arieljasmine
<font color=magenta>Who says these things pass you
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- Apr 12, 2004
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Laurs and Andy tackle the Big Apple Day 7
Laurs 28
Andy 29
Friday 10 August 2007
Our last day in the Big Apple. As I mentioned in my last report, I failed to write any notes for the last day so bear with me as I rattle my brains for the last few details.
I dont remember what time we got up but I imagine it was around 8. We had breakfast in the hotel and I enjoyed my last bowl of Lucky Charms for a while (I have promised myself a box from Walgreens when we are in Florida).
We finished our packing after breakfast, which went surprisingly smoothly considering we both had new trainers as well as all the other stuff wed bought. We checked out of the hotel just before 11, and stashed our suitcases in the luggage room. As we were about to set off we realised it was raining really hard, and went back to search the case for our umbrella. When the doorman saw what we were doing, he gave us a hotel umbrella to borrow which was great as it was much larger than ours.
We scurried through the rain to Macys, discussing how much more difficult it would have been to get around if it had been like this all week. When we dripped into Macys, they had a guy at the door handing out long thin plastic bags with handles for people to put their umbrellas in. I was impressed. Yes, I am easily impressed.
My main Macys mission (ooo alliteration) was a Harajuku Lovers handbag I had seen earlier in the week. So up we went on the wooden escalators, or deathtraps as I preferred to call them as I planned with military precision the exact moment that was safest to hurl myself on to the thing, to locate my dream handbag.
I was very pleased when I had picked out the bag that I wanted as it was marked down. Result.
We had also decided to get a Macys bag for my mum as we had spent so much time talking about it. I got her a super cute one with Snoopy on. We found one that Andys mum would like too, so all us girls are now tricked out with new handbags.
We had some lunch around this point, I dont remember where though Im ashamed to admit it was probably McDs again.
We hopped over to the Manhattan Mall (still raining) for a look round, but didnt buy anything.
There were still a couple of things I neeeeeeeeded in Sephora, so we went there and I picked out a Hard Candy lollipop lip gloss (it really kinda smells like Main Street) and a green Urban Decay glitter eye gel which I have wanted for ages but isnt out here yet.
We just had time for one last trip to Victorias Secret and a couple of last minute purchases in the form of two eyeshadows, blue and lilac which were 2 for $10.
We made our way back to the hotel, dropped in the umbrella, and sat and had a coffee before cramming the last few things into the suitcases. We had taken a picture of Macys on my phone so I sent that to my mum.
We took our cases outside a few minutes before our pickup time and settled ourselves down there to wait. And wait. And wait. After 30 minutes the doorman (who Im sure thought we were making the place look untidy) came out to ask us if we were waiting for a transfer. He took the details and got the receptionist to call up and check on it for us. They said they were on their way, stuck in traffic.
The taxi finally turned up a few minutes later and we were on our way. We stopped at two other hotels to pick up, but at the first hotel there was no one waiting so I guess they had decided to make alternative arrangements. The journey took over an hour - we seemed to go a long way round which seemed strange to me as we had already paid for the transfer. I thought about the tip I was going to give the driver when we got out, Set off earlier when the traffic is bad!
We arrived at the Delta terminal to a huge queue for international flights which snaked around the outside of the building much to the disgust of me and, more importantly, my bladder. It was disorganised chaos, basically one queue for check in for every international flight. Every now and again, Delta employees came down the line calling out certain flights and pulling people out of the line down to the front.
When we made it halfway through the building, they called for Manchester. I dont think Ive ever jumped so high. I neednt have bothered. We got taken to the front, but with everyone else on the Manchester flight and assigned to one check in agent. We worked out that we would have been checked in just as fast had we stayed where we were.
Security is straight after check in, so we went through. That part at least went smoothly, and we went to buy some food before the flight. We got a big bag of chips, some cherry coke and a chocolate bar each. As we were waiting to pay I noticed that our flight number was on the gate nearest to us even though that wasnt the one on the boarding card. It didnt give any indication of boarding though, so we went to pick up some duty free before sitting at the gate and devouring the food.
