Early wake up – 5.30am – in order to get to LAX with sufficient time to check in and find our departure gate. This turned out to be a good call as our flight was re-gated to another terminal. Security was tight and I am now considering travelling as a 75 yr old since they (and children under 8) don’t have to separate laptops from carry-on luggage and handbags or remove belts, watches, jackets or take off their shoes. Interestingly there has still been no mention of the 24 epipens that Peter has been carrying with him!
Flight was good – new plane and a spare seat next to us! Arrived at JFK at 4.30pm and as we were taxiing back to the terminal I peered through my window to watch ten planes land in the ten minutes we took to get in. I guess that is why JFK is rated the busiest airport in America. It was an amazing sight to see their lights all lined up going back to the horizon.
We stepped out of the terminal and right into a bitterly cold wind that seemed to be focussed on the long line of weary travellers waiting for a taxi. We had to stand in line in the wind and cold for about 20 minutes but finally we got to the head of the queue and were able to climb into a big warm ‘yellow taxi’ for our ride in to Manhattan. The trip was quick and uneventful, but we were a little disappointed that the driver failed to beep his horn or yell abuse at anyone. Clearly things have changed a lot since we were last here in 1986. (Or perhaps it was just too cold?)
As the cab arrived at our destination we were both very excited to finally see where we would be spending the next six months. The distinctive black and white brickwork of our apartment complex and the little red entrance door to our building 527 has been known to us in photos and on websites for so long that they seemed symbolic of our LSL dreams … so we were both very keen to step though that door and begin our New York adventure. And so we did!
Unfortunately the adventure did not begin well … we nearly had a heart attack schlepping all our luggage up four flights of stairs … but we were nonetheless thrilled to step into our little apartment (with an emphasis on little). Still, as we intend to be out all day, it will serve as a well-located place to rest and plan the next day’s adventure.
We logged in to the wifi to find the closest restaurant. As it turned out it was a pizza joint on 1st Avenue and so we donned our coats, hats gloves and scarves (got to get used to this on/off process) and went out for some great pizza and terrible wine. Called in at the ‘NY Food Emporium’ for some breakfast supplies on the way home and called it a night. Sleep tight New York and we hope Hilary feels better soon.
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| Our flat is the far red door, 4th floor and third and fourth windows from the left. |
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