Just got in last night from our trip to NYC. Thanks to all of you for your recommendations, ideas, etc. We left with tons of info, nice itinerary, everything all mapped out (with much help from you guys). After just a couple of hours of sleep night before (couldn%26#39;t sleep, too excited), we were up and off. Left Charlotte, NC bright and early on New Years, wonderful flight, had all of our warm wear safely packed away in suitcases, great flight. Arrived in NYC around 9:00 am; waited and waited and waited for luggage, noticed everyone else was waiting just like us. Finally decided to get in lost luggage line, along with everyone else who had boarded in Charlotte, just to find out they had not loaded anyone%26#39;s luggage on the plane we were traveling on. Thought we were going to have a whole day in the city, but ended up taking a very long time, they had to get everyone%26#39;s info, where they were staying . . . so luggage could be delivered later. FINALLY took shuttle to Club Quarters at Rockefeller Center. No big deal, we%26#39;d just see the city while we were waiting for our luggage. Checked into hotel, they would put the luggage in our room when it came and we were off - to see the big city.
We weren%26#39;t exactly prepared for the COLD - man, I%26#39;m hot natured, and thought I was going to die from cold - stopped at street vendors picked up gloves, hats, etc, as ours were in suitcases. We did see quite a bit, but stayed pretty close in, so we could check back with hopes of finding more warm clothes, to no avail; At 10:00 p.m. decided to go to Top of the Rock, in spite of the cold we loved it. Soaked in the city lights and it seemed to warm us a bit! (not really, but was so beautiful up there) Got back to room at 12:30, luggage had finally arrived around midnight. Got to room, started unpacking and noticed it wasn%26#39;t getting any warmer in room - you guessed it, something wrong with heat - no problem, staff had it fixed in minutes and at long last, we got toasty warm. Got in bed around 2:00 a.m., set two alarms to get up bright and early to go to Today Show, for it was my daughter%26#39;s birthday and I told her I would wave to her from the Today Show. After two nights straight of only a couple of hours sleep, we slept thru 2 alarms. I wokp up in a tizzy at 6:00 a.m., threw on some clothes and ran like a flash, (leaving hubby warm in bed) to be continued - will try to make next segment shorter!
The Best Layed Plans . ., the good, the bad..trip report NYC
Can%26#39;t wait to hear the rest!!!
The Best Layed Plans . ., the good, the bad..trip report NYC
Looking forward to hear the rest as well. Did you get in time to Today Show to wave to your daughter?
Day 2 - IT GETS WORSE! OK - so I dashed off to Today Show, all bundled up, got in line, waited for %26#39;gate%26#39; to open, was on front row, but at the very lower end. Was there for 3 hours (counting waiting time) The weather lady came down towards our end, interviewed some ladies from Barrow, Alaska, but camera didn%26#39;t zoom down to where I was standing. Finally, my feet and hands were so numb, decided I%26#39;d better get back to room to warm up a bit, turned around took one step and stumbled into the curb and went sprawling on the ground. I was hurting so bad, throught maybe I had a broken bone or something, broke my camera, cell phone when flying, knocked my glasses off. Two kind police officers helped me to my fee, after I thought I could stand, offered to get an ambulance, but told them I could make it. HOBBLED back to room, got inside and burst out crying. By the time I got to room my knee was twice the size of the other one, black eye and very bruised elbow. Layed down on the bed and wept, this was my husband%26#39;s Christmas present and I had just ruined it (I thought), and he was near tears at the sight of me, feeling bad cause he wasn%26#39;t there with me...to be cont.
Day 2 cont.: Rested a bit, feeling really sorry for myself, then decided to try to walk so we could see some more of the city. By the time I got to the front desk, knew I couldn%26#39;t make it any farther. Asked staff if they knew where we could rent a wheel chair, they had one and got it for us. We proceeded down 5th Ave. taking in the sights and sounds of the city, went to Central Park, walked a long way through it, past the zoo, then back on 5th to The Met Museum and spent several hours in there. Wished we had a week for it, left there, decided to get a bus back to hotel, rested a bit, put ice on knee for a while, then it was off to see South Pacific - which was absolutely wonderful.
Day 3: Time Square, World Trade Center area, Battery Park, Statue of Liberty, then rode the sub back to our area. Found out there were only a few places that were wheel-chair accessible, but did want to get one ride on the subway. Turned in kind of early this day, I was in a lot of pain and hubby was exhausted from pushing me all over the city, great day othere than that.
Day 4: Went to TKTS booth, got tickets for afternoon show of Mama Mia, got really good seats, like 4th row from front. LOVE BROADWAY, came out of Mama Mia, got back in line and got tickets for The Fantastics. It was very different from other shows, but enjoyed it also.
Last day - continued...
I have the cd of that South Pacific revival---it does sound wonderful. Does your husband enjoy the Broadway shows, too?
Day 5 to finish report: Jan. 5 - almost time to say goodby, was packing up a few things, watching Katie Lee on tv. I told my husband I%26#39;d love to take my birthday sign down and just get my picture made in front of the studio, so here we go, wheeling down to studio with my sign. We get down there and they had taken most of the baracades down, so hubby parks me by the side, takes my picture with my sign, and then lo and behold, out the door comes Richard Simmons, by then almost everyone had left, so I was right there up front. He seems me in a wheel chair, runs over, fixes my hood, hugs my neck, gives me a kiss and posed for a picture, then we%26#39;re off to see Grand Central Station, few more pics of Christmas tree, etc., and it%26#39;s time to go, returned to hotel, turned wheel chair in and left the city.
Things I learned on this trip: I%26#39;ll go with the bad first:
Never, ever pack everything in your checked luggage, take a carry-on, I%26#39;d always heard that but guess I was a slow-learner on that one!
The streets of New York City are not wheelchair friendly! Many holes, and ramps going down into streets to cross the sidewalk were really bad at a lot of places. Crossing at some places there would be a %26#39;ramp%26#39; going down onto the street and then the other side to get back up on the sidewalk wouldn%26#39;t have a %26#39;ramp%26#39; (for lack of a better word) - now the good -
We loved NYC, in spite of the two unavoidable things that happened. The bus drivers, subway workers, McDonalds staff and lots of other people are to be commended - they went out of their way to take care of me being in a wheelchair. There was a subway worker named Johnny that brought tears to my eyes, he was so helpful and kind. Thank you Johnny!
Thank you to New York City (it is proper to thank a city, isn%26#39;t it?) We loved our trip there and will be back, and yes, my husband loved Broadway as much as I did.
Wow, you sure did a lot! You didn%26#39;t let some mangy sidewalks get in your way!
BTW, those ramps are called ';curb-cuts.'; I know one of the guys who led the lawsuit against the city to require them at all corners and intersections. They were only mandated maybe 6 years ago, tops, if you can believe it.
I must say that, for all our faults, self-centered egotism and impatience, New Yorkers show their best side with people in wheelchairs.
I think you did a great job after your mishap. A good cry is a great tonic, so don%26#39;t feel bad about it.
Great trip report.
Bless your heart! I%26#39;m sorry about your accident, but I glad you were able to make the most of your stay! I hope your knee is better and you%26#39;re back on two feet.
Thank you so much for your wonderful report. I identify with the good and the bad! Please come back.
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