One of the downsides of the Wyndham New York Midtown is the 10am checkout. It’s a serious drag to get packed up, bags put in storage for the afternoon since my flight isn’t until 6:30.
Caught an early lunch with Russ (11:30am, when they opened) at The Grand Central Oyster Bar – close to where Russ works, and just a couple of blocks from the condo. About 11:15 a line started forming…
Nothing like a breakfast Beefeater Martini…
Followed by oysters…
Followed by Lox Eggs Benedict….
Great way to finish a trip to NYC with Russ:
Found this picture of both Russ and Ranger Sierra after the last post, so, randomly, here it is:
Back to the condo for the bags, then back to Grand Central to catch the train to JFK…
Got slightly misdirected getting to the airport, but finally found my way – though I was sweaty when I arrived, and not to the terminal I was leaving from. I wanted to see the new TWA Hotel, the 60’s JFK icon repurposed into a hotel. Downside is that the JetBlue terminal it’s attached to is a long walk from the SkyTrain.
They are still working through the last bits of the Punch List, but it’s a cool space, though underutilized, and a long haul walking (especially with luggage). They should pick up a couple of Checker Aeroporters and runs a shuttle from all the terminals. I couldn’t check my bags until four hours before my flight, so I was plenty tired by the time I hit check-in (which, thankfully, was quick). This should give you an idea why…
As I was in the short line I got a text that my plane was now delayed by at least four hours…though about going back to the TWA Hotel for a cocktail in the restored Connie, but I was done walking any further than the lounge.
Nice office, right? And great plane spotting! A BA 747 in the retro-BOAC livery.
And their usual livery…
And then all the random national airlines like Air Serbia, and Aerolineas Argentinas…
If there is a silver lining about the flight delay, it’s that I looked on-line, and they swapped aircraft. I was supposed to be on old Virgin America metal, now I’m on one of new NEO’s with the updated interior…and the new First Class seats!
And on the flight we have a boat load up high school juniors on our flight:
Not that I care, since with the new interior, there are 16 first class seats as opposed to 8 – and I got one!
And the new interior!
And it came with dinner – which is good because the lounge shut down at 10pm – and they’d pulled the soup and salad at eight.
I was surprised that they had DigiPlayers on board, thought those were being phased out. Ended up watching The Aftermath – set in WWII. Worth watching, though not a light drama.
Didn’t get to bed until 2:45am, but actually managed a couple of hours of sleep on the plane – a rarity.
Another glorious sunny day on the lower east side. The morning was spent helping Davey and MJ with computer technical issues. They didn’t’ realize that they actually had wireless Internet in their house. I found it when I went looking for their router to plug my laptop into. Funny.
Then there is Davey’s IBM laptop that he was going to give me — until I showed him how he could use it with his big LCD TV as the music center (he put his knee through the screen on the laptop). Oh well.
Went shopping at J&R Music World — it was a zoo — some sale. They were baking cookies outside he store, serving coffee….it already takes up most of a block of storefronts.
Hunger came over me… off to les Halles, a French brassiere which is more famous than I realized. Davey had the mussels and frites in a traditional white wine, herbs, and butter stock…. I went for the portuguese style with the chorizo. We should have gotten half orders (no frites) and then gotten an order of frites on the side. We had way too much food. I went for a couple of glasses of a Languendoc french red, nice and heavy.
To the Essex Market on the way home for cheese, meat, and salad for dinner with Russ. I had a picture of the “roast” I requested at Jeffries meat counter — didn’t specify what kind of a beef roast, just needed a 3-3.5 pounder, and got a $3 a pound custom rolled cut from a juge hunk of cow out of the locker — the guy didn’t like anything that was in the case. Davey spent $40 on cheese, made my roast look like a deal. Add a little salad, stop at the bakery on the way home, and we have the goods for dinner.
The veg for the roast were roasted vegetables from a previous meal — put them in for the last 20-30 minutes. A fine meal. Russ brought a couple of killer bottles of red wine.
The entertainment for the evening was Davey’s performance on the Food Network Candy Castle Challange — which he had the most air time, but, of course, the most problems with his piece.
