Back to the US of A

Sadly and all too quickly it was time for me to go back to the US. However, I had to buy another case to put be able to transport the various gifts I had collected. As we had been traveling around I became very conscious that clothes are much cheaper than in Australia and in some respects, the woolen items are better than those in the US. I ended up getting a range of winter items for my daughter from places like Sainsbury’s (a major supermarket chain) and several discount clothing stores. They were ponchos and other items that are very fashionable but also very warm and that are not the same style as seen in the US. I must add that when my daughter saw them she was delighted and has been asked by numerous people where they could get similar things. She has admitted she has revealed (with a smile) that they came from England. I also took back English chocolate. It is very different to chocolate anywhere else. Cadbury’s chocolate bars for instance in Australia will not melt easily. The same Cadbury’s chocolate bar from England, will melt very easily. But, the taste is fantastic (so I am told as I can’t eat it) and much better than what passes as chocolate in either Australia or America. I also took back some small jars of marmalade, again there does not appear to be the equivalent in the US. I also included a box of English biscuits from Marks & Spencer. What are called Cookies here and in Aus. Once again, they are made differently and have gone down very well with my son in law. Needless to say, my idea of traveling light did not really work on the way back.

I got up insanely early (5.00 am) and drove to Heathrow, having already checked in on line the day before. I simply went to a desk, changed the boarding pass I had printed for a new one and checked my bags in. Took all of 10 minutes (8 of those was spent in a small queue). I went through the security checks, once again having to remove my shoes and jacket and went in search of Caffeine. I was also able to change my money from UK Pounds to US dollars. The problem was, I then found somewhere to buy coffee and paid in US dollars but received change in UK pounds!!!!

I eventually boarded my flight (a boring 747 this time) and received a complimentary copy of the Sunday Times. I had forgotten how different UK papers were to those in either the US or Australia. The gutter press in the UK is definitely that. If you think it is bad in Aus, the UK is worse. Having said that, the quality end is far far better than anything I have seen in either the US or Australia. Unlike US papers, the UK stuff (as is the case in Aus) use colour throughout. I research my news by going through journals such as the Times, the Telegraph, the Independent, the Financial Times, plus the New York Times and the Washington Post and sometimes the Wall Street Journal. When I want to catch up on Aussie news I use the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age, but to be totally honest, they are not up to the standard of the others.

When I landed at JFK I was pleased to see that I could join the much shorter queue for US Nationals and Green Card Holders. I got through no problem, but had declared I was bringing in chocolate. The next officer to check my forms sent me of for a random bag checks. I wandered through to the next section where they x-rayed my bags and then sent me on my way.

On the way out I had to pay US$5 to use the transit train to get from the subway. I was pleased to see that this time there was no charge, or so I thought. I got on the train and then struggled to find the way to the subway station. Things like signs would have been a good idea. I am sure they were about, but I could not find them, nor could several other people I might add. When I eventually found the way, I was confronted by a barrier. I had to buy a Metro ticket to go onto the subway. No problem I thought.

Then I discovered it was $2 for the subway ticket AND another $5 for the transit ride I had just taken (sneaky but clever). However, I was also able to get a map of the subway network. The trouble was I could not find my station or where I was going and then realized that it was the above ground network. The subway network was on the other side (I knew that….) I eventually managed to work out the machine and feed my money in and get the ticket and went to board the train, which like those in London that connect the underground network to the airport, was above ground. The driver announced the stations in a language that I presume was English but I only caught a few words. But, every now and again he told (not asked) people to move along the carriage, and/or get in the train and NOT to block the doors. The latter was an admonishment along the lines of, ‘get your ass in that door’, whilst not actually using those words.

The journey took just over an hour and by the time I arrived at my station, the carriage was very crowded but unlike last time, there were no beggars asking for donations. I went up the stairs as this was the only way off the platform and was on a very small concourse with no signs (again). I saw a gaggle of Policemen and so asked then the way to the main station (as in Penn Street Station). One Police Officer, turning to me (as I had interrupted his obviously very intense conversation with his colleague) told me “top of the stairs” and that was it. So I climbed the stairs and found myself on the street with no sign of Penn Street Station. I eventually discovered the station, 180 degrees and two blocks away from where I had emerged. So much for helpful New York Transit Police!

Upon entering the station I looked for the notice board with details of the trains to discover no evidence of my train anywhere. I eventually discovered that the boards only relayed details of trains that were leaving in the next 30 mins or so. Platform details would be revealed 10 minutes before the train departed so you could not go to that platform and wait. I also found that Penn Street Station, unlike Central Station in New York, is not exactly user friendly. There were some places to east, the usual fast food outlets, very expensive and not particularly good. I had not eaten much on the plane and so succumbed. I then went looking for somewhere to sit as I had almost three hours to wait (the usual problem of getting connections. The plane arrival and train departures were either 1 hour or nearly five hours apart. I would obviously not make the 1 hour one and so…). I could not see any seats anywhere until I realized that there was a special area where people were seated. But, you had to pass through the entrance and show your ticket. I was not sure I was eligible but tried and was eventually granted access.

There were monitors around this place and so I was able to see that my train had a) not arrived and b) was not about to depart. Some 30 minutes before it was due to leave I went in search of more information from the main boards. Some 9 minutes before departure, they put up the platform number causing a mad scramble to get to the ticket entrance. Forget about queues, it was everyman (or woman) for themselves. I finally got through and got a seat, putting my cases in the overhead luggage rack. The journey took about three hours as I was getting off at an earlier station than when I went. However, I and several passengers soon discovered that not all the doors opened at all the stations. For most stations, only the doors at the front of the train opened. I saw several people frantically trying to get to the front of the train just as it pulled out of the station. The guard reminding people once again that passengers WILL miss their stop if they do not get to the front of the train in time!!!!

I was able to get of at my station (one of the few where all doors opened) and was met by my daughter who drove me to her house. The whole journey had taken almost 20 hours door to door, still much shorter than when I used to go from the UK to AUS.

I then found I had to adjust to being back in the States, but that is another story.