New York trip
27 June 2004 18:08![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mandragoraHad a fabulous time, met some great people, ate some very tasty food. Sums it all up, really. *g*
Wednesday was travel day. Faced with a myriad of choices for flights I went for the midday one with American Airlines so that I wouldn't have to get to Heathrow at some obscenely early hour. It was just as well that I didn't need to be at Heathrow until 10am, faced with the Slowest Tube Ride Ever. Should've been simple. Get in at one end of the Piccadilly Line (admittedly in rush hour) and get out the other. But, oh, it dragged. And dragged. I got there half an hour later than planned and then was faced with the Longest Check-in Queue Ever. It was the slowest scheduled flight queue I can remember having stood in. For a long time. For an awfully long time.
It wasn't helped by the fact that many people just do not know how to pack. There they were at the actual check-in desk re-packing their damn suitcases and myriad items of handluggage. Because, clearly actually reading what the baggage allowance (including handluggage) is would have been too much work. But I had difficulty in believing the sheer stupidity of these people. Here's a tip - if you buy lots and lots of things in Britain and are then travelling back to the US and can't fit it all into your suitcase... Buy a new suitcase! They're not that expensive, honest, and will prevent you from looking like a wanker in the check-in queue with your scrappy carrier bags and ruck-sacks, picnic baskets and-- person with bright orange wicker bag. No. Just no.
When I finally crawled to the head of the queue and checked my (one) suitcase in I discovered that they don't actually allocate seats on American Airlines at Heathrow until you get to the gate. Which was really annoying, as I wanted to do some shopping but had to get to the damn gate early to get a decent seat. The upshot was that I had no time to shop at Heathrow at all. And the shopping at Heathrow is really good... Yes, it was a pain, especially as the woman at the gate didn't ask for my seat preferences and simply announced that she'd given me a window seat. I wanted an aisle seat. More leg-room you see. Sod the view (it only lasts for a few minutes anyway, leg-room is all, even for a short-arse like myself). I got my aisle seat, but only after complaining about it which wouldn't have been necessary of the woman manning the gate had simply asked where I wanted to sit.
The seating arrangement within the plane was peculiar. It was 9 seats across, which is better than standard for transatlantic flights, as they're usually ten across, but normally the seats are arranged by 3, then 4 in the middle, then 3. Here it was 2, then 5, then 2. It gives people more space, I suppose, but I felt really sorry for the people in the middle seat of each row.
The flight left on time (I was amazed!) and was generally smooth and uneventful. We actually landed early (result of having left on time as so much slack is built into the timetable) The food wasn't great, though, and the lack of a foot-rest was a bit uncomfortable for my short little legs. Also, the in-flight film choice was pretty poor. The upshot was that I don't think I'll fly American by choice again, as I'd rate BA, Virgin and United higher in the transatlantic flight stakes.
I raced from the plane, overtaking many slower passengers en route to Immigration and Customs. Was glad I did, as when I got there the queue in front of me only took up a couple of turns in the queuing section thingy. By the time I got to the front it stretched all the way to the back of the hall. As the mugshots and fingerprints requirement hasn't come in for the largely white western countries yet (and how racist is that?) I had no delays or problems with immigration at all. In fact, they were rather more polite at JFK than I remember. The man manning the desk simply looked at the address where I was staying, remarked, "Ah, I see you're staying with friends," smiled at my confirmation, wished me a nice day and I was through. So, well done, Immigration. For me, at least.
Customs got a bit shirty with the guy in front of me, who had queue-jumped with a battered old suitcase and hispanic appearance and accent. Confirmed he lived in the US but had no job, so they took him off to search his luggage. He was almost certainly kosher and the victim of racial stereotyping but as he'd queue-jumped sympathy on my part was a tad lacking. Me, I was waved through with a smile (must be the accent *g*).
I took a taxi to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
starmei's place. The humidity was pretty high that day and the idea of public transport... No, just no. I enjoyed gazing over at Manhattan in all its glory. New York... there's nowhere else quite like it. Love that skyline. When I arrived at starmei's the envy was high, both at the location (right by Central Park) and the gorgeous house that she lives in. Fabulous place - your classic bronwstone. And starmei is such a fabulous person. She is just So Much Fun. We laughed. A lot. Loves starmei.
I did all the unpacking I was going to do (not much!) and then we walked down to the Hudson. We walked a mile or so along the river, gazing at New Jersey (about which starmei was nothing if not rude *g*) and then to the Boat Basin Cafe for drinks. However, they were having a fundraiser that night (which starmei had been invited to, but had forgotten about) and weren't dressed for, so we didn't stay. Instead we walked along until we found a bar and had a drink there. It was really very pleasant indeed and I wish we could do the same thing along the Thames in London. Actually, there are parts of the Thames where you can do a similar type of thing but not where I live.
We then went for dinner. I really wasn't very hungry so we went to Fairway's Cafe above the market for a bite to eat. Ah, blessed air conditioning. Food was pretty good, too. I noted that there was a distinct change in the NYC atmosphere since I was last there - it's now much more relaxed and welcoming. The city feels safe and that makes a big difference to one's enjoyment IMO. In fact, at no time and at no point did I ever feel the least bit unsafe in NYC, whether riding the subway, wandering round Brooklyn or visiting Harlem. This was a real contrast from the past. I'd say that Manhattan, at least, is probably safer nowadays than many parts of London and that definitely didn't used to be the case.
It was then back to the apartment where I managed to stay awake until about 10.30pm or so, which I thought was pretty reasonable as it was 3.30am according to my body clock. I crashed out to the hum of the air conditioner, anticipating the day ahead.
