I had a terrible trip across the Atlantic: had to run across Heathrow's new Terminal 5 to catch my connection, because BA decided to just arrive a bit late. It's probably quite an impressive new building, that Terminal 5 - apparently the biggest freestanding building in the UK - but I wouldn't know, I didn't see much of it !
Anyway, I made it to my onwards flight and at least we weren't cramped, so I had space to sleep relatively comfortably during the trip. So I made my first ever NYLON trip (as it's famously known) - or I guess I did the LONNY ? I had a nap and otherwise just tried to get rid of the cold I had caught in the last couple of days - by relaxing, relaxing, relaxing !
As I touched down, I think it first occurred to me the experience I'm about to have. I've only visited New York once before and only for a weekend - so just that will be an experience. But going down to Durham in North Carolina for three weeks to help out on the Obama campaign will hopefully be an even bigger experience. So far, Becky and Spencer from the North Carolina For Change team have been really nice and forthcoming.
But the problems weren't over. BA didn't manage to connect my luggage in London, so I was told it would only arrive on the next flight. Luckily there's a flight about every hour, so it would only be 2-3 hours. I contemplated whether to stay at the airport and wait for it - or trust the airline to deliver it correctly at a hostel in downtown New York ?
The problem solved itself. National Car Rental had also fucked up, and I had to discuss with them for an hour, before I could get my car - a nice, gas-guzzling SUV (when in Rome...) ! So I ended up going back to the BA terminal, got my luggage and left JFK airport only 2.5 hours later than my arrival - with my bags !
I had booked a hostel bed in downtown New York - www.broadwayhotelnyc.com - after having seen a recommendation on a Danish website. It was cheap, okay - and the location is smack down in the middle of Manhattan - but damn it, I'm too old to sleep in a room with 5 other people, tip-toeing in at 01h30 in the morning with my entire luggage. I'm just not 19 anymore - I'm 30 ! I slept in all my clothes, with a blanket - and didn't have the energy to take a shower. Luckily nobody was snoring !
At 05h00, I couldn't sleep anymore - still on Denmark time (11h00). I got up, sneaked out of the room, and went downstairs to check my emails amongst the cleaning staff and early-morning 19-year olds. I found an old dingy couch, an electricity plug - and they have wireless internet.
And so, here I am, at 05h30 in the morning, at some rundown hostel on Manhattan. Now I'll go do the New York Experience - welcome to The City That Never Sleeps ! Har har haaaarrrrr....!
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