The flights were fine. Sat with two other single nervy types on the long flight. Was good, we chatted them left each other alone pretty much. There were babies on both flights but you wouldn't have known, they were so quiet.
The drama began on arrival at JFK Airport when I missed the step of "get to Newark airport then take a shuttle or taxi to the hotel." After waiting for luggage collection and queuing for a taxi, finally got in one and he said it was a New Jersey address and was too far and waaaaay to expensive. Lady organiser of taxis said to take a shuttle, so went up, got the Airtrain to the shuttles. Guy there said it isn't from here, have to take the shuttle to Newark station then get the shuttle from there.
So Airtrain back to the terminal, go to information who send me to the shuttles outside. It's now about midnight. Guy at the shuttle says the last one to Newark has just gone! Yikers!! So back to information where my options become VERY expensive taxi (which I am now considering), train or wait and see if someone wants to share a taxi.
Nice shuttle helping man comes and says I could take the shuttle into town and then get a train to Newark. I go out to the shuttle bus and nice shuttle helping man comes up with a guy (lovely Chinese guy) who is also going to Newark. - lives past the airport and we can go together. Great.
So in we pile, another couple onboard. Drive to another terminal to pick up more people. Lovely Chinese guy wants to get his expensive tennis racquet out from the luggage compartment and hold it inside so it doesn't get damaged from new people's luggage. Not nice shuttle man is not happy, they have a shouting match and he kicks off Lovely Chinese guy!! So I'm on a shuttle to NYC without my travel buddy - not happy...
Not sure how or why but Not nice shuttle man lets Lovely Chinese guy back on and we head off. Caught sight of Times Square - which was very exciting. As we're driving in, American traveller dude reminds Lovely Chinese guy of the time of the last train - last train - 1:30. Current time - 1:18!
Now we become like a movie - at Penn Station, running past people, dragging our luggage. Up to the ticket counter, me struggling with the unfamiliar, him getting his ticket and then shouting, "Leave it, we'll get it on the train!" Running again, rounding the corner, running through the gates literally as a man starts to pull the gate shut, RUNning down the stairs, calling to the guard to wait - which he does. Onto the train, panting and red-faced. I realised in the excitement I had forgotten to pay not nice shuttle man for the ride.
At Newark airport station, I bid farewell with many,many thanks to my saviour, get on another Airtrain, shuttle to the hotel, arriving just after 2:00am. Book a wake-up call for 6:15 and off to bed. Quite an eventful start....
Great points - had a peanut jelly sandwich on the plane. Delicious - absolutely. Nutritious? I'm thinking not...
Saw some Harlem Globetrotters at the airport - JFK - I did see three airports today.
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