Monday 10 December - NYC

Today Alison and Philip headed off after breakfast and a quality FaceTime session with the dogs (and Jessica)

 to reconnoitre the route to JFK by subway and Air Train in preparation for Jenny's departure on Wednesday. They managed to complete the journey out without a problem and decided that in fact that will be the way that will get to JFK on Sunday to pick up their hire car for the next part of the road trip. They had an hilarious time at the JFK entrance where a staff member convinced them to buy a 5 trip ticket for $25 in preparation for Wednesday. However, when Philip then mentioned that in fact he thought that they might use the air train again on Sunday, the attendant said in that case you need a $25 10 trip card. She then proceeded to approach passengers who were buying single tickets with cash until she had recovered $25 and used up our card. Then she fed the money into the ticket machine and presto we were the proud owners of a 10 trip card. I commented to one lady who handed over her $5 that we were not ticket scalpers and she laughed and said that this would just be another story she would have to share when she returned home!

A and P then headed back into town and unfortunately the number of passengers this time was larger and so they ended up standing for the entire journey. Chivalry is dead on the Jamaica Central line. Philip even received a death stare from one young african american girl he accidentally bumped when the train was pulling off from a station.

Back at the Beacon A, P and J reunited after Jenny had conquered her desire to do a solo journey on the subway to Broadway in search of an AMEX office which she discovered had closed! She made it home safely and even stopped off at the Fairway Market to buy some sweeties for lunch/afternoon tea.

With our taste buds thrilled by these delicacies we all then headed back to the subway and a journey downtown

 to visit St Paul's Chapel where the 9/11 rescuers rested and ate during the recovery.

 By foot then to NY City Hall and the County Court where Jenny was able to experience a Law and Order moment standing on the stairs.

We also walked past the road entry to the Brooklyn Bridge which was shrouded in fog as was the case for all of Manhattan for the day. Uptown then to Macys and into the madness of the world's largest department store in full Festive flight.

Jenny purchased a new Titan suitcase to use for bringing home her USA purchases. We had checked with United airlines earlier in the day and she can have an extra checked bag for $70. Also Philip and Alison bought some dinner supplies from La Cuccina food outlet in Macys - cheese ravioli with pesto sauce and 1/2 chicken with potato and gravy (the daily special). However, we are convinced that the chickens here are very small and in fact more likely the size of city pigeons that we have encountered.

Philip and Alison polished off most of a bottle of Italian Pinot Grigio with their dinner so they are feeling quite relaxed now.