Boston & New York

May 30th - Jun 2nd 2008

Friday 30th May 2008

Home to Boston

Left Calvert at about 10.15 after a mad dash round packing.

It's truly amazing just how many wires, adaptors, chargers etc that I need to take these days - not to mention clothes. I know it's only 4 days but somehow I feel I should be prepared for ALL types of weather and social occasions.

Easy drive down the M40 to Heathrow. Got to the Crowne Plaza to pick up Stuart at about 11.15. Nipped in for a "comfort break" and then found Stuart in reception.

Purple Parking was booked for 11.50 so we drove to the airport about half an hour early. Waited around for them to come and then headed into Terminal 3.

The new Virgin area is very nice - light and airy and seems to work well. Tried our luck at an upgrade and failed. Do they not know who we are?? Or maybe they do!

Checked in for Premium Economy and went through security. No queues at all. Just sailed straight through. Still have to have your shoes checked AFTER the main security but they've changed the rules again. Now you DON'T have to take your laptop out of its bag.

Took Stuart up to see the Upper Class Lounge. Bloke there let us stick our heads round the door. And sods law - as we walked back out it was shift change. So had we just sat down and blended it, we probably would have got away with staying. We didn't - so ended up in TGI Fridays.

The first crisis of the holiday came from nowhere. TGI Fridays had no balsamic vinegar. No one was expecting this shock. It came like a bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky. Stuart was quite reserved though. He let the waiter know his displeasure. Still think Stuart was wrong to punch and kick him. Massively forgettable burger and coffee for me and a salad and coffee for Stuart - for £20! Think that entitles us to share options as well so that's no too bad.

We were at Gate 40 so quite a walk - I got checked and searched again at the gate.

Boarded and sat in Premium sipping our drinks and watching the "other" people walking back to economy. I do like that bit. They come through the Premium cabin and start looking for their seat numbers there. The look on their faces when they realise our seats are numbered 20, 21 etc and theirs are 64, 65. Stuart was all for hitting them, but I think that's a bit much.

One thing is for sure, whichever class you are sat in on the plane, when the captain announces a delay - it affects the whole plane. It's simply not feasible or physically possible for the delay just to affect Economy. And true to Virgin's recent track record at Heathrow - there was a delay. This time it was because the computer that generates the flight plan had gone down. Have these people not heard of Google Earth? Or could they not just tail an American Airlines flight going in the same direction. When my Sat Nav isn't working, I start the journey anyway on the theory that it will start working. Not Virgin. Apparently they like to do things safely. I did suggest pressing ctrl, alt, delete or turning it off and back on again - but it seems my suggestions aren't "helpful in this current climate". We sat there for close on 2 hours and then the captain raised our spirits with a lie. He told us that we'd make up the time - we didn't.

Decent flight with some OK movies and some very nice food. The cabin crew didn't like Stuart's shirt and decided it would look better with a coffee stain on it - nice of them to help really.

Got into Boston just before 18.00 local time. Getting through US Immigration was a doddle. No queue - just sailed straight through. Cases took an age to come. I was getting worried but they eventually turned up. Got the Avis bus and picked up the car - huge SUV. Lots of fun!

Drove to Newton and checked in to the Hotel Indigo - very nice. Kind of a Japanese theme going on. Wood floors in the room and quite minimalist. Really nice bathroom with a big shower. Checked that out and changed before heading off for dinner.

Girl at reception suggested a place called Paparazzi in nearby Wellesley. This was seriously nice. Great food - we had Bruschetta to start, I had a Risotto and Stuart had a Bolognese. Loads of garlic, balsamic, bread and wonderful service. We had a Brazilian waitress - we both noticed the difference between the TGI's at Heathrow and this. Stuart left her a nice tip and we complimented the manager on her service.

Headed back to the hotel and thought we should check out where to go for breakfast. Noticed there was a place in the hotel and - WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT - they have a Starbucks in the basement. I'm tempted to move in here and be like Eloise at the Plaza. Free wi-fi in the rooms and a Starbucks in the basement.

