USA North East and West Coast.

[Blackadder]

Well my annual leave starts today so may as well start my US trip planning/report.
Managed to get a deep discounted sale fare with QF/AA for my itinerary SYD-DFW-EWR/JFK-ORD-SNA/LAX-SYD , all up roughly half price compared to the usual pricing for Jun/Jul.
The down side to the deep discount no possibility of an upgrade from whY, so the extra for exit row seating it is.
Have a bit over 3hrs transfer in DFW, so CBP willing the plan is to pick up a AA day pass, for a Shower and change of clothes before my flight through to Newark.

The first 3 nights will be at Doubletree Newark Penn for ease in getting around , without the NYC accommodation prices. Then across the river for a couple of nights at the HGI Times Square.
A very good regional rail system in the NE, so planning day trips to Boston and Philadelphia.
Meeting a friend in NYC who has a friend with a condo on E 57th St that we can use for a week.
Planning a day trip to Washington DC , plus some Broadway shows (The Outsiders,Book of Mormon,Hamilton). Also have tickets for the 4th July fireworks , watching from the Liberty Belle on the East River.

The JFK-ORD-SNA sector courtesy of FF points + approx US$12 for myself and friend. A shorter than I would've liked transfer in ORD (< 1 hour) , but beggars can't be choosers with limited options on a points booking.

10 days in and around So. Cal staying at my friends place before my flight back to SYD.

 

[Blackadder]

Well mostly packed (I think) , for the first time I can recall actually let me do the check in online, all other times it has asked me to check in at the airport.
Newark, NJ hit a record high 39c today , thankfully a more reasonable mid/high 20's for my arrival.
All the paperwork done, and for peace of mind printed out,MPC app downloaded.
All in all 40 pages of Printouts for flights,accommodation,Broadway shows,4th July Cruise, travel insurance etc.

 

[Blackadder]

A very busy day at the International Terminal, so my general lounge invite wasn’t to be.
After the bag drop a lengthy queue to get through security, but thankfully a 0940 boarding was close enough for the 0900 call to move ahead in the queue.
No lounge access so slumming it with the mere plebs. Most surprisingly Tim Tams were actually at retail price in the duty free.
As it turns out no need to rush for the gate , as a) It’s barricaded off, and b) Late arrival of the inbound flight has pushed it back by approximately 15-20mins.
Edit: About a 35min delay by the time my group was called. Group boarding seemed well controlled.

 

[Blackadder]

Arrived into DFW only a few mins behind schedule, thanks to a relatively quick 14hr 45min flight.
Meals were the standard economy fair , opted for the beef dish , beef was surprisingly tender if somewhat lacking in flavour.
For breakfast, The standard Frittata and breakfast sausages.
Compiled my MPC while making our way to the gate, and was through immigration in around 2 mins.
Bags were slowish to turn up, with a change of luggage carousel to what was planned.
No issues with the bag drop transfer, then to join the masses that come back through security. Supposedly 18mins according to the sign.
Then Airlink around to terminal C, and a chance to refresh in the Admirals club, that as luck would have it is next to where my connection to Newark departs.

 

[Blackadder]

Domestic flights on AA are always a reminder to be thankful for the catering on domestic QF flights. A small packet of pretzels and a soft drink is the extent of things in Y (unless transcontinental), but for the 3hr flight from DFW to LGA that’s it. A bit of turbulence around Ohio but that was the extent of things, and a early arrival into LGA.
What could’ve been a quick trip to the Doubletree Newark Penn, turned into an hour long trip.

Foolishly decided against the hotel shuttle to do the train, as the hotel is connected to Newark Penn station via the gateway bridge. However failed to account for the Monorail being out of action , so bustitution from terminal A to the Newark Airport station, via terminal B,C and parking lot 4. So after managing to wrangle two suitcases plus a backpack onto the bus, it was off to the station.

Arriving at the station hit with the shock of a $11.95 fare to go one stop with NJ Transit.
Then the issue of the lift from concourse to platform wasn’t working , so trying to get my bags down 3 flights of stairs after 22hrs of flying was the only option, which thankfully managed without going base over apex.
Thankfully a late running service cut my wait time from 25 minutes to 10 minutes.

Eventually made it to the hotel just over 1hr later (note to self ALWAYS take the hotel shuttle) checked in and to my room for a nice hot shower, or so I thought.
The shower gel bottle was empty, so a phone call to reception put that plan on hold for about 20mins.
After the anti climax of getting a hot shower, finally it could happen.

 

[Blackadder]

The plan for a relaxing first day ended up going out the window with 18k steps logged for the day, and my feet reminding me why it was a bad idea.