Our flight time came and went, it wasnt a good sign when we saw someone carrying an enormous pizza for the pilot. No announcement had been made, but eventually the TVs showed a delay and that the gate had changed (to the one we were sat at). Not very helpful, I dare say, for those who were at the original gate.
Eventually we boarded, but we were held up by people who hadnt picked up their duty free before they got on the plane. How can you forget your duty free?! Anyway, duty free finally distributed an announcement is made that they cant get the door shut. Mildly disturbing as Andys mum and dad were once stuck in Canada for two extra days when that happened on their return flight.
Anyway, they sorted that out, but then it came to light that one of the crews phones didnt work. So of course they needed a new phone.
That sorted too, the pilot came on to apologise for the delay. Andy said Which one?! We had been so long that there was now a queue of planes behind us so we couldnt even push back. When we did get pushed back, we were about fifteenth in the queue for take off.
I could have cheered when we were airborne. Luckily, the flight home was quicker so we did make up some of the time on the way back. I didnt watch the film (Fracture) as it isnt my thing, and I thought it was a bit weird showing an R rated film on a big screen. So I read a bit and listened to my Ipod and dozed for a while. Im sure I ate quite a bit too but I dont remember what.
That is almost the end of the tale, but we had to finish with one final delay. When we got through the airport to meet our taxi driver he was waiting for one other person from our flight. He was about 20 minutes after us, fair enough, but when he did make it out he realised he should have had two bags instead of one and had to go back in! How can one person on their own have forgotten they had two bags! Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhh! I am pleased to report we did finally make it home, decided against going to bed because it was already lunchtime, went to my brothers for a takeaway and football in the evening and I slept a lot. I only knew Stevie G had scored when my brother launched himself across the living room!
We had a great time and I look forward to going back one day. I couldnt live there, the pace is too much for a country girl like me. I did like being back home where I could walk down the street and only see one or two others. And being back where I was someone, not just another tourist.
Laur's
Laurs 28
Andy 29
Friday 10 August 2007
Our last day in the Big Apple. As I mentioned in my last report, I failed to write any notes for the last day so bear with me as I rattle my brains for the last few details.
I dont remember what time we got up but I imagine it was around 8. We had breakfast in the hotel and I enjoyed my last bowl of Lucky Charms for a while (I have promised myself a box from Walgreens when we are in Florida).
We finished our packing after breakfast, which went surprisingly smoothly considering we both had new trainers as well as all the other stuff wed bought. We checked out of the hotel just before 11, and stashed our suitcases in the luggage room. As we were about to set off we realised it was raining really hard, and went back to search the case for our umbrella. When the doorman saw what we were doing, he gave us a hotel umbrella to borrow which was great as it was much larger than ours.
We scurried through the rain to Macys, discussing how much more difficult it would have been to get around if it had been like this all week. When we dripped into Macys, they had a guy at the door handing out long thin plastic bags with handles for people to put their umbrellas in. I was impressed. Yes, I am easily impressed.
My main Macys mission (ooo alliteration) was a Harajuku Lovers handbag I had seen earlier in the week. So up we went on the wooden escalators, or deathtraps as I preferred to call them as I planned with military precision the exact moment that was safest to hurl myself on to the thing, to locate my dream handbag.
I was very pleased when I had picked out the bag that I wanted as it was marked down. Result.
We had also decided to get a Macys bag for my mum as we had spent so much time talking about it. I got her a super cute one with Snoopy on. We found one that Andys mum would like too, so all us girls are now tricked out with new handbags.
We had some lunch around this point, I dont remember where though Im ashamed to admit it was probably McDs again.
We hopped over to the Manhattan Mall (still raining) for a look round, but didnt buy anything.
There were still a couple of things I neeeeeeeeded in Sephora, so we went there and I picked out a Hard Candy lollipop lip gloss (it really kinda smells like Main Street) and a green Urban Decay glitter eye gel which I have wanted for ages but isnt out here yet.