In bed by 22.00 - knackered!

Saturday 31st May 2008

Boston to New London

Very early start - woke up bright and early at 04.30. Took me ages to figure out why but then realised the optician had called my mobile to leave a message which must have woken me!.

Decided to head out for some coffee at about 04.45. Took the car down towards Newton. Couldn't find anywhere so pulled into a supermarket where there were some workmen and asked them. They offered to take me as long as I brought them back! Very friendly and not at all the kind of things a serial killer would say. Declined the offer.

Found a 7-11 after a bit more driving and got coffee and a doughnut and went back to the hotel to eat. It's a really nice hotel - the Hotel Indigo is a new Holiday Inn venture and this could really take off. It's based on a Japanese theme and is quite minimalist. No bath, but a huge shower and the bedrooms have stripped wooden floors. Looks classy and does't look like it will date too quickly either.

Left a note under Stuart's door and we met up for brekkie around 08.00. Went back in to Wellesley to Cafe Mangus which is a Ma & Pa place. Nice breakfast of eggs, toast, coffee etc.

After brekkie went back to the hotel to get our things and check out before heading into Boston. Stuart was told about a shop which does last year's clothes at discount prices. Found it on Boylston just down from the Pru Centre. Parked around the back ($10 for half an hour). Bought a few things and then went to RadioShack for an iPod transmitter and a web-cam. Then we got a Starbucks and paid the ransom needed to free out car before hitting the open road. We had the wind in our hair and the spirit of the road in our hearts. We rock. Motoring along the open highway like 2 modern-day Paul Reveres. Nothing to tie us down. No clock to keep too and not needing to bow down to the man. Yeah man it's the spirit of Woodstock again. This attitude went well for us until we needed to stop our Mitsubishi Jeep for the toll plaza(s), for a Subway or a Starbucks. A road trip isn't possible without the caffeine and calorie induced help of Corporate America.

Easy drive down I-95 towards New London. We could literally watch the value of houses rise as we approached Cape Cod and then fall sharply as we approached New London.

They've clearly based New London on the old one - but at the time of American War of Independence. It's got the same old-world charm that you'd expect from the London of Charles Dickens - except with armed people who've eaten FAR too much. We found the Holiday Inn more by luck than judgement. We checked in and found that while the town is in the middle ages, the Holiday Inn is in 1974. Nixon is still President. It's so tired and in need of a face-lift. Room is a good size though and the bed is comfortable - but they don't have any lifts. I actually had to carry my case up some stairs. I know - it's barbaric!

Went to the Supermarket which had a Subway and had lunch - by this time we were both a bit knackered and ended up walking round the supermarket with no energy to actually purchase anything. Back to the hotel.

Tried to get some sleep but to no avail. I think there were some cool cats playing with their hula-hoops in the next room - so we decided to go for a swim. The pool was freezing so that didn't last for long. Tried to sleep again but that also failed so got ready for the Billy Joel concert.

Drove up to the Mohegan Sun with Stuart navigating. It is enormous. There's no clear line where you enter the Indian Reservation - it just kind of looms up on you and you end up in a parking garage. Loads of people pouring in of all shapes and sizes. Did think about dress code before the gig, but it certainly wasn't needed!

Got into the building and realised just how big it was. Found a map with a "you are here" sticker on it - and then walked 15 miles to the next map and realised we'd travelled about 2 map inches.

Queued to get into the buffet. $16 for an all you can eat. Got our table after an age and tucked in. Had some salad, pizza and desert. Then had some desert and some desert after that. For desert I had cake.

Continued our walk to get to the arena itself and got our seats in section 106 - K4 & 5. Three large chaps were in K1,2 & 3 but luckily the three next to me remained unoccupied so we spread out. Great arena. Floor level, then the first tier and then the second which was the one we were sat in. We were to the right of the stage and had a great view. Billy Joel started just after 20.00. He was clearly loving it. Kept saying he was going to play a song which hadn't been a hit so that was the time to go to the bathroom. Very entertaining but less intense than the Rome gig. I guess that's down to the fact that in Rome the audience was 250,000 and it had the backdrop of the Colosseum. Still an excellent gig though.