First off was a trip to the Highline , and to get a taste of the NY Subway
Best that can be said it’s reasonably priced, and frequent in the services.
The smell as you descend the metal stairs, and after dodging the homeless can best be described as that of weed, urine and brake dust mixed in sauna like conditions.

A short walk from the subway stop to the Highline.
The Highline is the former rail line servicing the meat works and wharves, now converted into a 1.4 mile walkway with community gardens, and various art works along the way.

After making my way back to my hotel via the very architectural NY Penn Station , I remembered I needed to go watch shopping as my G-Shock gave way after over a decade of faithful service, and being so old replacement parts had been discontinued.
Also needed to set up a pre pay plan , rather than relying on Global roaming/wi fi hot spots.
Managed to find some more questionable parts of New Jersey, including having a street worker offering her services( which was politely declined).
After all this my feet refused to go further , so Uber eats for Dinner it was.

 

[Blackadder]

A day trip today about 3hrs South to Washington DC, and then onto Arlington Cemetery.
My trip from Newark, was in Coach class so no assigned seating. Regional travel in Australia could really learn a thing or two from AMTRAK, even in coach seats are more than adequate for the purpose, both in leg room and recline.

On arrival at Washington Union station, an easy transfer to the Metro red line, then transferring at Union square for the metro blue line trip to Arlington Cemetery, being the weekend for $2.50.
Washington Union station, is very clean and spacious, a stark contrast to the New York Subway.

Even as a non US citizen, you can’t help but being moved by the solemness of Arlington Cemetery, from the rows of white marble headstones stretching as far as the eye can see, to the eternal flame , the resting place of John F Kennedy and family to the tradition of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier, and the reverence and precision of the changing of the guard ceremony , to the history of Arlington House.

So much more I could’ve seen, but a combination of the heat/humidity opted not to push myself, so made for the train back to my transfer point and onto Washington Union station.

Another thing AMTRAK has over Regional trains services in Australia, is dedicated waiting areas in select locations, one such being at Washington DC, complete with free non alcoholic drinks, and various packets of chips/snack mixes.

Trip back was booked in Business Class, which means a assigned seat, and more pitch/legroom compared to economy along with a free non alcoholic beverage from the cafe car.

 

[Blackadder]

Newark City Hall

Not much to report on my last day in Newark , just a trip across to NYC to my accommodation available after 6pm to pick up the apartment key from the concierge.
The day was started with my first IHOP for the trip and some more walks through more interesting parts of NJ.

 

[Blackadder]

Across the river to NYC for 7 days , and thanks to my partners friend since her freshman days a Manhattan apartment for the week , for cleaning costs only.
To say this apartment is amazing is an understatement, 45 floors up overlooking the East River.

First full day in NYC a visit to Central Park some 6 blocks away.
What I planned to be a quick visit turned into a many hours 23,000 step day. Taking in places like Strawberry fields , Central Park Zoo, Bow Bridge which is featured in many TV shows, movies, etc

 

[Blackadder]

Second day in NYC, the plan was to meet my partner at LGA at 1750 as she was coming in from house sitting for her former roommate in ABQ.
Weather decided to have other plans , no storms at LGA but between Kansas City and LGA was a different matter apparently. The flight got diverted got Connecticut, so close but yet so far away. After multiple updates on arrival times, with some times as late as 0130 , the flight finally arrived some 5hrs behind schedule. Apparently crew going out of hours, and needing another plane added to the delay.
The food options at LGA terminal B are depressingly slim on the unpaid side, it consists of a Dunkin Donuts (that closes at 1730), a Starbucks, and a couple of overpriced airport gift shops. So after needing a overpriced USB cord for the phone, and getting my phone charged, and finally getting a more reliable arrival time headed back into Times Square for something to eat before making the trip back to LGA.

 

[Blackadder]

After the delayed arrival of my partner the previous day, we hit the ground running today with an early morning start to visit the burial site of Alexander Hamilton (yes he of Hamilton musical fame), and then a trip to Liberty Island for the Statue of Liberty and a climb up the pedestal viewing area.
After 196 steps you reach the top of the Pedestal viewing area , or after a few minutes in the lift. For reasons I’m still unsure of, I chose the former despite being badly out of shape. After the first 50 or so stairs the body was reminding me how foolish I was. Undaunted I pushed on, only to finally reach the top to be greeted with the site of my partner enjoying the fan breeze.Interment site of Alexander Hamilton at Trinity Church , in the financial district of NYC.

 

[Blackadder]

A belated update, next day a visit to the Empire State building, and the outside observation deck on the 86th floor, and the enclosed observation deck on the 102nd floor some 1250 feet above the streets.
Walking through to the elevators to take you to the observation levels, a history on the building of the empire state building including a rather interesting animation display giving the impression you are watching the building being built.

