Travel Chaotically! ~ The ramblings close in NYC!!!!

Per yesterday's tale, we made our way from RI, through CT, and into NJ while avoiding driving through NYC this go round, to the NJ Enterprise car drop off at the Newark airport.  Despite the strange labyrinth of streets surrounding it, we arrived at 4 pm that afternoon.  An odd hefty fellow, bearing a strong resemblance to a bull dog, checked us in.  He behaved oddly and inattentively throughout - often directing his gaze over the expanse of cars, then distractedly peering back at us and his handheld electronic device.  Once asking, "So this is your second car?"  "No," we said, "this is the same and only car we rented in D.C."  He replied that didn't make sense while re-scanning the car with his do-dad.  He dealt with some other people.  Didn't say much else, except that we could go.  Feeling rather confused about such a process, we were directed to the 'air train' that would take us to the airport and a shuttle to the Newark Holiday Inn.  The room was pretty basic but it was funk free with none of the B and B creepiness!!!

Next morning, after a good workout, we were off. The trip into NYC was a bit more complicated and time consuming than anticipated ~  Shuttle to the air train.  Off at P4.  Take escalator to NJ Transit station were you buy a ticket for a variable fee of $11.25 or $15.25 one way.  Reasons for pricing vagaries were never entirely clear.  THEN - after a strange and dirty train ride, where there is no absolute clarity provided that you are on the right train, you pass on by the Seacaucus and Newark Penn Station stops, but get off at NY Penn Station.  Cause, you know?  Confusingly similar names is GOOD!  At Penn Station we went to the subway station for a pass to head "uptown" toward the Met.  We arrived at Lexington Station at 1 PM.  NO, I had NOT had breakfast!  But B and Le Pain Quotidien to the rescue with yummy croissants and coffee!  Nectar of the GODS, I tell you!

In keeping with the need to get in our exercise and maintain our rep for an authentic Morris Vacation, we walked over 20 BLOCKS out of our way and had to turn back the same 20 BLOCKS to get to the Met, though SOMEBODY had been told by ME that we were going past our desired street!!!  Oh, well.  T'was a Morris Vaca after all.  Still, we were a bit tired when we arrived at the museum after a 2 hour walk!  We had fun exploring the Greek and Egyptian exhibits, lovely Cassatts, and an exhibit from an artist unknown to us - Felix Vallotton - that B liked because of his use of composition and darkness as well as an amazing display of Dutch Masters that I LOVE because of their use of light and life!!!

We had a great dinner at a little Turkish restaurant I had read about - Beyoglu.

So yummy.  Spinach, shrimp and B's beloved octopus.  There was an amazing boule unlike any Greek bread we ever had.  So good!  Plus, as it was Halloween, we got to watch lots of cute kiddos dressed up for the occasion out trick-or-treating with their families, as shops and neighbors gave out treats, while we ate.  Very sweet.  Not the crazy that I had thought the occasion might be in NYC!

As we made our way back to the hotel, we encountered a bit of confusion as the path to the NJ Transit line is in common with the LIRR line, but then diverges with zero signage!  Once we did get to the NJ line, finding the proper train remained a puzzle. Asking for assistance got us a selection of differing answers including none at all!!  B finally determined that little airplane icons on the boards was an essential designation for our purposes, as we wanted to get back to the Newark Airport and they showed up along the desired track, BUT all trains were posted on the board only 2-5 minutes before boarding at which point absolute chaos ensued!!!  Despite that and other little glitches - like the fact that the phone to call our hotel for a shuttle at the terminal didn't work!!! - we made it back and crashed!  FYI! To get OUT of the NJ Transit you must still be in possession of your ticket in order to get the gate to open!!  Just say'n!
Given the efforts we expended AFTER exercising the day prior, we decided to take a pass on that effort the next day and headed out.  We managed our commute with minimal difficulty, heading straight for Best Bagel!!!

Even snagged a chair and counter space as B ordered.  Still delicious!!!

Then it was off to B's Mother Ship - B and H Camera!  THAT was an experience!!  More peyots than you could shake a tripod at.  Lots of fun.  Glad B got to visit in person!  Then off to MY Mother Ship - MOOD!!!

On this trip, Mood had a new elevator situation and was strangely organised while B and J Fabrics was oddly chaotic.  Both still great and I got some fab fabric with B's patience and assistance!  We wandered in and out of many shops in the fabric district - Botani, Gray Lines Linen, and so many others.  B was entertained by a couple of characters working at Pacific Trimming while I picked out buttons.  We shipped the fabric purchases back home at the Fed Ex next door to B and J with the help of a very nice and interesting fellow, Delford, whose paintings I hope to see on exhibit somewhere someday!!!

We took the subway downtown, window shopping, stopping at the Strand.  Wandered in Little Italy and China Town a bit.  Drooled before restaurant windows hung with roasted ducks and chickens.  Pondered unknown fruits and veg as well as all sorts of mysterious herbs in the apothecary shops.  We picked up a couple of little aluminum bowls at an EVERYTHING shop.  B asked the proprietress if it was going to snow.  She looked at him (appropriately) as if he was crazy and then said, "NO!! We got to cook turkey first!!" cackling at her own joke.  We wound our way to Tomino's and sat a few minutes at the bar as we waited for friends to join us.  It was fun to reminisce and feel as though we were back at a tapas bar in Barcelona!  We had such a lovely visit and dinner with our peeps!  With good directions we made it back to the subway, trains, air trains, and shuttle without too much difficulty.

Back on the shuttle once more next morning to catch the flight home - at the butt crack of dawn, of course!!!  Our flight took off late, spitting us out at Concourse B in Atlanta for our connecting flight at Concourse D to Chattanooga.  We took the train to D and began running.  Just rounding a corner while trying not to trample folks I heard the last call for boarding, as well as a woman's voice yelling, "CHATTANOOGA!  CHATTANOOGA!!!"  I breathlessly arrived at her stand, to see it was all buttoned up!  I gave her my name, telling her I was there to board. With great annoyance, she asked, "Where's the other one?"  I point toward B, still struggling toward us.  Shaking her head with great disapproval, she said, "Where's your boarding pass?"  "With him," I replied.  "Where y'all been?" the irritation queen queried.  "We just landed!" I told her with equal irritation.  A fact she was surely aware of as she knew to expect the two of us!  B finally arrived, turned over our passes, and we walked on to the very back two seats.  On arrival to Chatt Town that afternoon, I was surprised to see our bags actually made it!

Meanwhile in New York, and for days after, we (and Roo - as we had given her number for the required emergency contact) were relentlessly harangued by Enterprise for not having turned in the horrible nasty Corolla!!!  To the point that we stood accused of having to answer for having stolen it!  Yes, that's what car thieves do ~ provide their address, phone numbers, driver's license, and credit card info to the people you steal the car from!!!!  Seriously??!!  Finally, after being very plain spoken about Mr. Bull Dog Man at the Newark check-in and that they had best get off our case - the calls finally ceased!  I believe I've mentioned my loathing of all car rental companies in this space previously!  They have yet to change my mind!!!

All the strangeness not withstanding - thanks for another wonderful adventure, B!!!  Where are we heading next????  Travel chaotically!!! ~ les