Cruise - US Ports of Call

On the cruise we visited Newport, Rhode Island and; Portland, Kennebunkport and Bar Harbor, all in Maine.  Here's some pictures

GirlRed and I had always wanted to see New England and whilst day visits from the ship only give you a taste of these places they are enough to ensure that we will plan to return. The towns were picturesque, the people friendly and food and service wonderful as always in the US. We then moved onto Canada - posts to follow.

Newbury Comics, Boston, Massachusetts

Back to Boston, almost ten years to the week.  Our first trip being in the immediate aftermath of 911.  This was to be a long day stopover - we would re-visit some of the sights via the city's Duck Tour (they do this so well) and then visit some of the stores that I had found on that first trip.  Time ran out on us and I made it to the two branches of Newbury Comics.  The original on Newbury Street has changed in that it was a real vinyl collectors paradise before but has gone a bit upmarket or perhaps simply a bit more organised (forgive me I like my second hand stores a bit scruffy!) obviously Cd has become dominant.  Good that their used stock is filed with new and sale copies which is a great way of searching for your wants.  Nice stores (the second one is firmly on the tourist trail at Quincy Market).

Finds: New Ry Cooder, Youngblood by Carl Wilson, Blues'n Soul by Little Milton, The rarities CD from Exile on Main Street, Soldier of Love by Sade, Last Name..By Charlie Wilson and a Best of the Spencer Davis Group - nothing rare but all good finds at great value beyond just the sterling/dollar rate gain.

Apollo Theatre, Harlem, New York

I've been to NY a few times over the years, my first visits being on business for RCA, but I'd never made it to Harlem or to the world famous home of urban soul and jazz, the Apollo.  Well this trip I was going to make it there and I did. Dissappointingly there is no museum or exhibit and to get a tour you have to prearrange it with them and be part of a group visit.

The very kind lady in the box office said we should go in to see the foyer displays of photographs of the past stars of that stage.  The staff opened the shop so I could buy a couple of books and post cards. They are missing a trick here - or am I a rare visitor on that basis. 

The venue still has an amatuer night and various appearances going on.  I will go back with, perhaps a bit more planning, the next time I get to the city.

Here are some of my pictures from the day - note the tribute to Nick Ashford (who died a few weeks prior to our visit) on the Marquee.

New York New York - A Wonderful Town!

First port of call on my recent trip was good old New York.  Arriving on 7th September - a horrible day weather-wise sailing up the estuary in the early morning (clearing under the Verezano bridge by only 30 metres!) past the Statue of Liberty, into the Hudson and past the new Freedom Tower eventually tieing up three berths from the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier, which serves as a museum for naval aviation, in the early morning mist and rain.  The City was particularly busy with NY fashion week in full swing and amid preparations for the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  We were there for two days - the first was very touristy - using the Gray Line hop-on hop-off bus tour from Broadway to reacquaint ourselves with the City and introduce it to our friends who hadn't been before.  Bloody marvellous!

The Lady emerges from the mist

Battery Park memorial to those who lost their lives on 9/11 - A flag for each name.

I think the City isn't as clean as it was and the weather, heavy traffic (due to the forthcoming events) and the rain all added to that general impression.  Don't get me wrong, I love City life - the hustle bustle of urban existence is great.  The aftermath of Irene perhaps?

We shopped and ate and generally had a great time, starting at South Street Seaport and working our way across SoHo and up through the Village back to Arcadia.  Our friends seperately visited all the sites they could in lower Manhattan  and the Eastside in a day and came back as exhausted as they should have in this iconic City.  Here's some pics from day one.


The second day was a contrast with the humidity and blazing sun returning and the blue sky giving a different view.  We took a trip up the Westside right through to Harlem, walked the Museum Mile and 5th Ave (dissappointingly finding that whilst the £/$ rate is good - US prices have jumped like ours).  We ate well in Rockerfeller Plaza at Ruhlmann's - very good but pricey as you would expect in such a prime spot.  Clothes from Banana Republic for him and from Anthopologie for her. Nostalgia for me of seeing the tower at Rockefeller, the top a tourist site "The Top Of The Rock" but 24 years ago my RCA Europe business card was the only thing that got me to the then private viewing platform on the (then) RCA building.  I also saw the old RCA Records HQ at Ave of the Americas.  Here's some more pics:-

Left:-The Time Warner building, at Columbus Circle, reflecting the glorious blue sky on day two - such a contrast in 24 hours

Below :- The modern Norman Foster extension to a more traditional building - not sure the two go together but love them individually.

We were told this was NY's toilet bowl - I think it's fab - the Guggenheim

At the end of day two we sailed back down the Hudson in the fading evening light and saw the skyline from a new perspective - not great light but great views.

As we left the crew of the USS New York conduct a ceremony on the flight deck (or perhaps a rehearsal?)  The USS New York has steel salvaged from the Twin Towers in its keel for ballast.

The Freedom Tower emerges over the Battery Park Financial District

Goodbye New York!

More to follow....

MV Arcadia

The P&O ship Arcadia was my home for 24 days from 31st August for a long-awaited cruise to the US and Canada.  A long trip with GirlRed and 6 good friends.

Walk and Talk - PLEASE!

Another day another commuting moan. I understand that when you get off the tube you want to check your phone for that urgent message.  Why do it at the top of the escalator, in the middle (i.e. not to the side of )the platform, in the queue for the gates.  Either that or learn to walk and talk at the same time.

I'm getting concerned about this I usually think of myself as a pretty cool commuter - working on the basis that  I get there when I get there - I can't drive the bus, train, tube so I should leave it to the professionals.  Old moaner really isn't me - I hope.

BA Story - The Result

Finally I have heard back from BA customer services regarding my claim.  They are willing to reimburse £845 of a £1067 claim.  Given that the tickets cost me some £4000 and I will be travelling again AND my long explanation about how much hassle I had in getting myself kitted out for my trip whilst trying to do what I was in the US for, you would think that they may have made a goodwill gestrue and paid it out in full.  Instead I get an email from a machine that denies the balance of the claim on the basis that they won't pay for laundry (funny I thought I was being prudent in getting my clothes pressed rather than simply buying more)  They won't pay for phone calls from the hotel - despite my explanation that my blackberry charger was in my lost bag and I arrved at 9pm at night and had to sort stuff out for the morning (as I was bagless!).  All this was due to their error so (me being simple) I beleive this is all down to them. I've written and told them i'll except it as I have no way of going back to them - but expressed my concern, shall we say of their lack of understanding, and ineptitude in the art of customer relations (surely the email informing me of all this could have had someone's name on it?).  Oh well i'll try another airline (BA please note all for £222).

BA Story (continued)

No news.

BA Story

Having arrived in Washington DC for a trip last month I found that my bag, clothes etc had decided not to go with me. at 9pm at night (+5 hours obviously) I was without the basics. Big problem as I was due to meet with our directors the next morning and planning to do so in my polo shirt and jeans wasn't going to work. Thank god for the internet. I was able to file my claim; search for a store local to the hotel; check opening times; sizes, prices and styles. I arrived at Brookes Bros virtually pushed the guy over who was still unbolting the door and found an ex-pat from Reading who on hearing my story set to work on getting me togged up.

I made the meeting ten minutes late after having bought a phone charger and other bits I needed and arrived looking dapper but unfazed. The panic was well hidden.

The claim is still outstanding and we'll see how BA do with it.