One of the cardinal rules of being a houseguest is to fit in seamlessly with your host’s routine. Of course this is not really possible because unless your host runs a professional guest house, they are bound to go through some effort and adjustment having you under foot. But it would help if you tried not to disturb your host’s routine.
My host family is very health conscious and from time to time various family members go out for their routine exercise program. So when my host told me that she was used to a morning walk, I told her to go ahead. My ears perked up when I heard that her route that morning was around Central Park, and asked if I could join in.
However, I was in no condition to ‘walk’ and preferred to sit it out while she carried on with her daily constitutional . So after huffing and puffing up the steps, we made our way towards the Great Hill , at the Upper West side of Central Park .
At this time of day time pooches are allowed to be off their leash so Great Hill is a dog lover’s paradise: full of dogs and their owners enjoying the warm early morning sun.
And accustomed as I was to seeing overfed Labrador retrievers, Beagles and the Indies waddle reluctantly behind their equally disinterested dog walkers, it was a treat to see the different breeds do their stuff. Honestly, I’d never even seen such a variety of dogs at a Dog Show.
The magnificent oaksA chihuauaSeems like a Samoyed to meWasn’t that a smart salute?Hounds having a raceRunning aroundLast of the summer blossomsOne of the many benches to catch your breathLittle Ms Frou frou in her tulle tutuAm I pretty or what?Don’t stare! It’s rudeI couldn’t be bothered with silly dogs chasing me
Walking down the path, amidst the calm of the trees , suddenly we came across a sun-soaked grassy meadow dotted with dogs and their owners having a blast . The dogs chased their friends with joyous abandon, tongues hanging out and fur flying in the breeze . Some of them flopped on the grass tired after a hard work out while others rolled in the grass or walked by sedately . A bunch of greedy guzzlers eagerly followed a Pied Piper in Red – a red haired woman who had a bag of beef jerky to treat her canine friends.
This was really the best use of a public space where morning walkers, dog walkers, babies in strollers , regular joggers and of course dogs who were free run wild and stretch their legs could share the same space and enjoy the beauty of the park in their own way.
Having seen most of the dogs only in picture books, It was hard for me to identify the different breeds. Labradors , Grey hounds, Chihuahuas and French Bull dog were just a few of the breeds I could recognise. Some looked awkward yet strangely beautiful with their thin elongated bodies covered in tight curls or their silky smoky grey slicked back. Some had coats in black and white and some had fringes that flopped over the face. But there was no denying that these handsome well groomed canine specimens were happy creatures.
One pretty little ballerina strutted around in her frilly, pink, tulle tutu playfully following a sleek young hound with a slick, dark coat, firm muscled body, and a thin conductor’s baton of a tail. He naturally ignored her and walked straight ahead.
They chased their friends or rubbed noses while some just walked sedately past looking questioningly at me. this strange human staring at them.
Walking around or sitting on the few benches, under the shade of giant oaks soaring up to a bright blue sky, soaking in the smell of wet earth covered with dew laden grass is an unexpected treat in the middle of a very busy city just waking up to another busy day.
The Great Hill with its well kept grassy lawns, shaded paths beneath magnificent trees is a pure delight for dog lovers and early risers. It is definitely worth a visit but remember that this special city experience is only possible before 9 in the morning when the dogs are allowed to be free and unleased.
So the next time if you are in New York and are up for it, do go to the most beautifully landscaped Great Hill in Central Park , located on the West side on the third highest point of the park, between 103rd and 107th streets.
How many times does your life go according to plan? Hardly ever, because in my opinion, life is a series of coincidences that come together as you join the dots.
Time and time again, I’ve noticed that things have just happened without planning. My recent visit to the US is a case in point.
Life doesn’t take you down the path you really want to go
Ever since Ms Papaya and Prima Donna returned to India for good, from New Jersey , I put away my passport and completely forgot about travelling abroad. As far as I was concerned my travelling days were over. With Covid and its ugly head disrupting everyone’s life, with Hubby dear retired and my own enthusiasm for long protracted journeys slowly waning, my reasons for going abroad were diminishing. So I was completely ‘unprepared’ for visiting the US.
Moreover, who would have imagined that nine days after seeing West Side Story at the NMACC, I would actually be walking down the streets of Upper West Side in Manhattan?
It only drove home the point that life plays out in strange ways.
A dear school friend who was Prima Donna’s Guardian Angel in New Jersey invited me to her son’s wedding. Under normal circumstances I would haven’t been able to go what with Ms Papaya’s school and Prima Donna’s work trips in the offing. But Prima Donna insisted that I attend specially since she was unable to do so herself. So with one thing leading to another, I spent the first half of September in New York and New Jersey.
A Walking & Eating Holiday
For most of my compatriots, a holiday in New York means shopping, meeting other Indians, dining in chic restaurants, visiting museums and taking in a Broadway show or two.
Strange as it may sound, what I most wanted to do in New York was walk in Central Park and eat the iconic street food.
