Our Final Day!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 12 March, 2023.

RJ didn't sleep well last night so opts to stay in bed while PG goes to mass. It's at 9am at St Malachy's the Actor's Chapel. The cantor and the priest seemed to exhibit something of the actor but the sermon was good. The woman in the pew in front turned to PG and asked if he is English. She's a Scot from Ayrshire who's lived in New York for 64 years', she hasn't lost her accent.

Back at the hotel, RJ has asked for a hairdryer. It will be along shortly, it never was. So, we pack up, drop off the bags and set off for breakfast. The nearest is the Premier Deli. There's a long queue but we join it. Order at one end, they cook it, pay, find a seat with the food. RJ received a great look when she asked for waiter service as can be imagined. We settle for cinnamon bagels with cream cheese.

The nearest station gives access to the R line. It will take us to Whitehall for the Staten Island Ferry. Unfortunately, we arrive just after a ferry had sailed leaving a 30 minute wait. Once on the ferry, we follow the crowds to the right to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. A Korean woman tries to push in but gets the "Capri" treatment from RJ.

We can't stay on the ferry as a guy on the metro had suggested. We must say that the people we've encountered have gone out of their way to be helpful. We leave the ferry and follow the line back to the next one. Easily on to the metro and we alight near the hotel. However, this time we head to Central Park. It's full of horse drawn traps, cyclists pulling rickshaws, runners and cyclists. A brief walk around then we head to the Premier Deli again. This time for a wrap.

Pick up the bags and head to the metro. A 15 minute wait because it's Sunday. The carriage has a rough sleeper across several seats with all his belongings tied to him. The queues for the Airtrain are horrendous so we're glad that we bought enough on the metro card this morning. Collection of the bag is straightforward. As is check in at Virgin where the guy tells us that we share the same surname, almost! ( The gate controller at Car Rental also said that his cousin shares the name. Is everyone in New York related to PG.) I thought that we might have got an upgrade but no. Until we boarded the plane and realise that we've been given the exit row with wide leg room.

Border Control/Security is horrific. Two lines roll into one without direction. Then we're held up whilst two flight crews, Mexican and Swedish, are given priority. Who pays whose wages, here? Then we're told to take our shoes off but then don't bother just as we have. All in all a very unpleasant experience. One that we don't intend to repeat again if we can help it. We think that we deserve a beer. RJ picks up a bottle and asks for a glass of wine. They want $30! RJ gives him back the bottle much to his annoyance. The access to the internet offers a satisfaction questionnaire. PG vents his spleen.

Flight leaves late but the crew know that this is built in and we'll arrive early. Butter chicken curry and three cans of wine are the best provisions we've had in the nine flights. It helps that the crew ask what we want for tea not dinner.

MANCHESTER, 13 March, 2023.

We land at 6am but have to wait 30 minutes before our gate becomes available. We must have slept during the flight but don't feel refreshed. Last night, the woman next to RJ asked her if she could have RJ's pillow because she needs two. As if RJ would oblige!

Matthew meets us at 7:30am, we drop him off at Sandy Grove and we are home before 9am. There is a huge snow drift at the top of Old Mount Road otherwise the road is clear.