Thank you Russ for marking one of my maps with the highlights to see in Istanbul:
Now all I have to do it get to them all. Thanks also to Solus+ and Ton who also provided lists of things to see and food to eat.
Russ’ unexpected visit (in town to clean up the personal effects mess left behind from a friend’s suicide) means that I get a ride to the airport for my morning flight. Downside it that he will be in Seattle until Wednesday morning so I’ll miss two nights of dinner with him, though since he used to live in Seattle I doubt he will go hungry.
The upside is a ride to the airport, the downside is that it’s VERY early in the morning. Here is what I look like in the morning:
Grumpy Markie. Looking a little better after sleeping most of the flight from Seattle to Washington, DC. In the United Club at Dulles:
One of the nice things about airline status is that Premier Gold (I’m Platinum) and above is that on international itineraries you get free access to the United Club locations for your entire itinerary. Too bad the food in the US clubs is basically just cheese, crackers, vegetables and dip, cookies – not like the soup and salad fare in the Board Rooms of Alaska Airlines.
A couple of shots from the DC-Munich flight. I was amazed to find both a USB port AND a 110 outlet on the 767-400 aircraft – assuming this is a retrofitted aircraft rather than new since not many 767’s are being delivered these days:
The blue circle is the headphone jack, the other blue lite thingee at the bottom is the USB port. Sorry, no picture of the 110 outlet. I did get a picture of this “odd” message on the in-flight entertainment system as I was cruising through for movies to watch:
Yes, that’s what it says, “For Korean select Dutch.” This on a flight to Europe. The Dutch never get enough respect. And, no, I didn’t watch I Love You, Man. Saw it on another flight. What I did watch:
Adore – wild sexual Australian sex comedy. Might have to buy that one – about the taboo of a surfer boy sleeping with his mother’s best friend when your mother is sleeping with your surfer buddy.
Parkland – the hospital that they took Kennedy to after the grassy knoll. I don’t think I’ve ever cried at the beginning of a movie. As a child I made a scrapbook of newspaper clippings of the events. My first publishing project. Between all the tears there is the amazement that everyone seems to be smoking cigarettes in the workplace. Oh, right, that IS how it used to be.
Rushmore – a nice relief from Parkland. Reminds me of Ferris Buller. In a suit. A little dark at times but the ultimate happy ending.
And the capper of the four movie night…that I will watch anytime… Young Frankenstein. God I love that movie!
With all the inclement weather on the East Coast – what the displays show as an almost full flight has LOTS of empty seats. I’m guessing lots of people missed their connections:
Most every seat where you see the blue map on the screen is empty. That’s not a full flight.
So, basically NO sleep on the DC-Munich leg. Local time approximately 7am – time for the Lufthansa Senator Lounge which actually does have a breakfast buffet:
Scrambled eggs, a pretzel, some cheese, some meat – yes, there were cereals as well – a Scotch and a Diet Coke.
Had I wanted beer, there were a couple of taps to choose from:
Scotch – it’s not just for breakfast anymore.
Onward towards Istanbul:
My plane awaiting me. Had to go back to the check-in desk to retrieve my jacket, but eventually got settled into what was supposed to be an Exit Row seat, but Turkish changed the airplane type, AGAIN. Moved to a vacant Exit Row seat, but no extra legroom. It’s only a two-hour flight, so no big deal. I was amazed that it came with free food and free booze.
Arrived in Istanbul, found the right line, had my Electronic Visa, and got through Immigration in 15 minutes, and my bag was actually one of the first dozen off the plane – and my driver was waiting. Off to the Ramada Grand Bazaar – a hotel I booked thinking it was “next door” to the Grand Bazaar but is actually a short walk or two tram stops. As it turns out, the hotel seems to be in the textile district where everything seems to move around on giant handcarts because the streets are chocked with cars. The other reason for booking this place (besides frequent flyer points) is that unlike booking.com or other sites, I didn’t have to pre-pay and got 20% off of cheapest rack rate via my WorldMark by Wyndam membership.
Got checked into my room at a lovely low desk that you had to sit down at (after an offer of water/coffee/tea) – to find out that I’m getting the breakfast buffet as well (a 25 lira value – that would be $12 USD):
Got to the room and got the wi-fi set up – only to discover a low signal.