Years of seeing Hollywood movie scenes shot in the park, it had assumed mythical proportions in my head. And in my fleeting visits in the past, Central Park was far removed from my tourist track. so this time round when my hostess in New York told me that she lived close to the park and I could wander there for as long as I wanted, I jumped at the chance. And I got really lucky because I walked through Central Park, Riverside Park, Highline Park and Brooklyn Park.
Walking through Columbia University getting ready for the new studentsThe magnificent peace sculpture in the Children’s sculpture garden at Morningside ParkStreet viewThe magnificent Cathedral of St. John the divine
And I got lucky because not only was she staying a hop skip ad a jump away, she was equally passionate about walking . So for the six days that I was in New York, I not only managed to get a ring side view of the park but also walk up and down the streets of Manhattan, getting a real feel of the place and experiencing the busyness of New York in a uniquely personalised , customised tour.
Day 1
A dark and gloomy sky on the drive from Newark didn’t bode very well for my first day in New York.
But miraculously, as predicted by my cousin who had checked on her phone, the skies opened up promptly at 11 am . And in spite of the long 11 hour non stop flight, after a quick shower, was ready to pound the streets.
So on day 1 itself, we walked down to the nearest Shake Shack to tick off one of the boxes on my ‘to do list’.
It was blazing hot at noon when we set off but I didn’t realise how hot it was because there were so many people up and about. Obviously, no one really minded the heat.
We walked down the shaded street past the Carl Schurz Memorial from where we could get a glimpse of Harlem lying below and beyond. We didn’t step into this garden though the steps leading to it were tempting enough because the tummy rumbles were slowly getting louder. This was another of those things that I have to leave for another time.
Having a Shake Shack burger was high on my list. I was lucky to have it on the very first day.
We took a short cut through the Columbia University campus which was a buzz with students moving in. What an heart lifting experience it was to see young people moving about with the boundless energy of youth, on bicycles, in groups, carrying boxes and just chatting about in the sun.
Even though it was hot, we preferred having our burgers on the roadside, sitting under an umbrella watching the world go by as we munched down our lunch.
Once satiated, we made our way back down Amsterdam Avenue past the grand Cathedral church of St. John the Divine. The church is definitely a visit but unfortunately we ran short of time. Besides, I thought I could make a quick trip down this way some time in the next few days. Sadly it remained just a thought.
The charming little sculpture garden for children along the way home, was filled with the most phantasmagorical creatures cast in bronze. I wondered whether the little children would be fascinated or scared? Once again, I would have loved to spend a little more time in this strangely magical garden but we had to return home for the rest of the family who were waiting for the lunch we had promised to bring back for them.
Slowly but surely, jet lag began hitting me so we spent the rest of the day at home catching up on family gossip.
Later that evening as we sipped wine and nibbled on crackers and cheese, we watched the last Super Moon of the year emerge in a cloudy sky.
There couldn’t have been a more perfect start for a perfect holiday.
After a luxurious shower and a quick scrumptious breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon ( thank you United for the food voucher) I was ready to seize the day. What would the day bring? Definitely some joy as my host insisted I spend the day with her.
“What will you do after you check out at 11?” she asked.
I told her I’d wait at the airport till my flight departed.
“Are you nuts? The airport won’t allow you to check in your luggage 11 hours before your flight!!!”
I suppose she was right. So I waited for her to come and fetch me. And I’m glad I did because I spent another lovely day in the company of my generous hosts rather than wander around the airport like a lost soul. I didn’t bother to check whether passengers were allowed to wait at the airport for so many hours. Besides, there was nothing to do before checking in baggage. In hindsight, waiting at the airport WAS a bad idea.
Time to take off
This time round, I was keeping my fingers and toes crossed. After all if rumours were to be believed, United was facing a major software glitch and mine wasn’t the only flight cancelled that night. Of course lightening never strikes twice but with my current mode of travel set to delays and cancellations, I wasn’t too sure that I’d really be on my way to Dubai till I really was!
Perhaps, the last time round I hadn’t taken the name of the Lord so this time my host and I said a loud ‘Jai Shri Krishna’ before setting off in her Jane Bond Car. The anxiety in the car was palpable though we did talk about things that didn’t relate to my journey. This time, however, I insisted that in case the flight was cancelled, she should not bother with me especially since she had a scheduled doctor’s appointment the next day.
Baggage Check
Since I’d already checked in the day before, I was familiar with the procedure and even though my flimsy, limp boarding pass didn’t stay still the first time I scanned it, I didn’t miss a heart beat. Luckily it did get scanned.
It was time to check in my luggage.
“Where’s the baggage tag?” asked the lady, as I put the bag on the weighing scale.
“Well, I just took it off and threw it in the trash so that you won’t mix it up and send it to Delhi.”
“But you’ve already checked in the bag. I need the tag.”
“But that was yesterday and my flight was cancelled.”
My heart sank at the thought of going outside the airport and looking for the baggage tag in the trash. Which bin did I throw it in?
