Hi, just got back yesterday from my annual trip to New York. Had some problems with this trip, mostly to do with getting there and coming back. The beginning is a sad tale:
First, my cab was late Wednesday morning. I should have known to order a cab at least 15 minutes early in Miami (he called and said he needed to put air in his tires). He finally showed up, and we did get to the American Airlines terminal with plenty of time to spare, mainly because it was so early in the morning and there was no traffic.
Plane took off on time. Great. I settle back, put on some music . . . and then there%26#39;s this NOISE. For fans of LOST, think the noise after the hatch blew up in the season finale. It sounded EXACTLY like that. For those not familiar with the show, think groaning metallic sound. I try to brush it off, thinking I%26#39;m imagining it or just paranoid--then the pilot gets on the PA system and announces we%26#39;re going back to Miami. Not to worry, the noise is probably a cargo door that wasn%26#39;t properly closed. We%26#39;ll probably be back in the air right away.
Right.
After a very tense 20 minutes (with the noise happening every 30 seconds or so), we land safely. The mechanics arrive and after five minutes, we%26#39;re told to get off the plane, it%26#39;s going out of service.
When we get to the counter, we%26#39;re told the next flight to LaGuardia isn%26#39;t until 3:30 PM. No good for me, as I have a ticket for that night%26#39;s performance of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS. They can put us on one to JFK, but our luggage is still going to LaGuardia. O.K., whatever.
They tell us where to go (';just up that escalator and follow the signs.';). Well, I go UP the escalator, through several hallways, UP in an elavator, through more hallways, DOWN another escalator, through more hallways. (You think I%26#39;m kidding--I WISH!) Finally get to the gate. I realize I am going to have to buy something for lunch, and there go my lunch plans in New York. Spend $7.25 for a horrible airport sandwich. Go to the bar across from the gate and get a vodka and tonic because there%26#39;s no way I%26#39;m getting on a plane again that day without being mildly snockered.
Plane is late boarding. A ';little'; problem with the air conditioning. They need to give it time to cool off. They finally board us--the plane is still hot as Hades. We sit there. And sit there. In the hot. (My seat mate has either fallen asleep or passed out, I%26#39;m not sure which.) Finally, they tell us they%26#39;re waiting for the mechanics because they are having trouble arming one of the doors. One lady on the plane insists on being let off. I wonder if I should follow her. Hitchhiking to New York seems like a safer and quicker option at this point.
Finally we take off and make it to JFK without further problems. I run to the baggage claim counter to make sure they route my bag to my hotel. How long, I ask? Within 24 hours. Great. Now I have to wear my cruddy airplane clothes to dinner and the show and possibly face going to bed ';commando'; that night. (Luckily, I did think to pack some undies in my flight bag. Good tip to remember--ALWAYS pack some with your carry on luggage.)
Get a cab right away and arrive at the hotel. The hotel, the Hampton Inn Times Square North, is very nice. I was a little disappointed that they did not give me a room on a high floor as requested, and more than a little troubled that it faced right over a construction site. I was in too much of a hurry and too tired to argue with anyone at that point. I decided to stay in that room for the night and ask for a change in the morning if it was a problem. It turned out not to be. My room was quiet as a tomb the entire stay. I guess the construction was suspended for some reason, because even when I was there in the middle of the day nothing was going on.
Room was quite large for a New York hotel, with a sitting area (plenty of room for a sofa and coffee table, very convenient). Decor was nice, everything was super-clean. The only lack, as far as I was concerned, was a refrigerator, which I had at the Belvedere last year. Not a huge deal (there were ice and soda machines down the hallway) but it still would have been a nice thing to have in the room.
Anyway, continuing the saga of my first day, I rush out to get something to eat before the show. I had carefully printed out a bunch of menus from menupages.com, but of course they were all in my suitcase--at LaGuardia. So I headed for 9th Avenue and stopped at the first place that sounded familiar. That turned out to be Vynl, which has been recommended here many times.