Sigh – this is the view from the room – nice street view:
A little stop at the desk and I’m moved from the 2nd floor to the 6th floor. So, no double bed, but two twins – and a balcony – and a see through shower. Think I’m liking this:
And the new view from the balcony:
And how close I am to a wi-fi repeater on the balcony (the in-hotel one is just down the hall):
And as the “topper” for the evening, it’s the square toilet for my square butt. Complete with little butt sprayer. I haven’t tested it to see if it’s aimed for men or woman:
Went out to explore the neighborhood and get some grounding. Got my fix of Coke Light (what all other countries call Diet Coke) for the room, to go with the ice I had delivered.
Please compare the picture of this ice to the COOLER of ice that I got delivered in Hong Kong.
Dinner was downstairs in the hotel restaurant… not memorable, but close by. A Caesar salad with chicken which cost less than the glass of wine I had with dinner. It was what I needed after a day in the air.
Dinner – done.
Cocktails – done.
The only casualty is my maroon and black leopard print jacket (that I love) has gone missing, most likely in the shuttle from the airport, but so far the front desk hasn’t been able to find it. Guess I’ll need to check out the grand bazaar for a new jacket.
New York isn’t someplace that I really want to visit in July due to the heat and no cheap plane tickets.
Flew into Newark (EWR) on United, using a ton (50,000 miles) for my First Class seat. Before the airline switched to “dynamic pricing” of its award seats, it would have been half that. But I had them in the account, so why not (other than it would have gotten me one-way to Europe in Busienss). And I did get my favorite seat…
Nothing like a pre-flight cocktail when you had to get up at 4:30am. And then there was breakfast:
Actually got a couple of hours of sleep on the plane – must be exhaustion since I don’t usually sleep on planes.
And, the plane was running about 45 minutes late. Add being next to the last stop on the airport shuttle, I was almost 5pm by the time I got to the condo – but boys (Gnarlene and Scott) had already been hanging out for an hour in the lobby – pooped from walking.
Nice place The Colonels got us:
Sadly, no balcony, though there is a communal one up on 33 – we are on the 20th Floor. Decent place, decent view:
A big shout out to Scott for the FABULOUS pictures from his iPhone. Compare his to mine – mind you, it was evening when I took mine.
From the 33rd Floor common area which was PACKED with people. Lots of things lit up in the city to celebrate World Pride this weekend, which we will miss.
The first evening we had company… Ranger Sierra, who is now a Park Ranger for Grant’s Tomb.
Heavy appetizers and more whiskey than Sierra is used to. Made good use of the fold-out couch!
Everybody in the condo slept in with all the travelling, and it being Sierra’s day off. Nice to have someone make coffee!
With the UN being just a couple of blocks away, we decided to get tickets for the tour:
I had taken the tour a decade ago, but Sierra hadn’t ever, and it was on his list.
Without an oven in our kitchen (though it does have a four burner stovetop), most of our dinners in were heavy appetizers from the Amish Market just up the street:
Not the cheapest, but they have an amazing amount of stuff packed into that space.
And then Russ (another friend who lives in the city) showed up with a more substantial meal of empanadas and salad.
I met Russ during my Microsoft days – I don’t see him often enough.
We all took in the sunset up on the balcony:
Lovely evening….always nice hanging with friends you haven’t seen for years.
The next day found me at Grant’s Tomb, though Sierra tour was cancelled sadly.
3
On my NYC adventure I’ve been trying to just do one big thing a day – blame it on the heat, or my laziness. Final day’s “thing” is dinner with Gnarlene and Scott in Chinatown.
Fixed the back automatic gate – needed to rebolt everything. Still need to trim it down a little more:
Then it was back in the house to see if I could get the “shoebox” that came from the shop to work since it has two long runs which means I could have a second multi-line phone that the lights work on:
Ultimately the answer was no – my guess is that I’m no good at using the punch down tool and don’t know enough about the wiring to make it happen. Might be time to talk to someone from the telephone museum in Georgetown that’s only open Tuesday from 8:30-2. I’d love to get a couple more runs added to my working shoebox for fully functioning phones in the living room, kitchen and office.
