New York to Ohio.

We already knew it would be difficult. 

My ear ache. Two planes, tight connections.

The worst winter…. That my sister has ever experienced. 

Anna’s four wheel drive travel plan to pick me up from the bus fell through, due to family illness. 

Multiple plane delays due to weather.

 

i left the hotel at 6am. Indeed, delayed lights. Long waits between (nice food though). Got to Columbus Ohio at 2pm. 

Bus to Athens, and in by 5.30 pm

Adrienne picked me up, and we drove off in the dark. Main roads were fine. Country roads were not. Not at all. Iced over. 

We went through to a local farmer. He loaded me, my case, and our bags of groceries in his beaten-up 4 wheel drive, and went our to our land. The long driveway up the hill was terrifying. Believe me in this. Adrienne parked her sedan down at the road. She can’t drive up. My man went down and got her in his car. That is where her car was this morning…. She walked down the hill, to use it. 

Interesting note…. Farmer and family spoke with a strong Appalachian accent… Easy to recognise now.

So, here we are, in tne farmhouse.. Essentially snowed in. Ordinary sedan can’t reach us. Emil, and his boat, and the 4 wheel drive are off , in Florida, sailing. Car parked at farm gate. 

This morning at 9am…. -27.c.

i am safe and warm. Many aren’t, I know.  My ear is ok. Loads of drugs help.

As Afrienne says, this is the worst winter she has known.

it is supposed to reach -11.c today. 

Cold what? 

 

Brooklyn Bridge from the boat cruise, through snowy fog

Statue looks familiar?

From the boat cruise in the snowy fog

Bear Mountain resort view…

View near Bear Mountain

Ice by the roadside

The frozen river

Up the Hudson

Caroline and Anthony

New York New York!

My reflections….

1. Exciting. Noise. People. Noise. Crowds. People. Shops. Noise. Even the cabs have TVS.

2. The quaintest little hotel in Times Square. It was the size of a handkerchief, but pretty and clean.

3. Loved spending time with my niece Caroline. Likewise, meeting her fiancé, Anthony, and his parents. All lovely people. 

4. Getting of the interstate train, at Penn Station, peak hour. Overwhelming! A nice policeman directed me to the longest taxi inline I  had ever seem. Thirty minute wait. In one of the coldest winters ever. 

5. One of the coldest winters ever. Ever! Snow falling. Ice on roads. Boat trip full of fog and snow. And hot chocolate. Train up the Hudson River, to Bear Mountain Resort…. Snow there of course, but a frozen river.

6. Tourist bus ride with Caroline…. Fascinating. Morning tea in a Chinese cafe. Did you know dry octopus tastes like ummm, fish chewing gum? Similar texture too. Wonderful harbour tourist cruise, Caroline’s gift to me for Christmas… Fog, snow, foghorn, the big lady herself, bridges, Ellis Island, vague city views, evening lights coming on… amazing. 

8. Grand Central Station a historical site, and I can see why. Beautiful. 

9. Meeting Anthony, and then taking a train up the Hudson valley, to his parents’ house. Pretty countryside. We then went on to the resort at Bear Mountain, for lunch. Great food. Lovely folk at the table. Then A’s dad drove us back the few hours into town. He was great with the traffic. It was bad enough for me… And only a Sunday night at that! 

10. Bad ear infection. I contacted my insurance company, who sent me to a doctor. Nice man who only does tourists… $250. $150 for medications. All necessary, given the flights back to Ohio the next day. 

11. Aware of the medical issue, Caroline brought me farewell dinner, to my room, on the last night. So kind. But sad to say goodbye.

12. Interesting foods…. Genuine NY pizza, likewise bagel-cream cheese-lox, Cambodian sandwiches, breakfast offerings of peanut butter pie and chocolate-covered waffles. Both were way too sweet! Loads of coffee, no tea anywhere. 

 

AND so, that was New York!