Wednesday was travel day. Faced with a myriad of choices for flights I went for the midday one with American Airlines so that I wouldn't have to get to Heathrow at some obscenely early hour. It was just as well that I didn't need to be at Heathrow until 10am, faced with the Slowest Tube Ride Ever. Should've been simple. Get in at one end of the Piccadilly Line (admittedly in rush hour) and get out the other. But, oh, it dragged. And dragged. I got there half an hour later than planned and then was faced with the Longest Check-in Queue Ever. It was the slowest scheduled flight queue I can remember having stood in. For a long time. For an awfully long time.
It wasn't helped by the fact that many people just do not know how to pack. There they were at the actual check-in desk re-packing their damn suitcases and myriad items of handluggage. Because, clearly actually reading what the baggage allowance (including handluggage) is would have been too much work. But I had difficulty in believing the sheer stupidity of these people. Here's a tip - if you buy lots and lots of things in Britain and are then travelling back to the US and can't fit it all into your suitcase... Buy a new suitcase! They're not that expensive, honest, and will prevent you from looking like a wanker in the check-in queue with your scrappy carrier bags and ruck-sacks, picnic baskets and-- person with bright orange wicker bag. No. Just no.
When I finally crawled to the head of the queue and checked my (one) suitcase in I discovered that they don't actually allocate seats on American Airlines at Heathrow until you get to the gate. Which was really annoying, as I wanted to do some shopping but had to get to the damn gate early to get a decent seat. The upshot was that I had no time to shop at Heathrow at all. And the shopping at Heathrow is really good... Yes, it was a pain, especially as the woman at the gate didn't ask for my seat preferences and simply announced that she'd given me a window seat. I wanted an aisle seat. More leg-room you see. Sod the view (it only lasts for a few minutes anyway, leg-room is all, even for a short-arse like myself). I got my aisle seat, but only after complaining about it which wouldn't have been necessary of the woman manning the gate had simply asked where I wanted to sit.
The seating arrangement within the plane was peculiar. It was 9 seats across, which is better than standard for transatlantic flights, as they're usually ten across, but normally the seats are arranged by 3, then 4 in the middle, then 3. Here it was 2, then 5, then 2. It gives people more space, I suppose, but I felt really sorry for the people in the middle seat of each row.
The flight left on time (I was amazed!) and was generally smooth and uneventful. We actually landed early (result of having left on time as so much slack is built into the timetable) The food wasn't great, though, and the lack of a foot-rest was a bit uncomfortable for my short little legs. Also, the in-flight film choice was pretty poor. The upshot was that I don't think I'll fly American by choice again, as I'd rate BA, Virgin and United higher in the transatlantic flight stakes.
I raced from the plane, overtaking many slower passengers en route to Immigration and Customs. Was glad I did, as when I got there the queue in front of me only took up a couple of turns in the queuing section thingy. By the time I got to the front it stretched all the way to the back of the hall. As the mugshots and fingerprints requirement hasn't come in for the largely white western countries yet (and how racist is that?) I had no delays or problems with immigration at all. In fact, they were rather more polite at JFK than I remember. The man manning the desk simply looked at the address where I was staying, remarked, "Ah, I see you're staying with friends," smiled at my confirmation, wished me a nice day and I was through. So, well done, Immigration. For me, at least.
Customs got a bit shirty with the guy in front of me, who had queue-jumped with a battered old suitcase and hispanic appearance and accent. Confirmed he lived in the US but had no job, so they took him off to search his luggage. He was almost certainly kosher and the victim of racial stereotyping but as he'd queue-jumped sympathy on my part was a tad lacking. Me, I was waved through with a smile (must be the accent *g*).
I took a taxi to
starmei's place. The humidity was pretty high that day and the idea of public transport... No, just no. I enjoyed gazing over at Manhattan in all its glory. New York... there's nowhere else quite like it. Love that skyline. When I arrived at starmei's the envy was high, both at the location (right by Central Park) and the gorgeous house that she lives in. Fabulous place - your classic bronwstone. And starmei is such a fabulous person. She is just So Much Fun. We laughed. A lot. Loves starmei.I did all the unpacking I was going to do (not much!) and then we walked down to the Hudson. We walked a mile or so along the river, gazing at New Jersey (about which starmei was nothing if not rude *g*) and then to the Boat Basin Cafe for drinks. However, they were having a fundraiser that night (which starmei had been invited to, but had forgotten about) and weren't dressed for, so we didn't stay. Instead we walked along until we found a bar and had a drink there. It was really very pleasant indeed and I wish we could do the same thing along the Thames in London. Actually, there are parts of the Thames where you can do a similar type of thing but not where I live.
We then went for dinner. I really wasn't very hungry so we went to Fairway's Cafe above the market for a bite to eat. Ah, blessed air conditioning. Food was pretty good, too. I noted that there was a distinct change in the NYC atmosphere since I was last there - it's now much more relaxed and welcoming. The city feels safe and that makes a big difference to one's enjoyment IMO. In fact, at no time and at no point did I ever feel the least bit unsafe in NYC, whether riding the subway, wandering round Brooklyn or visiting Harlem. This was a real contrast from the past. I'd say that Manhattan, at least, is probably safer nowadays than many parts of London and that definitely didn't used to be the case.
It was then back to the apartment where I managed to stay awake until about 10.30pm or so, which I thought was pretty reasonable as it was 3.30am according to my body clock. I crashed out to the hum of the air conditioner, anticipating the day ahead.
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no subject
Date: 27 June 2004 13:09 (UTC)no subject
Date: 27 June 2004 13:22 (UTC)He's just So Cute.