We just had time for one last trip to Victorias Secret and a couple of last minute purchases in the form of two eyeshadows, blue and lilac which were 2 for $10.
We made our way back to the hotel, dropped in the umbrella, and sat and had a coffee before cramming the last few things into the suitcases. We had taken a picture of Macys on my phone so I sent that to my mum.
We took our cases outside a few minutes before our pickup time and settled ourselves down there to wait. And wait. And wait. After 30 minutes the doorman (who Im sure thought we were making the place look untidy) came out to ask us if we were waiting for a transfer. He took the details and got the receptionist to call up and check on it for us. They said they were on their way, stuck in traffic.
The taxi finally turned up a few minutes later and we were on our way. We stopped at two other hotels to pick up, but at the first hotel there was no one waiting so I guess they had decided to make alternative arrangements. The journey took over an hour - we seemed to go a long way round which seemed strange to me as we had already paid for the transfer. I thought about the tip I was going to give the driver when we got out, Set off earlier when the traffic is bad!
We arrived at the Delta terminal to a huge queue for international flights which snaked around the outside of the building much to the disgust of me and, more importantly, my bladder. It was disorganised chaos, basically one queue for check in for every international flight. Every now and again, Delta employees came down the line calling out certain flights and pulling people out of the line down to the front.
When we made it halfway through the building, they called for Manchester. I dont think Ive ever jumped so high. I neednt have bothered. We got taken to the front, but with everyone else on the Manchester flight and assigned to one check in agent. We worked out that we would have been checked in just as fast had we stayed where we were.
Security is straight after check in, so we went through. That part at least went smoothly, and we went to buy some food before the flight. We got a big bag of chips, some cherry coke and a chocolate bar each. As we were waiting to pay I noticed that our flight number was on the gate nearest to us even though that wasnt the one on the boarding card. It didnt give any indication of boarding though, so we went to pick up some duty free before sitting at the gate and devouring the food.
Our flight time came and went, it wasnt a good sign when we saw someone carrying an enormous pizza for the pilot. No announcement had been made, but eventually the TVs showed a delay and that the gate had changed (to the one we were sat at). Not very helpful, I dare say, for those who were at the original gate.
Eventually we boarded, but we were held up by people who hadnt picked up their duty free before they got on the plane. How can you forget your duty free?! Anyway, duty free finally distributed an announcement is made that they cant get the door shut. Mildly disturbing as Andys mum and dad were once stuck in Canada for two extra days when that happened on their return flight.
Anyway, they sorted that out, but then it came to light that one of the crews phones didnt work. So of course they needed a new phone.
That sorted too, the pilot came on to apologise for the delay. Andy said Which one?! We had been so long that there was now a queue of planes behind us so we couldnt even push back. When we did get pushed back, we were about fifteenth in the queue for take off.
I could have cheered when we were airborne. Luckily, the flight home was quicker so we did make up some of the time on the way back. I didnt watch the film (Fracture) as it isnt my thing, and I thought it was a bit weird showing an R rated film on a big screen. So I read a bit and listened to my Ipod and dozed for a while. Im sure I ate quite a bit too but I dont remember what.
That is almost the end of the tale, but we had to finish with one final delay. When we got through the airport to meet our taxi driver he was waiting for one other person from our flight. He was about 20 minutes after us, fair enough, but when he did make it out he realised he should have had two bags instead of one and had to go back in! How can one person on their own have forgotten they had two bags! Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhh! I am pleased to report we did finally make it home, decided against going to bed because it was already lunchtime, went to my brothers for a takeaway and football in the evening and I slept a lot. I only knew Stevie G had scored when my brother launched himself across the living room!
We had a great time and I look forward to going back one day. I couldnt live there, the pace is too much for a country girl like me. I did like being back home where I could walk down the street and only see one or two others. And being back where I was someone, not just another tourist.
Laur's
Thanks for sharing
