Having covered miles and miles of the Manhattan pavement, having jumped on and off more trains in two months than in 20 years at home… (I don’t do public transport can now be amended to, I don’t do public transport unless I am in NYC) and after a whirl wind adventure, it is with a moment of happiness at what I have achieved, but a moment of sadness to say goodbye to New York the concrete jungle where dreams are indeed made of.
Nothing could end the adventure and start the journey home like a New York burger and Concrete at the Shake Shack Madison Square Park…my little backyard.
Feeling pretty nostalgic, I couldn’t go past the Shack Burger and Concrete as my last New York meal. For those who have been to New York and haven’t sampled a Concrete…shame on you! A concrete is basically frozen custard mixed with other flavours. It is different to a thick shake as it isn’t just plain old ice-cream, it is basically an ice-cream made with eggs and made with less ice particles (possibly more fat!!) and made thicker and creamier. At the shake shack, you have the choice of the Concrete Jungle (hot fudge, bananas and peanut butter); Hopscotch (hot caramel sauce, chocolate toffee and chocolate chunks); and the Shack Attack (chocolate custard, hot fudge, chocolate truffle cookie dough and chocolate chunks, topped with chocolate sprinkles)
I opted for the Concrete Jungle, both apt and less ‘chocolatey’ given I had also had the burger! I had had the Shack Attack before and that was enough as a meal on its own!
After a beautiful lunch and a goodbye to my squirrel friends it was time to head back to the hotel to check out and wait for my transfer to Newark airport.
After doing a bit of research, I opted to use the Hotel’s Car Service – a private car service for a fixed price of $80 including all tolls and taxes and who offered help with bags, rather than risk the $55-$65 plus tolls and taxes of a Cab, and online ‘limousine’ services with hidden costs.
Imagine my surprises when I was picked up by a double stretch limousine…all for little old me! Well at least I was leaving New York in style!
Sadly I had packed my camera in the suitcase so the photos were only taken with my iPhone… (See transport photos)
As I bopped to NY’s equivalent of Cruise 1323 am radio, I sang my heart out to Billy Joel and Tina Turner as I said au revoir to the city that had may not have provided employment but filled my every heart’s desire.
Arriving at the airport I was a bit hesitant at what would happen when I popped my bags on the scale. One looked like it was going to explode, and the other was just plain heavy. Having packed and repacked over and over again, I was completely aghast to see that the weight on the scales had increased by ten kilograms from when I left Adelaide. There was no way I had made ten kilos worth of purchases and no matter how I tried to repack I couldn’t get them a) lighter, or b) any more even.
The first bag went through the machine and down the long tunnel to the awaiting plane, the second bag jockeyed between weights before coming up with HEAVY! Well that sums it up! Although the lady was very helpful in asking if I could remove any items, I had to remind her that she had already sent the other bag down the chute….and unless I was about to carry the items the rest of the journey home there was little I could do. In a nut shell I had to pay a fortune for the excess and although I shouldn’t have been surprised, it still found a way to niggle at me enough to annoy me. I think my main gripe was that I must have been toeing the line when leaving…as I mentioned earlier, a few t-shirts and two light dresses would certainly not equate to 10kgs! I think the other part that annoyed me the most was if I knew that I was over I would have bought more!!
Security measures in the US are a pain, there is no other way to describe it, but like most, I just grin and bear it. Shoes off, laptop out of handbag (thank god I have only been traveling with the tiny dell!); toiletries in pack, and shuffle, shuffle through the security x-ray machine, body x-ray and pat down/scan down. As I was collecting my bags from the x-ray, a fifty something sergeant major looking guy comes over and asks “ma’am, is this green bag yours?”…hmm great I think…what have I got in there that has raised concerns or suspicion. Ahh the scales! I had bought a pair of hand scales to test the weight of the suitcase and although great and a bargain, they area a two person (or lighter bag) job, so I bought some super light weight body scales that I thought I would pack and if it become a problem would leave at the airport.
“Um ma’am” he says… “Is that your bottle in the bag?” he questions like I haven’t had a drink in two minutes
“ah yes, that is my bottle of vodka” I say at this point cool as a cucumber but a bit baffled as to what the problem is…
“Well you can’t take liquids of this size out!” he says matter of fact!