Rest of the day was spent cleaning and tidying in preparation for Russ’ visit from New York tomorrow.
More cleaning and running around as Russ arrives in the afternoon, has commitments, but will be back for a nightcap with Missy and I – seems they have known each other longer than I’ve known Missy, a fact that we only noticed because of FaceBook.
A braided meat loaf of pork and bison for dinner:
And a not quite clean house:
And my lovely guests with a little bottle of wine:
Was up WAY too late catching up – and I work tomorrow.
Opened the shop at noon – and for once there weren’t delivery guys stacked up waiting for me – didn’t get my first delivery until 2pm – very odd.
Slow day of sales. Damn.
At least Jim showed up in the afternoon to try and troubleshoot the dishwasher which hasn’t been draining completely and is leaving the dishes water stained with a little residue left behind. Not good.
An hour of mucking about with the answer being crimped hose.
Off at seven and home for dinner which is what I was working on when Russ showed up with sushi for himself – had he texted he could have had the other chicken breast. Oh well.
Just a reminder to those readers arriving here from FaceBook. Links from FaceBook are a direct link to this post, so you miss the previous posts. You can see all the posts by either clicking on the UMTravels banner, or HERE.
Sean took Monday and Tuesday off so those are out museum days…and with him working Wednesday and Thursday, I’ll be making my wondering tours of his neighborhood. Who know where food will end of in this.
First up Is a little breakfast – turns about its cracked rice and chicken – should be a nice base for a day of sightseeing.
Maybe I should have had something other than tea — morning cocktails were $1.50 – were is Magnatroia when you need him!
Getting there through Saïgon traffic is what we need to do first. More on that in the next post, but here is a preview (next post will have scary traffic videos). I’m in the bitch seat on Sean’s scooter wearing a Hello Kitty helmet. It goes with my Hello Kitty watch.
I’ve been to markets like this around the world – lots of touts hawking their wears – I did see an interesting domino set for Salamander – but no real time to look/bargain/haggle – just not into the markets as I once was. Just show me a price, that’s all I want.
I did see some humorous shirts I’ve have gotten if I didn’t know that they would last one washing.
Next up was to swing by the post office – Sean had wanted stamps, but the lines made it hard – no stamps, but another cool old colonial-style building.
Across the street is one of the Cathedrals in town:
Alas it being noon, the church wasn’t open to the public, so we settled on one of the oldest Indian-based Hindu Shrine around the corner. Apparently the original member-base were all Indian bank workers.
As mot much is open for lunch, so off to a coffee shop for tea, blood orange bubbly, free Wi-Fi, and clean bathrooms.
Rested, cooled off, relieved we next check into the Reunification Palace, also known as the Independence Palace. It was a time building that my friend Russ really needs to see – I’m surprised the North didn’t just level it after the war, instead, they turned it into a time-capsule.
It feels like a monument to late 60’s design – love some of the rooms:
And my favorite – the game room with bar…
I think Jill would like this room as well…or maybe the theatre with its chairs:
They even preserved the projection booth:
And if you needed to get out in a hurry, grab a Huey from the roof:
Under fire and can’t get out on the chopper – head to the bunker:
And when the attack is over, have company over and have the catering kitchen whip up a meal – yes, I had kitchen envy:
On the grounds there are examples of the rogue South Vietnam plane that bombed the Independence Palace (a pilot switched sides), that has a black “X” over the country logo:
Last tourist stop of the day is the top of the tallest building in Vietnam to have a drink. They devote the lowest floor of parking just to scooters!
It was a little convoluted to get to the bar – query the front counter (it’s a mall and food court for the first couple of floors), take an escalator to the reservations desk, be escorted to the elevator to the reception desk on 50, put on another elevator to the 51st) – all to get to a fairly tacky bar with a killer view:
With expensive drinks – by Vietnam standards:
I had a Manhattan – decent ingredient selection, but 220,000 Dong –$9.89 USD, and it was Bulleit Bourbon (I’d have preferred their rye). Plus, add 5% service charge and 10% VAT and you are really at $10.04 a drink. Much more than the $1.50 per cocktail advertised at the restaurant we had breakfast in.