It turned out to be an excellent choice. I did, however, feel rather self-conscious about my appearance. It%26#39;s really a glorified diner, a very casual place, but also a kind of HIP place, and I felt like my shabby airplane clothes were flashing like neon. But the wait staff couldn%26#39;t have been nicer. I noticed that several other people there were eating on their own, so this is a great place to go if you are dining by yourself.
I wanted to eat light because I was already exhausted and didn%26#39;t want to fall asleep during the show. I ordered one of the specials, a tuna steak salad. DELICIOUS! The tuna steak was grilled to perfection, very rare, fantastic. The salad was very refreshing. As much as I would dearly have loved to order a cocktail, again, I decided against it to keep as alert as possible the rest of the evening. Instead, I ordered their non-alcoholic specialty, a watermelon lemonade. Oh, so refreshing and yummy! I had two glasses. The waiter told me it was his favorite, too.
For dessert, I had a fruit crisp--this was the only mild disappointment. I felt it could have been spiced a little more. But it was still good.
I left very happy that at least one thing went right that day. I headed for the show. Had a great seat in the front mezzanine. Was crushed to find out that Norbert Leo Butz was not going to appear that night. But his standby was really very good.
The show is terrific--it had to be, because I was so dead tired anything the least bit boring would have put me straight to sleep. Loved the actors, particularly Lucie Arnaz, who looked fabulous and was very funny.
When I arrived back at the hotel, I asked the bell captain if my suitcase had arrived yet. No. It%26#39;s going to be ';commando,'; after all, I think. Literally five seconds after I get to my room, the phone rings. My suitcase had just arrived! They brought it right up. My brand new suitcase looked like it had been dragged through the frozen tundra on the back of a dogsled--the frame was all bent, a couple of rips in the corners--I didn%26#39;t care. I was SO happy to see my clothes!
I fall into bed thinking things have to get better now (ha-ha, you%26#39;ll see what I mean in my next installment). And I vow never to fly American Airlines again . . .
Trip report - part 1 - just getting there is a trip!
oh no, sorry for all those problems!! i would%26#39;ve been so thoroughly annoyed, but you seemed to handle it all quite well. at least you still managed to make your show! and that you got your suitcase. ugh! glad you got to eat at vynl! looking forward to hearing more.
Trip report - part 1 - just getting there is a trip!
What an intro to your visit :-( But, a delightfully entertaining account -- looking forward to the next chapter!
Not a great beginning, thankfully the food %26amp; show were good, looking forward to reading more of your adventures in travel!!
Oh---I just love flying these days---NOT! Sorry to hear about your airline troubles but it can and does happen no matter what airline you use. Glad to hear that your luggage caught up to you. These days, I only take carry-on bags. When we saw DRS, Norbert Leo Butz wasn%26#39;t performing either but his stand-in was great ( Jason Gilman).
I saw Gilman, too--thought he was terrific.
And several people have told me today their own recent horror stories about flying, so you%26#39;re probably right, it%26#39;s not just American. :-%26lt;
I know how you feel!!! No good that your first whole day was frittered away in airports! Eeeeeeks. Whilst I was in America a few weeks ago every single American Airlines flight I got on was delayed, sometimes for 10 mins and once for about an hour and a half. And every single time we went to pick up our bags mine would come off the plane but my partners went MIA! I think it was 3 flights in a row. Gotta love American Airlines!!! They seem to be plagued with all sorts of problems.
What a day...but on the upside, you write about it so well! I%26#39;m keeping my fingers crossed for good things in the next part.
You poor dear ... but you pulled it off! Congrats. Always a good idea to pack some undies in the carry on - as well as an extra T shirt. I usually stick a shell in there in a zip lock bag. Looking forward to the rest of the trip report ... hope things look up from here. Ta. MMM!
thats horrible about the flight-I would have had a heart attack!
I%26#39;m sure it would be a hassle for you, Devan, but I much prefer the FLL airport to MIA. And then, Jet Blue, Jet Blue, Jet Blue.
On to part II.
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