When I planned this trip to the states I wanted to make sure that I met Norma, a descartesbabe that I have been writing to since 2004 at the Prevention message board, on The South Beach Diet forum. So to do that I had to go to New York City, somewhere I haven't been since applying to Beth Israel Nursing School in 1967 (oh they rejected me after taking their cockamamy psych tests. So I resent authority? Ha!)
I looked on the internet to see what hotels were around Penn Station so my sister, who originally was going with me, wouldn't have to walk far. I found the Hotel Pennsylvania and booked 2 nights for us. At the last moment my sister said that she couldn't go so I went alone.
Norma and I made plans that we would meet in the lobby of my hotel at 4:45pm after she finished work.
So on June 9th, Dad and I left the house about 8:55am and got to the train station at 9:45 - not bad for getting lost once. It was just Dad and me because Mom was still feeling poorly so we left her sleeping. I think that Dad might try to persuade her to go to the doctor if she is still feeling bad.
We drove to Hamilton New Jersey and a one way fare from Hamilton, NJ to NY Penn Station was $12. The Penn Station code is 000.
This was the local train stopping at every town but it was interesting. We left at 10:09. It was nice because the train was cool.
The ticket guy came, punched my ticket, kept it and then replaced it with another ticket which had lots of numbers and it was place under a clip in the seat next to me. I was sitting on a side seat with my suitcase.
We got into Penn Station and I had no idea of where to go. A nice conductor did carry my case up the stairs and directed me to the right exit. Wow! The hotel was literally right across the station.
So I went in and attempted to register. Thankfully they let me register early, it was only after 12 and normally the time is 3pm. So I caught one of 8 elevators (lifts) to room 1083. I was told that it was a bit of a walk from the elevator but I did have a view of The Empire State Building. Well, I did but not of all the floors.
The room was ok but no fridge, I guess I am spoiled by the casino hotels in Atlantic City. I figured out that I can place my Byetta pen on the sloping cold air vents to make sure that it kept cold. I hung up what ever and then went out to find Macy's.
The doorman (a miserable git) pointed the way. That was only a block away. I went into the building, it was so cool inside. Oh, did I mention that there was a heat wave?
I could only find the 'Men's Store' country mouse that I am. I walked around and then out thinking, maybe there's another store for women (are you laughing at me?). So I went back into the 'Men's Store' and finally found the board with all the departments. Aha! The department that I wanted was on the 7th floor. The store is huge!! Plus there were different eateries within the store. A MacDonald's in the kiddie floor?
There was also a 'Starbucks' and an 'Aunt Anne'. What saved me was 'Cucina&Co in the Cellar @ Macy's'.
So I wandered around the 7th floor and ended up buying 3 tops. I did realise that I left my discount card back at my parents so I went to the Tourist Information Center and got a tourist card with 11% off of my purchases. I went to one of the men's floors and bought Ben a shirt of a lizard smoking a cigar. I then went from floor 7 and hit each floor just to see what was what.
I went back to the hotel and got ready to go down to meet Norma. I went down to the lobby at 4:30 and went towards the benches that are there and I sat down next to an Israeli couple so I could listen to their conversation (Hey, it's good practice for my Hebrew) ;) As I sat down I heard, 'Hi Carol'. It was Norma on the other side of me!! She looks exactly like her photos. She is also a very sweet and caring person.
Us
We ended up at Lindy's over a glass of ice tea and talked and talked. Sadly she had to go earlier than she intended because she was worried due to a fire knocking out the power in her apartment. So she left and I went back to my room.
A little later I thought that I would go back to Macy's and to the cellar to get a salad from the salad buffet in 'Cucina&Co'. It was quite nice and I also bought some fruit for pud.
I ended up taking a shower, reading a book that i bought from Border's earlier and then went to bed.
End of Day in the Big Apple.
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