Got back to the hotel just after midnight and that was that for Saturday - knackered to a standstill. Tomorrow it's Roadtrip 2008 Part 2.

Sunday 1st June 2008

New London to New York

Got up at 09.00 feeling like death warmed up. Very tired. Went down to breakfast with Stuart. Eggs, coffee, toast pretty much did the trick and perked me up a bit.

Back to the room to pack ahead of an 11.00 check out. Now it's "Road Trip 2008 Part 2 - The Final Push For Manhattan".

Started off hunting round New London for petrol. Came to a very odd garage where the guy behind the counter came out and said "Give me credit card". Obviously being British I queried this request and was told "Give me credit card before gas". I politely declined his kind offer and decided to try elsewhere.

Back on the I-95 and off again after about 10 miles for a nice gas station and some coffee and doughnuts in a Beatle Themed coffee shop. Very odd but nice coffee.

Stopped a few more times and hit the outskirts of Manhattan around 14.00. Lots of fun listening to "appropriate music" on the I-Pod which was serving as "Road Trip 2008 FM".

Playlist

Neil Diamond - America

Supertramp - Breakfast in America

Don McLean - American Pie

Then went back to Z100 and 1010Wins!

Followed the signs for the George Washington Bridge which both me and Stuart thought went into Manhattan. New York, New Jersey - what the hell - all the same! Sadly not. Ended up heading into New Jersey so had to double back through the Lincoln Tunnel.

Driving in Manhattan is nowhere as scary as Paris or Rome. Generally the traffic is slow moving and the grid system makes navigating a doddle. Stuart took a few pics as we drove down 5th Avenue, past Rockefeller Centre and across to East 48th Street. Pulled up outside the hotel around 14.40 and dumped the car before checking in. I got a Junior Suite which is very nice!

We then took the car back to Avis on 44th Street and wandered back towards the hotel before stopping for a late lunch. Salad and bagel as we didn't want to eat too much as we were meeting Danny for dinner.

Then headed to the Ed Sullivan Theatre to put our names down for The Late Show. Am mildly hopeful that we get a call back tomorrow.

Went to the Top Of The Rock for the amazing views and then walked back to the hotel - knackered!

Met up with Stuart at 20.30 to head down to Danny's hotel for our reunion dinner. He's at the Avalon on 32nd Street - had a tour of Danny’s room. Just spectacular. Would happily stay there in future.

Walked over towards MSG on the hunt for some dinner in a diner. Got to 7th and DC decided to call it a night after his flight. I don't know, these youngsters have no stamina these days.

Me and Stuart ended up in the Tick-Tock Diner where we had omelette and salad. We had the most taciturn waiter in the world. We felt bad - intruding on his evening and ordering food and stuff. He was very good about it though and grunted at us. Food was good - service was awful. Didn't leave him a tip - grumpy sod.

Now back in hotel ready for bed. Where will tomorrow take us?

Monday 2nd June 2008

New York

 

Woke up just after 06.30 - but felt like I’d had a fab night's sleep.

Took a wander outside towards the Deli opposite the hotel. Got myself a large coffee and a cream cheese and tomato bagel and sat watching all the people hurrying off to work. They seem to start crazy early in New York.

Texted Danny and he wandered up to our hotel. Had another coffee watching the world go by and catching up on the morning's events. Sent Stuart a text and we met up for breakfast around 08.30. Very nice Intercontinental breakfast - but then it should be for $30 a head. Had some fruit (I know) and then put paid to my good intentions with some toast and butter.

By this time we were awaiting the call from The Late Show to advise us what time we needed to turn up at the Ed Sullivan Theatre to take our front row seats. Made sure the phone in the room was taking messages and then headed out for a morning of cycling.

