New York New York

The time had come to get to the Big Smoke. 

We somehow managed to get the hire car dropped off at 6am after finding a local fuel station and driving into the wrong hire company and missing the turnoff and getting stuck behind a slow bus and........

Anyway, I managed to de-stress once we had got our bags checked in and passed through airport security with very minimal fuss. 

We were all actually impressed with the United Air flight and the screen entertainment. The kids classed it as “better than Qantas “. It was admittedly very comfortable and a nice big screen with 100+ movies to choose from. It certainly helped pass the 4 hours flight time. 

Getting off the plane, we were hit with typical winter NY weather. About 1 degree C and light showers. 

We had a shared Airport transfer bus booked so we headed to the waiting area and prepared for the 10 minute wait. 

And waited. 

And waited. 

40 minutes later we were advised that they would be here in 10 minutes, so we prepared for the 10 minute wait. 

And waited. 

And waited. 

40 minutes later and a barrage of complaints fro Tracy and the other people waiting, the bus arrived, completely oblivious to our frustrations and the apparent lateness of his arrival. 

We were now in the middle of peak hour traffic, so our 45 minute trip was set to become a 90 minute trip and get us to our unit in the pitch black. 

Thankfully we did get dropped off at our doorstep, however with the thin streets, too many people, drizzling weather, 4 suitcases and a lockbox with a key code that wasn’t working, our (ok - my) patience was wearing thin. 

Once we eventually got into our sauna, I mean slightly overheated single room unit, and found a resting spot for all our luggage, we all crashed onto the one couch and bed that was to be our accommodation for the next 5 days. 

We had to do our best to turn the heat off, but these stupid old fashioned boiler radiators only seem to be able to be turned down - not off. 

I am guessing we are the only New Yorkers who have two windows wide open when it is -3 degrees outside and 35 degrees inside to try and get it to an ambient temperature closer to 20 degrees.   

We have some huge days ahead with many miles of walking and some very early mornings - all in the name of of a holiday.