Day 30- New York!

Day 30 – Stockholm to New York City

Okay, so I’m seriously excited here.  Sitting in the Arlanda/Stockholm airport a few minutes from Diane’s and my flight to the Big Apple.  Never been there in my life (I know, how sad is that?), and I’m really looking forward to the next few days.  Once we arrive 9 hours from now and deal with our first cab ride into the theater district of Manhattan, we’ll get to check out our “boutique” hotel based upon the movie “Casablanca”.  Should be interesting.  Whoa.  We’re boarding – bye for now!

It’s now 8:30pm and Diane & I are going to call it a night … to us, it’s still 1:30am Sweden time.  What an interesting transition back into America.  Three movies and two meals on the flight to keep the passengers onboard from becoming restless (Glen, I have a new appreciation how hard you work as a flight attendant), and despite numerous signs stating, “We will treat you with dignity and courtesy”, met the most arrogant border patrol agent who was just a total ass.  With that ordeal over, thought the worst of it was over - then we began the one-hour cab drive from hell.  JFK to midtown Manhattan.

Clearly, Sarah Jessica Parker never once hailed this guy during her run on ‘Sex and the City’.  I couldn’t imagine her in Prada in that filthy vehicle.  I finally decided it was best for my sanity to just not watch in front of me.  I held on and looked out the side window while Diane just grinned – ah, the sweet bliss of youth!  The driver did everything other than drive on sidewalks to get one car-length ahead to slam on his brakes.  I was never exactly sure where he was looking because half the time, he was practically laying outside of the driver’s window or turned with his total body to look out the passenger window.   It must be legal to drive & talk in NYC with a hand-held phone, because that was a part of this total introduction to NYC cabs.  Oh, and the talking/muttering to himself in some incomprehensible language (Farsi?) only added to the excitement, except for the moment he screamed, “Bitch!” at a large black woman on a bicycle who yelled back and flipped him the bird.  Unreal.

Slamming to a stop in front of the Casablanca Hotel on 43^rd street between 6^th & 7^th, my churning stomach was foremost on my mind.  But then we walked into the lobby, and that one-hour drive began to melt away.  To say the Casablanca is an oasis is an understatement.  It’s absolutely outstanding, beautifully appointed, and we have a room/bath that is gorgeous.  I selected this hotel for several reasons.  First, it’s rated by Traveler Advisor as #8 of the 25 Top Hotels in America, and was #1 for NYC when I booked several months ago (I can clearly see why).  Second, for $267 a night (inexpensive in NYC), you have a location ½ block from Times Square (but no noise); Third, 24/7 boutique coffee/tea/pastries/fruit; full breakfast; mid-day snacks & drinks; and a cheese/fruit/wine/champagne reception every evening included in the room rate.  Fourth, its size (intimate, not a huge Hilton).  Take a moment to Google it.  I have already forgotten about the border patrol guy and the cabbie.

OUTSIDE OUR HOTEL NEW YORK-CLICK HERE

Off 50 steps to Times Square with Diane as tour guide (this is her 3^rd trip to NYC – once on her 8^th grade East Coast trip, and last summer to visit a college friend).  I didn’t realize that Times Square is actually a pedestrian street as a large part of it is protected from cabs.  I also didn’t know that most cars in NYC are yellow (see above).  Who would choose to drive in this insanity?  Horns, sirens, masses of humanity surging across streets when signals change…quite a place.  With the 80+-degree temp, reminded me of Vegas.  Then, add to this “normal” pace a première of the movie, “Transformers 3D”.  All the stars on an elevated platform under the iconic Coke sign, illuminated under Hollywood-style lights beneath 15-story video billboards on three sides of the street.  Even this LA-born and raised lady was impressed.  Hollywood on the East coast.  Couldn’t see much for all the flash and the iPhones held on high (how in the heck can so many people afford iPhones?  Remind me to buy stock in Apple).

click here for..mom and I walking around NYC seeing the mass amounts off different people!

Mom and I accidently coming into a TRANSFORMERS 3- Movie Premiere! Click Here!

Then off to check out the theater district.  The billboards alone are awesome, and enjoyed checking out the Tourist Office for Times Square with its costumes and twinkling stage lights.  On the way back to our hotel, viewed the 5-story ToysRUs and a Sephora that was the size of a Macy’s (and a Macy’s the size of an airport).  NYC does it big for sure.  But one sight I’ll never forget.  A mother crossing the street against a red light with oncoming cabs.  Guess she thought she was safe … she was pushing her baby in a stroller ahead of her.  Welcome to New York!