Got a cab up to Central Park. It dropped us on 72nd and 5th so we walked into the park towards the Boathouse. Took a bit of finding but we asked a few people and got there eventually. Me and Stuart hired bikes - Danny decided to be the official photographer so declined. $15 an hour for the bikes and that's only because we decided to upgrade from the $9 an hour ones. The cheaper ones don't have brakes as such - you have to pedal backwards. Hired those when me and Nikki cycled in the park in 2001 and I seem to remember crossing Strawberry Fields at some speed to the consternation of onlookers. Cycled on the roads for a bit before stopping near the Common to phone the hotel/Letterman about the Late Show tickets. No luck! Ended up on some seats gathering our breath before the long push back to civilisation. Gossiped for 20 minutes before summoning up the courage - and then discovered we were literally around the corner from the boathouse. The return trip took under 2 minutes!

Well after all this exercise we needed a break so got a coffee and some water and sat in the boathouse admiring the view over the lake.

Now when three gentlemen take morning tea together, it's not long before the conversation turns to boats. Thus it were ever so and 'twas so on this morn also.

It was decided that we'd try for every form of transport so naturally rowing needed to be included. Worked out how much dosh we had and thought we'd go for it. When we got there, found out it was $12 for the hour. Bargain.

Danny took some persuading to get into the boat but once we got in and the boat had stopped rocking all was fine. I volunteered to row. Had to sit facing Stuart with Danny behind me as I rowed backwards. Stuart navigated well to begin with but then I think had mutinous thoughts and at one point was caught directing us towards some rocks. Very easy rowing around the lake - great views. Danny took loads of pictures.

After landing the boat we got a cab down to the Oxford Deli on 52nd and 3rd for lunch and then decided we were all knackered so it was time for an afternoon nap.

Sadly the Intercontinental had other ideas. Their internet wasn't working so I spend a frustrating few hours complaining. Stuart called around 16.30 and I found out it wasn't just my room. He'd been complaining as well. Went to reception where Stuart made our feelings known to the manager.

Had cake and coffee in a Diner across from the hotel and met up with Danny for our tour of 1010WINS.

Jon Robnett met us downstairs and took us up and showed us around the station - wicked to sit at the desk. Got my picture taken sat at the mic. 

After WINS we caught a cab across to DUMBO. Stands for Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass and is the area between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Used to be very run down but is now up and coming. Took some pictures from Empire Fulton State Park which is the area on the East River overlooking Manhattan. Great views. Got some dinner in a restaurant on Water Street. There were a whole load of Office for Emergency Management people there. I was chatting with a woman who'd worked there for 27 years and had been under the Twin Towers when the first one collapsed. Their colleague was off to work in Nigeria for a year so they were having a leaving do.

Walked around to Fulton Landing and saw the Telectroscope. Very bizarre. Can't figure out how it works but we were watching a man near Tower Bridge in London and he was watching us!

Got a cab back to the hotel and crashed out by 10.30. Great day!

Tuesday 3rd June 2008

New York to Home

Awoken by a phone call at 04.30 to tell me it was 04.30. No matter how prepared you are for 04.30 it still hurts.

Caught a cab to the airport just after 05.00. Very easy journey and was at JFK just after 05.25. Checked in and went through security and then felt really hungry. Terminal 4 at JFK is very new and spangly but does lack food places. Ended up with a coffee and a cookie for my breakfast. It's like they just don't cater for early flights.

Boarded at around 06.45 and then we had the JFK queue. 9 aircraft before us on the runway so a now traditional half hour wait. Was in a double seat with another chap next to me. Totally stupid. Premium sits around 40 and there were about 10 of us in there. We were asked to keep our seats until after take off. I feel asleep and then woke myself up with the biggest snore possible! Think I woke the whole cabin up.

Flight was uneventful - watched some movies and ate some food. Got into Heathrow just after 19.00. Security etc was a doddle - the only delay was getting the car back from Purple Parking but either way I was home by 21.00.

So that's another trip ticked off. What's next? Mallorca on Saturday and there is talk of a Dubai trip in October or November.