“Hmm” says I, “but I am an international travel and this is my quota of duty free to take back to Australia” I say a bit more irritated than before
“When you buy this, people aren’t interested in the rules, so basically you can’t have it!”
Knowing I am not going to get anywhere and although extremely upset to be giving up my Absolut Brooklyn (a Spike Lee inspired and designed bottle with red apple and ginger) contents I suggest that he “empty the contents then, and just give me the bottle.”
“I can’t do that ma’am.” He says matter of fact and by this stage, although I would not consider myself violent person I am about ready to punch him in the nose! “All I can suggest” he continues “is that you check the bottle into your luggage” is this guy kidding!!
By then I am pretty miffed, and I ask him his name which I never get a response to, but calmly ask “so, you’re telling me, that you are prepared for me to leave a secure area after clearing the security, waltz back to United, and casually ask them to get my checked bags off the airplane or holding area to put this bottle in?” he blinks at me for a few seconds, and says “well no, you can’t leave here now, and no you can’t get your bags back…” and starts to walk away before turning “well nothing I can do for you..” and walks off! By then I am pretty irate and say pretty loudly… “Well that sucks dogs balls!” much to the disgrace of the family nearby…sorry to that family but I couldn’t believe it. Not so much for the bottle, but why on earth couldn’t I take the bottle if the liquid was the problem! Hmmmpf! So excess luggage and now confiscated plonk! Not happy Jan!
After a few minutes and a good old fashioned breathe, (and a phone call home to let them know I am on the way) I choose not to let the two indiscretions ruin a magnificent adventure and wonderful two months!
The flight from New York to San Francisco takes about 5 ½ hours…normally…but first you need to take off! After sitting on the tarmac for over an hour, I started to already feel the impact of the three day journey home! Fortunately we were given the opportunity to listen to our place progress in the queue on channel 9 of the aircraft. Ho hum, I’m sorry, am I on hold?? ‘Thank you for holding, you are X in the line and will be answered shortly!'
One surprise I did have flying United was that although it was an International ticket, the leg from San Fran to NY on the way up, and NY to San Fran on the way back does not include food despite the 5hours flying time. Nothing is free in America, and you could make a purchase of food…..only that is not available, and oh I’m sorry we have sold out of that, and oh but we can offer you biscuits!! Good thing I had that experience on the way up so I packed my Quakers Granola Bars (the BEST muesli bars I have ever eaten) and enjoyed my Diet Cokes and Ginger Ales! (No not together!)
After an hour we finally progressed in the Far Queue… (Hehehe couldn’t let that opportunity slip) and were on our merry way! I enjoyed a few episodes of True Blood before the battery died on the laptop (although the lady next to me didn’t appreciate some of the seductive scenes though…for those who watch it…do you think there is a social responsibility not to view the show in public spaces?) and counted down to San Francisco to hopefully find a second bottle of Absolut Brooklyn and my last chance to buy some Hershey Bars and Reeces.
Arriving in San Francisco the worst announcement that I can record ever hearing… “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking; we have called for the Trolley twice but don’t seem to be getting an answer. We apologise for the inconvenience but will be grounded until someone responds please be patient.”
So after waiting 20 minutes on the tarmac unable to get off the plane that moment of panic has set in looking at my watch. Oh dear, the Sydney bound flight is now boarding and I am sitting on a stationery plane!
Next announcement from lady captain asks all those passengers not transferring to a connecting flight to remain seated to allow those (like me!) on a connection to leave first. Yeah right….not all people are considerate!
We finally get off the plane at 10.20pm after the flight had commenced boarding at 9.55pm and the flight departing at 10.50pm! So much for Absolut and Chocolate purchasing…
I walk briskly off the plane to a monitor and see a youngish guy (whose name I never got!), an Indian (party of three) family and myself all looking for our Sydney bound flight….We arrived at Gate 103 domestic and had to go to Gate 93 International….yes you guessed it, right across the other side of the terminal!
Guy turns to me and says “Great could they have put us any expletive but starts with f and ends with kn further away? I can’t miss this flight!”
