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It all started off so well..... I got up for a final stroll around the garment district and got CHEAP exercise shoes (and retired my old ones. I had an authentic pastrami on rye from an oldstyle deli that could have fed 4 (here you eat what you want and leave an almost full plate, the wastage makes me how they all make money). Then the street got closed off for filming scenes from the new men in black movie, and a seriously expensive winnebago pulled up, the kind the actors get. I watched the filming until it was time to return to the hotel to check out. It was lots of fun, but no will smith sighting sadly!
At the airport it became obvious that the weather that had been annoying and giving my photos an atmospheric edge had played havoc with the flights (this doesn't make the news, nothing outside celebrity news or politics gets a look in). They are still shifting a commercial backlog of passengers stranded for 2 days all airlines all flights out of new York. I hung around until the last flight had left, without me on it. Will be doing the same tomorrow by the looks of things. Alitalia and delta hate ID travel, we were ignored, no info given and yelled at when I approached the manager to get our coupons returned (so we could relist but he thought I was trying to debate the no seats - beyond appalling). Wait it gets worse - I had by this time made friends with the group of staff travellers, mostly Italians, and they told me the last flight the only people they accepted were two couples with 3 and 4 yr old children, friends of siblings of staff (what!) and they were seated in the jump seats (hello illegal safety and children in the cockpit with 5 point harnesses!!). The Italians told me later that they were gobsmacked, only staff with security clearances can sit in cockpits with the pilots final permission due safety and security, never non airline never toddlers.
So I booked a room for myself and an Italian girl to share at the airport, given a staff rate and we went to wait for the shuttle. 30 mins later it turns up, too full to get on, wait for the next one, the guy doesn't latch the back door properly and it flings open as he's driving down the road, people and bags somehow miraculously remaining in ( as it was also overfilled ). One hour to check in, electric plug connections only work if you press the plug down, a smoking room!!!!!!! Bar closed!!!!!!
I am now in the restaurant waiting for my breakfast ordered an hour ago. The photo today is of the buffet, and you all know what a massive fan of buffets I am so it is tongue in cheek. I ordered eggs Benedict my usual hangover cure as I am feeling a bit queasy from lack of sleep and the stress of all this, but I have met many great people over the last 24 hours all sharing disaster experiences and once I am on my way I will laugh at all of this. It is as if the travel gods would not let me leave America without experiencing their god awful food courts and mass tourist hotels, consider it done and let me get out of this tourist hell.
- comments
Jane Oh no!! I have everything crossed for you.. Looking forward to hearing that you reached Italy with no further dramas. At least the bad food courts will all be in the past..
Mum Hope you are now safely on your way to Italy where good food and coffee wait you.