Traveling at My Age, NYC Trip
“There is no place like home.” quote by L. Frank Baum from the Wizard of OZ
Russ and I are in our 70’s.We don’t like to travel anymore, but all our friends do. It seems as soon as they return from one trip, they’re planning the next. I always admired how easily they turned themselves into adventurers and wondered why I couldn’t do it too.
Well, I guess one reason we do not travel is that Russ always becomes ill. I know every hospital , how to use the hotel doctor and location of every medical center in everyplace we have traveled to. And even though I can’t remember the names of all the hotels we stayed at I can still remember the names of the best hospitals and the various treatments. Another reason is the experience of getting to your destination, navigating airports, and arriving at hotels and visiting attractions. There are so many people! I suspect it is for these reasons, we purchased a farm and adopted a dog. We realized we were going to be enjoying what we have here in Puerto Rico.
We hadn’t been to the Puerto Rican airport in over four years. From the minute we parked our car in 4D, we learned everything had changed. There we were, pulling our new suitcase with the little spinning wheels heading toward the exit and to the terminal, only to discover the exit was closed with no clear directions. When we finally got inside the terminal, we didn’t see the USDA, (United States Department of Agriculture) inspection station. The USDA controls what can take between Puerto Rico and the mainland. PR has pests the mainland doesn’t. So we proceed to the airline’s self service terminals to print our tickets. But the home screen was confusing even to Russ who has a master’s degree in computer science. We took our luggage to baggage check who pointed us to the USDA area. It was located off to the side of the entrance and not well marked. Our bags received the orange stickers and we were back to the baggage area. After that we went to TSA pre check. We were so grateful to have it because the line to enter was long and winding, holding more than 500 people waiting to have their luggage checked and to go through metal detectors. My Jewish guilt kicked in. Even though I had nothing, I felt so uncomfortable.
Finally, we entered into the terminal and found the Priority Club. But this area changed too. It wasn’t luxurious anymore. It was just a room where you could work on your computer. No bathroom and the once lavish buffet was sad. Our ticket said we were to board at gate A7. But again everything had changed. Nobody was really dressed, there were a lot of children and dogs. My only hope in the past was that no one taking up more than the allotted seat would sit next me. Now I feared I would be seated next to a family with a baby or with their dog!
Russ and I sat down by the sign that said A7, but it was so strange because there wasn’t a gate next to the checkin desk. Russ got up to check and noticed there was another gate A7 sign where we were to enter to board the aircraft. But this gate was behind a partition. Had he not gotten up, we would never have known.
The Jet Blue flight to JFK was easy, three and half hours. We landed around 7 PM got our luggage and started the 30 minute trek to the taxi line to get to Manhattan. The whole time schlepping our luggage. In the JFK fixed rate taxi, 40 minutes later and $107.00 lighter we arrived at our destination, the newly remolded Waldorf Astoria hotel.
Russ and I have been to New York about five times. I am a Chicagoan so my bias is going to show. New York’s building are tall, shinny, and impressive, but they still don’t compare to the streetscapes of my old home town.
We started our adventure with our friend Barry, who lives in Manhattan and has an apartment in Puerto Rico. He came to the hotel at 9pm. and suggested we join him for dinner at the Gran Bistro in the Grand Central Station. I’ve never eaten at nine p.m. in my life, but I wanted to please everyone, so off we went. Grand Central was still hustling with people running to their tracks to board their trains. The restaurant was so cute, and it was Restaurant Week. The boys ordered of the prix fixe menu, I was so tired I think I ate in my sleep.
Our room at the Waldorf was well thought out. It was shaped like a square cut up in three parts.You enter into a nice size hall with closets. To the side of the hall was a large bathroom with a bathtub and shower. The floor and wall tiles were in a dark brown with splashes of gold. And then the third part was the main area, with the king bed, a sitting area and a desk. We both dropped into bed and were asleep. We were missing our baby dog Quinn’s body because she sleeps with us.
The next day we had a $110.00 breakfast of yogurt, fruit, a bread basket, orange juice and coffee. Barry was waiting for us in the seating area called Peacock Alley. There are two main things to admire in this area. There’s the very old piano that Cole Porter played, because he lived in the Waldorf. In the center of Peacock Alley is a beautiful gilded gold old clock that was a gift to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition from Queen Victoria.
