2012 Holiday To London-NYC-Niagara - Day Twenty Four

The missus decided to go to Chelsea Market this morning. The Boy and I walked past the USS Intrepid and USS Michael Murphy. Noticed the Falun Gong protesters again and finally realised why they were there - they were opposite the consulate of the PRC. We played a total of five games of pool in the sky lounge and The Boy beat me 3-2.

USS Intrepid

USS Michael Murphy and submarine

I decided to make a last ditch effort to photograph some of the crazier people in Times Square - topless female guitarist, red Indian and guitarist walking around in undies. Didn't see any of those particular performers. Picked up a free pizza slice from Sbarro which was doing a promotion. Stopped by the Majestic Theater again and then Papaya Dog for a hot dog, french fries and cheese fries.

Times Square

Panorama of Times Square

Watch out for these guys

Statue of Liberty and tourists

Papaya Dog - yummy food

By the time I arrived at the apartment the new people had arrived. We left at 2:30pm. The missus said that there was an escalator at 7th Ave, for our luggage, although the subway we needed was at 8th Ave. We were one of the first on the bus therefore didn't have much trouble stowing our luggage. Got off at 7th Ave - escalators not working. Heavy bags meant I had to carry both bags down. More stairs to negotiate also. Then we had to walk to 8th Ave anyway. And then negotiate more stairs.

Express train to the airport. Bit of an issue with the seating arrangements. Got in line for security check and realised that they hadn't provided the missus' boarding pass for LA to Sydney. I had to return to the desk to have them print another one. Pretty busy checking in so good thing that we arrived early.

The best part about arriving early is when your flight is delayed because you get to wait at the airport for longer. Strange shopping area as not many prices were marked and they were quite rude when serving you anyway. Left some 20~25 mins late.

Sat next to Mark, an interior designer from Sydney, for the flight to LA. Arrived late and left about 25 mins late. Same plane for the Sydney leg. Sat next to Nancy, a retired 5th grade teacher from Albany, NY, who had done a teacher exchange many years ago. She is a well-travelled lady and was great to talk to. Our family was seated in three different rows so the missus managed a swap so that she could sit next to The Boy. The guy who she swapped with seemed to enjoy chatting with the blonde next to him - both parties probably happy with the deal.

I see Australia below

At least half an hour late into Sydney. Luckily I asked a Customs official about the bags because I had asked them to be checked through to Perth. He said that is what was supposed to happen in theory but doesn't actually work. The missus didn't have time to collect her luggage or she would miss her flight. Nearly got in trouble with another Customs or Immigration official for trying to talk with her as she had already passed through immigration and I hadn't. Good thing I grabbed her bag as it was, obviously, one of the last off. Had chocolates and wood to declare and the sniffer dog from Quarantine found the chocs. No probs - and then the missus was waiting for us outside the exit! She had missed her flight, or at least wouldn't have made it, so they changed the flight for her.

Took the luggage to the transfer area - the missus raced ahead without us even though I asked her to wait until I had gotten my boarding pass out. The Boy and I were ushered into a different check-in station, with a shorter processing time most likely due to our flight being earlier, and so I had to drop her baggage off for her. She seemed quite annoyed but said later it wasn't about that.

Waited in the transfer lounge for a bus to drive us to the other terminal. The missus took the next bus. Short wait in Sydney - not much to buy. Quick trip to Melb for The Boy and myself (missus took a direct flight to Perth) - reasonably uneventful. Whilst waiting for the next flight in Melbourne we grabbed a burger meal.

So endeth some 39 hours of slight hell returning from NYC.

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2012 Holiday To London-NYC-Niagara - Day Twelve

Got a reasonable night sleep. No plans for the day so we headed for the Rockefeller Center. Breakfast on the way, at a place called Villa, was pretty terrible - don't know who tortured the chooks but the scrambled eggs were quite bad, pancakes were like Frisbees and the water was very dear (nice, thin style cap though). The missus, surprisingly, enjoyed the coffee.

Looked around the base of the Rockefeller Center and the Lego shop. Found the tourist info near Times Square - they pointed  me in the right direction of T-mobile. I found Mobile Best Buy, who carried T-mobile, which wasn't such a crash-hot idea - $50 + tax for mobile services. Was just about to buy when I asked if the guy had a friend at the tourist info. No. Turns out there was a T-mobile on the next block but he asked me to come back if the price was the same. And he assured me that it would be. Deal. Found the original shop that I'd been looking for and they wanted only $30 + tax (US$32.66) for a 15-day 2G plan that would do me. 3G was about another $20. Mobile charges are quite a bit higher in New York than London. The guys in the T-mobile shop even inserted the SIM cards to test that they would actually work which was something the first guy wouldn't do. Better service and much better price.

Rockefeller Center flags

By this time The Boy was hungry so we bought him lunch at McDonald's. The girl who served me had as much trouble understanding me as I did her. Bought an iced coffee which was basically a watered-down coffee with ice. Certainly not what I was expecting, horrible and not like back home.

Eye-catching billboard in Times Square

Returned to our apartment to plan our attack on the city and the NY City Pass looked to be a good deal.

Took the subway down to Soho to do some clothes shopping for the missus. Ended up buying three shirts and a pair of jeans for me - that always happens and annoys the missus greatly. One gourmet style food shop in the area was selling a small Vegemite jar for US$13.50 which would go for about six bucks back home. The Boy and I had hot dogs from one of the myriad street vendors.

By this morning I had already heard more horns tooted than in my entire stay in London. NYC is really busy with a huge amount of traffic whereas London generally suits just the buses and taxis. Got back from Soho reasonably late and the missus decided to use the lobby entrance instead of the service entrance. Of course, we were challenged by the guy on duty. Ignored him be he wasn't going to relent and demanded to know which apartment we were going to. Had to tell him, which was something we were warned against doing, and at that point he opened the door for us. Weird. And ultra scary.

View from our apartment

Bought groceries from Food Emporium which is located nearby. I reckon the fruit and veges are twice the price of back home. They want US$3.99/lb for gala apples. Yikes.

Photo Album Vol I
Photo Album Vol II
Photo Album Vol III
Photo Album Vol IV (Final)