It was certainly a bit of an action-packed day yesterday. Up nice and early to catch the 7:30 shuttle to Blagnac airport. It was nice that I got through security quite quick (normally my underwired bra sets off the metal detector and I have to have a pat down - I think they just like a feel every now and then), although that left me with nearly 2 hours wait before the plane arrived. I'm not someone who particularly likes waiting around in airports for all the travelling I do. Is anyone else like that? I find duty free really expensive and I'm not one for designer handbags, booze or make up. I guess that's where people watching comes in to play. Where are they going? Who are they? Is that their sneaky mistress they are heading off on a dirty weekend with? Are they really a secret agent heading off on another mission? Hey, don't judge, I need something to help pass the time!
Arrived in Paris CDG to find that my connection was 40 minutes late. The up side was that I found that I would be travelling on the A380. Ooohhhh, get me!
Grabbed my aisle seat and settled in for the 7hr flight. Watched a few movies to pass the time as I couldn't seem to nod off. It doesn't help when you have a lady behind you who feels that she has to punch the touch screen on the headrest in order to select something. Ended up having a word with her when my patience ran out after about an hour or so of head bobbing. She even told me that she wasn't doing anything! Sat next to a Spanish guy who fell asleep for a lot of the flight. However, he committed the cardinal sin of public transport. He kept breaking wind in his sleep. Now I'm a girl who can put up with smells, but my word did his smell bad. Of course he couldn't control it as he was asleep but how do you break it to someone that they are stinking the place out? lol.
Got to JFK and ended up being put in a different queue as it's not the first time I have been to the US. Went to an electronic passport system for customs. Had a lovely chat with the customs officer who wanted to know every little thing that I was going to be doing whilst here. All that matters in the end is that I got that little stamp in my passport and was allowed out of the doors. Waited for my driver to pick me up for 30mins so in the end had to call the company. He had left because we were sat on the plane for 40 minutes after landing because the plane is too big to park itself and so we needed a tow. Eventually he came back and drove me (like a nutter and texting) to the hostel. Had a nice quiet 3 bed dorm that I was only sharing with a 56 year old woman from Canda, called Tammy.
The NY subway certainly keeps you entertained. I took 4 trains and found performers at each stop and even on the train. Ranging from opera singers, beat boxing, violin playing and even breaking dancing on the actual train - flips, tricks, hanging from the rails. You name it, it's possible in NYC.
Decided to go and see the bright lights of Times Square. New York is such a diverse city. So many different types of people - Jewish, Arab, Asian, African, transvestities....anything you could imagine. Lots of people in costume trying to earn some money by having their photo with you. I saw Elmo, Iron Man, Buzz Lightyear, Mickey Mouse to name but a few. Of course, you get the ever so typical people dressed up as the Statue of Liberty :-) along with some half naked showgirls body painted in the US flag.
Took the obvious tourist photos in Times Square and even treated myself to a hot dog for dinner. Hey, you've got to blend in with the local culture. In Asia it was fried insects, here it's hot dogs ;-) No mustard for me though, which I think could be a cardinal sin here. Got to see the famous ball that drops on New Years Eve, just a little after the right date. Apparently, the first one was drop about 100 years ago. It's full of glittering billboards and even some screens where you can watch live TV shows during the day. Passed by the Disney store so of course thought of Molly who would have loved it - hey, anything with Disney Princesses is a must have! Back in the 70s, Times Square was a seedy place full of strip clubs, hookers and pickpockets. My how times have changed. Approx. 35 million people come to Times Square each year, drawn here by the big chain stores e.g. Americann Eagle, Hershey and comedy clubs/theatres.
It was already 10pm by that time so it was back to the hostel and bedtime. A busy day. En route to Boston tomorrow on the Amtrak. Toodles New York, thanks for having me!
No comments:
Post a Comment