Done with cocktails it’s time to head back to the apartment – I’m meeting up with Ming who I met online. The plan is drinks and appetizers at the apartment which means a run to the “supermarket” around the corner for supplies. Meet Ming – medical equipment salesman:
Never did get a proper meal, but I did check out the Yacht Club Scotch!
Looks like May is turning into Uncle Markie’s Train Month – though on National Train Day, I wasn’t on the train.
Rache is coming on this adventure with me, so off to the airport we go.
I didn’t realize that they could make a Cosmo in the Board Room until I heard someone asking for one, and the signature sound of a shaker!
Didn’t get upgraded to First, but pulled Premium. I think of it as Alaska’s answer to “shit we have too many 50K and 75K’s” to keep happy:
Premium is still three across, but it comes with 4-5″ more leg room, AND free cocktails and snack box:
Luckily, I got the luck of the draw – a 20-something chatty guy headed to Europe on a “buddy pass” as far as NYC:
We both look drunk and happy – I explained the rules of “premium class” to him – that applied even though he was a “non-rev” passenger, so lots of free booze for him.
Good weather as we are landing….nice views on landing:
So, this flight was a “red-eye” – left at 10PM, arrived at 6AM.
NOT my best time of the day, but I soldiered on since Rache had “a plan”.
The plan was to get a couple of trains from JFK to Brooklyn for breakfast with friends at The New Apollo Diner.
Clearly, I wasn’t awake yet since there are no pictures of the food (I had the Eggs Benedict because that’s something I don’t make at home). Luckily, I do have a shot (thanks Rache!) of our group:
After breakfast, we are off to Penn Station and the Amtrak Lounge:
Had I thought it though earlier, I’d have given Russ notice since he works in the neighborhood – Rache was luckier with the friend who couldn’t join us for breakfast:
The Amtrak Lounge is a little “tired”, with an odor of years of dust on the chairs – hopefully, they will redo this lounge like they have in Chicago, which has two floors, showers, and a real “first-class” feel to it.
Knowing there was no lunch on the train we both explored the station finding fresh-made, to-go sushi and other delights.
Next up, the train from Penn Station in New York to New Orleans.
Don’t get the wrong idea – I didn’t have a near-death event. My friends bought a place in Upstate New York (Finger Lakes) that they have named “Forever”. While structurally fine and with amazing woodwork inside, forever is how long it will that them to make it theirs in spirit and functionality.
Prebreakfast in the Delta Sky Club – a notch up from the Alaska Lounge:
And settled into First Class (bless you upgrade coupons):
And airplane breakfast watching Tempopo, and amazing Noodle Western out of Japan – rated for adults but the flight attendance caught a nude seen and will probably report it to management as inappropriate.
And they didn’t have the Old Fashioned in a can, but they had a lovely Negroni…
I diluted mine a bit with club soda.
And for some reason the flight attendant (same one who probably reported the film), was playing toilet paper games in First:
Transferred in Detroit – VERY LONG WALK and it was on to Ithaca and Mark picking me up at the airport for the 24 minute, 4-stoplight drive to Forever:
And here we are….
The end door leads into the stairwell for the cupola:
And other rooms in the house – dining room:
Dual sitting rooms:
And interestingly enough, I had two sets of friends visit, Russ, who drive three hours from Germantown for a couple of hour visit (would have stayed the night save the dogs at home):
Sadly, didn’t remember to get a pick of Drew and his cousin Leslie. Drew lives in Ithaca, Drew in Seattle.
Too soon, the fun came to the end with a ride back to the airport…and a scenic picture from the area:
Should have stood on the tops of the truck to highlight the valley.
And a very strange sign in the snack bar:
And soon we (the royal we) were off:
Back through Detroit – other choice is United through Newark (not) with Detroit Lounge food on the run:
And proper food and drink on the plane:
Arrived back in Seattle early, as did Jonathan coming in from San Antonio, so we shared an Uber back to the house. He is laying over for the night before heading to California, so we get breakfast in the morning!
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