Luckily, she seemed to understand my dilemma and the bag was checked in with a new tag. But I was already wondering if the bag would still go to Delhi while I went ahead to Mumbai……..
Having had the experience of missing my dinner the day earlier, I decided to encash the vouchers sent to my phone. Unfortunately, I couldn’t locate them on my phone and decided to splurge on a Pepperoni pizza. This was for Ms. Papaya who loves pepperoni pizza. So I sat down at Forno Magico for an American style Pepperoni Pizza.
The tables were filled with grouchy passengers busy scrolling on their phones while waiting to be served. I wondered about the service though because there wasn’t a waiter in sight.
I spotted a QR Code pasted in the corner and figured that I had to scan the code, get the menu and order my meal. While I was waiting for my meal, I found the vouchers hidden somewhere on my phone and tried to get the order placed on the vouchers. But after talking to two waiters, decided to encash the vouchers for chocolates from Cibo Express.
Alas! the pizza was a major disaster. It was thick and stodgy and quite tasteless. Besides it was ridiculously over priced.
Why is it that food and beverages sold in places where customers have little choice, are always so over priced? Airports, especially, should be aware that passengers are already harried and are likely to spend more if the food was reasonably priced.
So I wasn’t in the least bit surprised when my $40 voucher from United only got me three small Toblerone bars, 3 Tic Tacs and 2 Kit Kats. Well, I suppose that was better than letting the vouchers lapse.
Calling all passengers to Board UA 164 to Dubai
I was waiting at the Gate happy to read that boarding would begin in 5 minutes. Five minutes became 10 and there was no sign of the plane at the end of the airbridge!
The flight crew came to the gate and waited to board the plane that wasn’t there. By this time I knew that something was up and quite prepared to spend another night in another far off hotel.
This time there were whispers that they were waiting for a Gate. When the plane did come 10 minutes later, I heaved a sigh of relief. There would be a delay of 20 minutes but that would leave me enough time to board my next flight to Mumbai.
But……
Now that we got the plane, we were waiting for the cleaners! There was no cleaning staff available to get the plane ready for take off. My heart started beating faster.
Finally when we got to board we were an hour late but the Cabin crew assured me that we would make good time. I really had no choice but to go with the flow. This time round I was all prepared to spend one night in Dubai.
Emirates flight EK500
By the time I landed at Dubai International Airport, I was more than convinced I would miss my onward flight. I had just about an hour to check in and with no boarding pass in hand, things were looking difficult.
The airport looked quite empty and I couldn’t find a single manned Emirates counter. Finally I did spot one and ran towards it. Of course there was a glitch.
This time United hadn’t booked me Premium Economy while my original booking reference number with United had me as a premium economy passenger. I told the lady at the counter that it didn’t matter to me even if I was booked as cargo.
I just wanted to get home.
The minutes ticked by as the time for boarding became less. Dubai airport was huge and there was no way I could run anywhere to board the plane!
But it seemed that my Delay & Cancel flight mode had changed. The Emirates staff bent backwards to help me, even sending someone with me to take through Security and right up to the air train. Of course, they reminded me that this was over and beyond their duty because United was still not responding to their calls to sort out the ticketing issue.
I will always be grateful for this help because I finally did board the plane and make it back home!
Takeaways
Life’s lessons are never learnt until they are truly learned and there are several things I learnt on this trip.
You can never be prepared for everything or for every eventuality. Life always springs surprises. Embrace them.
On a more practical note, always check out the layout of the airports you are going to be using. Find out where the escalators and elevators are. Find out where the food and beverage outlets are.
It will be easier for you to navigate the concourse. Find out if you will be allowed to stay in the concourse without checking in your baggage and what facilities there are for such passengers.
Plan on what luggage to take. Try and take only ONE bag. Avoid a carry on bag. It is easier to navigate unknown airports where porters aren’t available.
Check out the hotels near the airport and make a provision to spend more money than you had budgeted for. You never know when your flight will be cancelled.
Always carry a fresh set of underclothes with you in your carry on bag or purse. I was lucky I could at least shower even though my departure was delayed by a day.
Have a battery pack or different cables with you because I found that my Universal cable didn’t fit the port in the aircraft ( my phone was newer than the plane). Luckily the passenger in the neighbouring seat had 5 cables with her and let me charge my phone during the flight. Some of the ports at the airport were not working and the ones that were, were obviously full.
Always have a print out of your boarding pass, vouchers etc in case your phone dies or you can’t find messages on your phone.
Stay calm. Avoid alcohol. Don’t hesitate to ask strangers for help if you need it.
Keep your spectacles handy.
“Don’t waste another moment crying over what went wrong! If it wasn’t a blessing – it was a lesson.” ~ Paula White
So all’s well that ends well.
Do you have any such travel stories to share?
Ciao
From tomorrow I’ll be posting about the simply marvellous time I had in New York despite the travel glitches so do continue to visit this space.