The evening was the first Broadway Show of the trip , The Book of Mormon.
Hilariously funny show, if you aren’t offended by Religious satire, then definitely do yourself a favour and see this.

 

[Blackadder]

Next day was American Independence Day (aka Colonial Treason day. ).
A morning spent racking up the step count going through Central Park with my partner, including Central Park Zoo.
Maybe it was just us , but the animals were difficult to spot at the Zoo.

For the 4th July Fireworks, we had booked a river cruise on the East River. Cruise boarding was 7pm, so leaving our apartment at 3.30pm would give us plenty of time, or so we thought.

Unbeknownst to us NYPD and the NY Port authority had closed down several streets with any proximity to the river.
At the first road closure some 5 miles from the cruise boarding location, my partner ended up showing the Police officer on duty our tickets , next thing we were following this Police Car as far as we could go, before more security stopped us.

For those who have experienced Sydney on NYE with road closures can relate to the steel barricades making the simplest walk a major detour. Same situation here arriving at the next police checkpoint . It looked like we had to go many blocks up, before crossing the street and coming down the other side.
My partner recently had ankle surgery so approaching a Police Officer on duty in the area mentioned the difficulty in walking, next thing the officer is moving the barricades aside so we can cut straight across.

Upon reaching the wharves we are greeted with a number of vessels/companies loading up for the evening festivities.
After finding our departure location we are waiting for our vessel to load , after another vessel from a different company loaded up our vessel arrived some 30mins after the scheduled time.

We had booked a reserved seat for the meal/evening cruise. As time on board past it was 8.30pm and we were still waiting for our evening meal service. My partner found someone in charge, and apparently we wouldn’t be leaving the wharf for the fireworks. As one of the last boats to board , if we left the wharf , we would’ve been last in line of the boats on the River , instead of having a near front position from the Wharf.
This created the problem of the food service crew having previously being told to commence food service once we left Wharf.
Once that issue was sorted, a decent meal service of Chicken, Pasta and Salads etc.

The Fireworks themselves were amazing with both the River and Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges providing the stage for the Fireworks.

After the fireworks it was announced on board there would be a 45min River cruise for those wishing to remain on board.
My partner and I decided to disembark and make our way back to the apartment.

Upon disembarking , it was basically a river of people making their way up the street to the nearest Subway station.
After about 10mins in the human river we made it to the Subway station. If we could fit anymore people on the Platform, I’m not sure where.

On arrival and doors open it was just a case of moving with the flow of people and ensure we didn’t get separated.
Once on board with no room to swing a cat, we headed off through the subway tunnel to our destination. More people boarding than alighting made already over crowded carriages, more so. Eventually more alighting than boarding and the crowd began to dissipate into the NYC night.

 

[Blackadder]

Next day was a morning spent recovering from the crowd crush of the night before , breakfast at a nice little diner called Moonstruck.
Large portion sizes at a reasonable price , a chicken club sandwich to die for.
That evening a trip to see Hamilton (for the 5th time)

 

[Blackadder]

Our last full day in NYC started with a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum , some two decades since that September Day that changed so many lives forever.
Elected to do the guided tour, and the stories of the day from window cleaners escaping a stopped express elevator by chipping through the building walls , after using a squeegee handle to pry open and hold the doors to the courage of the firefighters who went in and never came out are so heartbreaking, I couldn’t help but tear up thinking about it.

 

[Blackadder]

After the 9/11 Memorial and Museum visit it was off to a club called 54 Below , which each Sunday has a cabaret brunch with performers from Broadway shows performing around a dozen songs in a intimate setting.
After the Brunch a short walk to Times Square and a visit to M&M world.

 

[OZDUCK]

After the 9/11 Memorial and Museum visit it was off to a a club called 54 Below , which each Sunday has a cabaret brunch with performers from Broadway shows performing around a dozen songs in a intimate setting.
After the Brunch a short walk to Times Square and a visit to M&M world.

That "cabaret brunch" sounds fabulous!

 

[Blackadder]

That "cabaret brunch" sounds fabulous!

Absolutely it was , highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys Broadway shows.
They also do other types of shows during the evening.

Home | 54 Below

An unforgettable nightlife experience featuring legendary artists. View calendar of upcoming artists and buy tickets.

54below.org

 

[OZDUCK]

Absolutely it was , highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys Broadway shows.
They also do other types of shows during the evening.

Home | 54 Below

An unforgettable nightlife experience featuring legendary artists. View calendar of upcoming artists and buy tickets.

54below.org

Thanks for that link I watched all the featured performances on the first page and enjoyed them all. I very much doubt we will ever get to New York but if we ever did this would be the first place I would book.