so we were standing there stumped when this random dude asked us if we were looking for the tour. We said yes, and he got out his cell phone and rang the tour guide and ended up walking us to where the rest of the tour was.

They were at the church already, so while he looked for his "man", we took in the huge line waiting to go inside. It was massive! He couldn't find the tour guide, but he took us to one of the members of the congregation, who got us seated up in the balcony where all the tourists sit. It was the longest church service I've ever experienced! We sat there for 2 hrs and 15 mins before deciding the combination of heat (no air con), not knowing where our tour group was, and having another Hop on- Hop off tour booked for today was enough to allow us to leave. I think the service was so long because it was the Pastor's 3rd anniversary so they were having a big celebration. It was very cool, just like in the movies, with lots of "Hallelujahs" and "Amens". The music was fantastic, the choir was rocking. We didn't know any of the songs, but there was a great vibe (except for when we got told off for reaching for our cameras- but I managed to sneak in a few shots before they busted us!)

We're back at our hotel now, just blogging before we go off to lunch and then go on the Hop on- Hop off tour. We'll blog again later tonight hopefully.