One women observed quietly and persuasively that they were being told that America was angry, but the emotion she had felt was sadness, and that was the emotion most of those she knew had felt.
People were interviewed receiving counselling in a bookshop.
The BBC reporter who had just got to New York, reported an awareness that the fight against terrorism would not be easy.
All that was before Bush's declaration of war today, which will no doubt make it harder to argue without appearing disloyal. But it seemed a good beginning.
Chris Burford
London