Peacock Alley has an interesting story too. At one time, the Waldorf Astoria was actually two hotels, the Waldorf and the Astoria and in between the two hotels there was an alley. The elite people of New York would come dressed to the nines to this alley. News reporters would see these people and say they were dressed liked peacocks, hence, the name, Peacock Alley.
Getting back to our day with Barry. We started our day at the MoMa Museum. Russ wanted to see the Marcel Duchamp exhibit. He is well known for using a men’s urinal and a stool with a bicycle wheel and calling it art. We spent at least 2 hours viewing and discussing his works. We also went to three other exhibits, when I proclaimed exhaustion.
Barry suggested we get a little lunch. Replenished we moved on to view the new Tiffany’s store building. The building looks like a Tiffany Blue Box. Each floor has an important work of art. The sales staff was gracious. I inquired about a silver 5×7 picture frame. I was told it was $1200.00 we left.
Next we walked over to the New York Student Art League to view the art of Fairfield Porter. I didn’t care for his flat paintings, but I did find it interesting that he grew up in Winnetka, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.
Our last stop was to see a broadway play. The play we choose was Ragtime, Tony award winner of Best Revival of a Musical and best leading Actor and Actress in a musical. The theater was in the Lincoln Center. I felt the three hour play was too long. The singers really belted out their tunes, but I felt I was in church. The show was too moralistic for my taste. Yet the crowd got to their feet and clapped and screamed their agreement. The audience was really terrific.
On Saturday, was the party we were invited to and the reason we came to New York City. I went to have my hair blown out. When we stepped out of the hotel, we saw the street was closed because people were running, walking, and riding bikes. We were told the street would be closed until 3pm. Russ asked the doorman if he would suggest a NY bagel restaurant for breakfast. He said to try one around the corner. It was brand new. I ordered a plain bagel with cream cheese and lox, Russ had a cinnamon raisin bagel with egg, cheese and ham. A coffee and chi latte, our bill was $52.00.
Our next destination was Blicks for art supplies. Russ looked at his phone and said it would be a 20 minute walk. It was more like 40. We walked through many different neighborhoods. We saw many corner stores that sold flowers, convenience stores, and restaurants. On the street were young people, and dogs but very few people in our age category.
Our friends from Puerto Rico, Tony and Monica suggested we go to China town. So, we took a cab, we were to tried to figure out the subway. Arriving in China Town we saw one Chinese man sitting in front of his store. He beckoned us in. Russ purchased 3 NY logo baseball caps. The price started at one for $10 then two for $15 then three for $20.00. Russ bought the three.
As we continued on the street there were many Nigerian’s selling fake designer purses, belts and wallets. There were literally hundreds of these vendors. all with the same selection of purses, wallets, watches, sunglasses, etc. I tried to stoped to look at the wares but Russ grabbed my hand and said “NO”. We did enter into a store that sold perfumes. I purchased Creed that sells for over $500.00 for $40.00.
We took a taxi back to the hotel and both of us were so tired we both fell asleep. Around 4:30 we started to get dressed for the birthday party.
The party was held on the 4th floor ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria. Russ had a new sage green suit with a white shirt. I wore a long black skirt with a white shirt. Jon and Galina greeted us at the door. The party Galina organized was spectacular. She thought of everything and was gracious and loving. She wore a long, elegant brown dress with gold trim and the most adorable gold shoes. It was a happy and loving party. I felt the love all of her friends and family had for them. It was truly special.
On Sunday morning we checked out and took a taxi to JFK . This time we paid $89.00. We arrived three hours early before our flight time. Another blessing of having TSA precheck, breezed through security. There was no Priority Club in the Jet Blue terminal and we sat in a large area full of other travelers. Once on the plane we sat in the 2nd row in front of a young family with a special needs son. The son keep hitting our seats throughout the flight. Arriving in Puerto Rico we waited 40 minutes for our luggage. Found our car, but could not pay the $102.00 parking fee as all the machines were having technical problems. Had to pay at the exit.
So my take aways from this trip:
I learned that New York City is not for me. Too many people with attitudes, and the cost of everything is not in my comfort zone.
I learned the toilets in New York are ridiculously low.
I noticed that the people on the streets do not dress. It was as though I had not left Puerto Rico with the tourist in shorts, and spandex.
Very grateful to be home. When we arrived Tony and Roa were waiting for us with our dog Quinn. They had prepared dinner. What a dream. There really is no place like home.