Day 3 in NYC – Central Park.
It was a beautiful day, so there were lots of people of all
stripes out enjoying the sunshine and cool green of the park. I didn’t retrace my steps from the last time
I visited (mostly ‘cause I didn’t remember), but I saw a few familiar sites,
and managed not to get into any trouble.
I stopped at the Museum of Natural History just outside the
park to rest for a while in the cool air conditioned space (and use the
bathroom). While I was relaxing, I met
an elderly gentleman who was waiting for his wife. We struck up a conversation, and we talked
about work, retirement, etc.
When his wife came back, he told her. “I want to introduce someone I wish I’d never
met.” We both looked at him puzzled and
then he explained. “Steve just told me
where he retired from and now I regret that it was something I didn’t do when I
was younger.” Mr. Elvers is 92 years
young and in his previous life he was an Odontologist.
We visited for quite a while. He was fascinated with the Medical
Examiner/Coroner profession and had a hundred questions. His wife was also very curious and very
sweet. They offered to treat me to
dinner the next time I was in town (but I’d better hurry back because he was
92, of course).
I stopped for a late lunch before picking up my bags at the
hotel.
You can find more about Central Park here:
OFF TO SWEDEN:
The trip to the airport proved a little more problematic.
After picking up my bags at the hotel, I headed for what I
thought was my reverse route to JFK Airport.
As I said in the previous post, don’t trust nuthin!
The first train I caught left me at a location where I
thought I would be able to access the next train easily. Not so.
I had to leave the station and go out of the subway station to another
station to find the train that would take me to JFK.
Needless to say, I was a little panicked, so I asked, and
fortunately, someone was able to show me the place to pick up the train. If I hadn’t asked, I never would have found
it on my own. The station attendant said
it was “across the street” – what he failed to mention is that it was across the
street and there were no signs to tell me exactly where it was located (almost
like a garage entrance to another building- YIKES).
Confidently, I boarded the train, and was quickly on my way
to my next train at JFK – the AirTrain.
Well, just about 2/3 of the way there, the conductor
announced that the train we were on was not going all the way to JFK, and those
of us who wanted to go there had to disembark and take another train headed in
that direction.
Like most announcements over PA systems, this was kind of garbled, but I caught the
gist. There were lots of people with luggage
getting off the train, so that was another clue that I had better join
them. Never the shy one when it comes to
these matters, I asked a fellow travel if I had heard correctly and he
confirmed that that was the case.
We got down from the train, and the gentlemen I was talking
to said he would tell me which train to board next. Within a matter of minutes, the next train
arrived and all of us with luggage boarded this one which took us directly to
the next place where we would catch the AirTrain to the various terminals.
Once you get to the AirTrain station, you buy a ticket at
the ATM-like machines before you enter the gates. This is opposite from what happened when I
came into town the first time.
What they don’t tell you is that you don’t have to buy a new
metro card if you already have one, you just add the cost of the Air Train to
the card you already have. You save a
little money, but unless you know this or have read about it, you lose the
savings. I overheard people talking as
they were getting their tickets, and there were several “helpers” in uniform who
were ready willing and able to help as needed.
Lots of people were getting help.
It happens.
Since my plane was leaving from Terminal 1, the first stop
on the route, it was a no-brainer.
I got off the AirTrain, and was able to locate my Airline
from a list in the airport. Since it was
an overseas flight, I had to check in at the desk. It just so happened it was completely empty,
and the entire process took me about 5-10 minutes (WOW!). I had already checked in on line, so it was
easy peasey.
Getting through security was the most difficult part of the
entire process. Not because there were
long lines (there weren’t – we moved quickly), it’s just that even after you’ve
taken off most of what you are wearing, they still pat you down, and want to
make sure you aren’t “carrying” anything – Oh, well, what are you going to do.
Once I was through security, it was a matter of boarding the
plane.
Okay, I have to say it.
Norwegian Airlines is very very nice.
The people working for the airline are very pleasant, and the plain was
great. It was very very clean and looked
to be new. Each of us had what amounted
to an iPad attached to the seat in front of us that allowed us to pick music,
videos, games, etc. Not a great variety,
but what a treat. The seats were also
very comfortable. Still not as roomy as
1st class, but not bad.
I sat on an aisle seat and there was a woman on the window
seat. We had the middle seat to share
between us – which was also great because it allows for a little more storage
and leg room for this 7 hour flight.
We left JFK about 9:45 pm and arrived 7 hours later in
Stockholm at 11ish am.
Getting through Passoport ID process was pretty much a
breeze. There are two lines – those for
citizens of the EU countries, and all others.
Since it isn’t a very busy airport, we and another plane were the only
two being processed. (I remember the
horror that was going through London’s major airport - this was nothing like that at all).
There was an ATM in the lobby where I was able to get the
going currency , better known as the Swedish Krona (SEK). The current rate is 9 SEK = $1.07
There is also an information booth in the exit area where
you can get a lot of useful help and information. The horrors of the NYC subway system melted
away.
I wrote to my hotel after I made reservations, and they gave
me several instructions on how to get to them.
I picked the most scenic which involved an Airport Shuttle taking me
down to the Central Station subway, catching one subway (5 stops), and then one
train (two stops) right in front of my hotel.
Not as easy as it sounds, but you can purchase all of your
tickets there at the airport at the information desk and not have to deal with
ATM-like ticket machines.
I did have to ask for directions a couple of times, but once
I understood the system, it was very simple.
The hotel is very chic and modern looking as are the
rooms. There is supermarket next door
and several restaurants nearby. I’ll
send pics as soon as I can.
Needless to say, I am totally exhausted from the trip, so I
didn’t go out today (it is also raining and a tad chilly (which I love)). But I will definitely to some sightseeing
tomorrow.
Here are the pics from Central Park.
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