Temp: -1 Degrees C Clear skies.
We allowed an hour to drive to Buffalo airport. Plenty of time for a 1255 flight. Previous days news reports indicated border queues around an hour wait so not knowing what it would be like we left Niagra Falls early. Rainbow bridge is only two minutes from the Sheraton hotel so it wasn't long before we were crossing the river to the border gate. Three or four minutes questions at the border and a show of ID later we were back on our journey. The GPS directed us to the Buffalo airport with ease. The only real trial was trying to find a service station. None of the brands were familiar and the first option the GPS took us to didn't have fuel. Anyway a short drive later we refuelled. Only about $40 USD fuel used between Montreal and Buffalo.
We dropped the car off at the airport and checked into Delta. I have to say after all the travel thus far this was the most trialling episode at an airport. The automatic checkin systems are bad. Many don't work, are very very slow and often recommend you find a staff member to complete the transaction. In the end you have checkin staff (required for checkin baggage anyway) plus staff helping out with the machines. Cannot see how this is cost saving, and is certainly stressful and time consuming for the traveller. Lines back up very quickly. In addition to all this the travellers inconvenienced from the airport closures were really under stress, and trying to catch sleep and/or flights where ever they could. Checkin costs per bag. First one $25 USD, second $35 USD. Should have taken the cheaper airline after all.
Security was the usual nightmare, and then the inevitable flight delay.
By 1400 (15 minute wait on tarmac) we were on board the CRJ50 in seats 1A,B,C and D careering down the icy runway heading towards New York City. Seating doesn't matter in a no frills airline though. One good thing though; any over sized bags, or those unable to fit in the overhead lockers are tagged and put in the hold free of charge. You pick those bags back up from the tarmac as you egress.
The flight was 55 minutes in the air, and after a brief pause waiting to get to gate we managed to push through the JFK crowds to the baggage claim. For once our bags were on the carousel early and in short order we were in line for a New York taxi. Most of the taxis have gone Hybrid which is a good environmental strategy for large cities. After the first six or seven taxis set off the taxi coordinator informed the line that the taxi pool was at 0%. They divide the taxis evenly between the terminals and there is no way of finding out when the next are due. As it was there was no real problem as more taxis arrived pretty quickly with another 75 turning up to the pool. There are shuttle buses available but you really need to know where you need to go, and where they are heading. Descriptions of Midtown, Downtown and Upper West side are pretty large geographic areas. It was about an hours trip and $45 USD flat rate to the Westin Hotel in New York City. We witnessed first hand the New York traffic peak hour, further hampered by the New Years plans. Observed an ambulance, sirens blaring, trying to get through the traffic. Most cars do not get out the way, and those that do are squeezing in tight spots, up on curbs or end up causing more problems creating oblique angles to the traffic. You would not want to need an ambulance in New York peak hour. The corner of 43rd and 8th avenue Times Square was our destination. Only a short stroll to the square from the hotel, and a walk around the block which we did in the afternoon to get our bearings. Many of the sites and things to do in Broadway are very close. Prices are high for shows though, costing $800 USD for the family.
We returned to the hotel to check on tours, things to do, restaurants and what was happening with New Years. The hotel issued a New Years card to get through the road closures for hotel guests.
We booked a tour for the following day and headed back into Times Square to find some dinner. No restaurants were taking reservations, most had a forty five minute to hour and a half wait. We found an Italian place and decided on takeaway. About half an hour later we returned to the hotel room where I enjoyed my first New York Pizza slice. Interesting pizza choices here in New York. Most pizzas are simply pepperoni or cheese. Occasionally you can find a place offering additional toppings such as mushroom or green peppers. One place charged $2.50 USD per additional topping. Not sure if that was per slice or full pizza but it was listed under the per slice column . The pizzas are pretty big, and the individual slices huge. Cool! It was funny listening to a number of customers asking for Hawaiian pizzas only to be told - nup.
With a day to go before New Years festivities there was a hum of activity in the area. Workers were clearing the streets of the ice and snow of the recent storms with excavators. The police were already starting to work with road closures starting at 1300 on the 31st Dec. Concrete blocks and metal barrackades lined the streets in preparation.
No comments:
Post a Comment