“Neither can I” I respond with a hint of panic. Connected by a force of anxiety he turns to me and says, “Love we have to run!” Now if this were a movie, perhaps you could pause and imagine an unco Will Ferrell running through an airport to the music of Chariots of Fire…that is what I felt and looked like. I have NEVER had to run for a plane in all my life and now have a new sense of appreciation for those I have seen do it before me. Although I was dressed sensibly, trying to run with a trolley bag, hand bag and avoid people I can only imagine I looked retarded based on how retarded I actually felt running! Together Guy and I ran for 10 minutes much to his shouting…not talking loud…shouting at me “hustle hustle” “move those little legs!” After 10 minutes I came to a stop to wipe the beads of perspiration that had now dripped down my face and to have a little freak out. He turns and see’s that I have stopped running and comes up to me, puts his hands in my face and says “we are not missing this flight…you can do it!”
Like an annoying woman you hope dies in one of those stupid horror movies, I respond “I just don’t think I can…you go…” my god could I be any more melodramatic!! But before you cast judgment on me…don’t forget I have paid excess luggage, had my plonk confiscated, sat on a tarmac for an hour, not been fed and NOW running for the flight of my life!
Guy turns around and I think people would assume we were a couple given the way he was cradling my face…lucky he didn’t strangle me! “Carry my bag and I’ll carry yours, and then we run...okay?” he looks pleadingly at me… “Ok, you’re right” say's I as I shake my head and snap out of it. He grabs my trolley bag and I grab his Lonsdale gym bag and we take off and run like the wind! Up two flights of stairs, down one, running…running….he turns and says “Hell what have you got in here….” “Scales” I shout like a buffoon!! We run and run and run…the Indian family surprisingly keeping up in the distance and screech to a holt at our gate as the announcer pages the Indian family name, Guy’s (and do you think I heard what it was) and pauses as I shout at the top of my lungs… “I am BAGGIO!” as the lady smiles at me, takes her hand off the microphone and says calmly “and passenger Baggio”
She smiles at us all and says “well you’ve made it, now sit back and enjoy your flight!”
Guy and I walk through the gate and exchange our bags as I thank him profusely and he laughs and says “well that was close!”
We board the plane to meet Mr. ‘I have had 5 cans of red bull’ who says, “ahhh so you are the passengers we have been waiting for..” and Guy turns and says “you’re lucky we expletive ran!” and he gives us both a set of Captain’s wings and says “well next time these might get you here faster…”laughing in what I only hope was a joke. “I will never run for a plane again, AND I need a red wine now please sir! Was my response!
We walk down the plane to the glares and jeers of the passengers who clearly did not see the sweat that was still beading on what I can only imagine was a beetroot red face from running! Naturally all the overhead bins were full, so up and down I walk looking for a vacant spot for the green trolley WITH the scales! Sadly I didn’t see Guy again, nor thank him or have a chat as I transferred to Melbourne once I got to Sydney.
Fortunately when I got to my seat the two passengers were related so asked to swap so that they could sit together and would I mind having the aisle…not at all! The man looks at my condition, and asks me if I am ok! I explained the plight and he was dismayed as he and his son were due to travel on the same flight as me (they were from New York) the day prior, but United had contacted them to advise that they had cancelled their flight and offered them an early transfer to San Fran with a 6 hour wait or my flight. They opted for the 6 hour transfer in San Fran.
The rest of the flight was fine with the only hiccup when I got to Sydney and rechecked my trolley bag and handbag through security my toothpaste got confiscated for whatever reason. It didn’t matter that it was a small one and hadn’t been used the entire trip but for whatever reason the woman confiscated it! Weird!
As I sat in Melbourne waiting for my Adelaide flight and write this, I chuckle at the adventure I have just had…not only the two months, but in the three day journey just to get home. What a marathon journey!
Many thanks to each of you for not only reading and commenting on these blogs, but for your kind words of encouragement and praise on these blogs. I have enjoyed writing them as much as you have all enjoyed reading them!
Until the next adventure….wherever and whenever that may be in the world…this blog will remain open and ready…
Lots of love Bee xxx
New York!!!!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can’t do,
Now you're in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York…………………
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