Jim and Judy Do the Big Apple

Okay, so if you hear Jim’s side of the adventure,

it may sound a bit like the trip from Hell.

If you get my rendition, it will be a lot different.

We traveled in parallel universes for part of the time.

What started out to be a 2 day trip to

meet our Wyoming friends, morphed into something else.

The day after I had booked all the non-refundable reservations,

Jim learned he had to work on Saturday.

Plans revised: Jim and Judy travel to NYC on Friday.

Jim returns Friday night. Judy returns on Saturday.

Translation….Judy gets to stay in the nice hotel near Broadway,

by herself--king size bed, flat screen TV, tons of pillows.
CHAPTER ONE---

It seemed like a good idea at the time.
A bus from Rockville to NYC---leave the driving to them.

The website said allow 4 hours for the journey.

Delays on the GW Parkway meant a very large,wet crowd climbed

on as the bus arrived in Chinatown 30 minutes late.

We read the paper, took a nap, did the crosswords.

Delays and 5 1/2 hours without food or water (my fault),

but WiFi on board meant we could check our e-mail.

We arrived in NYC about an hour later than expected--

but glad we didn't have to drive or pay for parking. CHAPTER TWO---

New York New York—
Kay and Dan met us near Penn Station and

we quickly grabbed a bite to eat at a local café.

We walked up 7th to Broadway & The Crowne Plaza Hotel

Jim gets to see where I will spend the night, while he is on the bus.

Oh, if we only knew what was going to happen in just a few hours.... We had great fellowship….and then decided it was time to eat again. I had been salivating for a Reuben sandwich &

Carnegies Deli is world famous!! I must say that the price for 1 sandwich--$25.00 seems high.
They charge an extra $3 to share one.
Meaning that this sandwich cost us 28 bucks. But look at the size of it. It was fantastic.The most tender corned beef I’ve had. We were full and needed to take a walk.
Central Park was in bloom...even if a bit overcast. Then we stopped off at Carnegie Hall..... where Kay & Dan’s grandson will be performing Sunday night... with his high school jazz band!! Lucky Grandparents!!

CHAPTER THREE---

Jim's-No Good Very Bad Bus Ride

Jim’s return bus trip was worse than expected.

The bus was already mostly full when it arrived in mid-town.

The crowd around the door shoving to get on was more than

the bus could hold. Anyone going to Rockville, the driver shouted.

Jim stepped forward and was given priority...a later bus could take the
extra D.C. and Baltimore passengers. Lucky them it turned out.

Just north of Philly, Jim, who was sitting in the back of the bus,
heard what sounded like tearing rubber.
Then the bus started pulling in a strange manner.
Eventually, the driver realized he had a flat.
A call to the bus company soon made it clear no one was there.
The highway patrol arrived later to inform him that a broken down
bus could not stay on the side of the road.
A few more calls connected with a gas station who said it could come
change the tire. The duration of this delay = 3 and one half hours.
Jim arrived home at 3:30 in the morning.
My husband had spent 14 hours on the bus that day
and only 6 hours in NYC.
All the while I was snuggly in the kingsize bed!!
CHAPTER FOUR
Kay, Dan & Judy hit Broadway

While Jim was on the bus, we were enjoying a new play
just around the corner from the hotel. Irena’s Vow.
It is not a splashy musical, nor even a comedy.
But it was one of the best plays I’ve seen for awhile and
was recommended to me by my friend Cathy who knows quite
a bit about theater. Her daughter Janice is even starring in
an off Broadway production of Dear Edwina.
We would have attended that production,
if Janice had not taken the weekend off for a wedding.

Our early supper—albeit tons of corned beef,
gave us license to have a piece of cheesecake.
Oh, heck, lets share 2 pieces between three of us.
Well, even we couldn’t finish one.
CHAPTER FIVE---SATURDAY
A Musical Meal Memory
Ellen’s Stardust is not the place you go just for the food---
which is pretty good.

All the wait staff are singers & wannabe Broadway stars.

As they belt out songs you can’t help but sing along.
Even I got to sing a note or two with this guy!
Truly a FUN place to eat!!

Dan was thinking how nice & uncrowded Wyoming is

after a few hours of dodging people on the sidewalk.

But he had to admit there are sights

you just don’t see in the cowboy state.

Like blocks of flashing lights----motorcade???

The M&M Store---

THREE FLOORS OF CHOCOLATE!!!

A Mini-Cooper stretch limo!!!

Weddings in the middle of Broadway!!

Kay & I found some bargains at Macy's---

The World's Largest Store---

The old wooden escalators with wood threads...

still amaze me!!

Then it was time for me to leave.

My bus trip was more pleasant than Jim's.

I was home in my bed by 1 a.m.

It wasn't king size with lots of pillows.

But it did contain my husband.

He is better than pillows!!!