Day 1. Chicago
Flying Melbourne - Sydney - LA - Chicago in one day. 3 planes, 3 lounges. Checkin ok. The new Qantas Club domestic lounge is very large. Economy seat tight to Sydney, just bearable for 1 hour 20. Lounge in Sydney similar to Melbourne. Economy to LA is the pits, I hope my legs and eye recover (it's a beauty, bright red, who needs a flash for red eye). Food crap, at least the scotch kept coming. Dinner was a chicken casserole, how 70's. Breakfast at least was edible. I think I got about an hours sleep, my legs are the problem, no where to put them. I'm praying for some space on the Chicago leg. Funnily I don't feel tired.
LA was humid, very humid, my bag was late getting of the plane but I still had time for a drink in the Admiral Lounge, wasn't bad just Tea and Coffee but very clean and neat with a bar and bartender. My first purchase in the US was a Bud! US$2.75.
The plane to Chicago is very new and quite comfortable especially as I have an empty seat next to me. The weather is clear and we are flying over the desert, pretty spectacular. Tiredness is catching up and I have a spectacular eye! The canyons are great. No video to watch on this flight (or music) does have in seat phones. Lunch was interesting, a packet of corn chips, a hot cheesy turkey wrap and a cookie. It was actually better than the Qantas food because it didn't try to be anything other than what it was.
Snow scattered mountains followed by circular fields. Not close packed, in an inefficient square pattern. Mountains that look like mountains. Chicago at last, I see lakes! and lights. It was a good flight
Midland Hotel
Day 2. Chicago
Towers
Hudson Bar
Day 3. Chicago
River Cruise
Charlie Trotters
Allegro Hotel
Day 4. Chicago - New York
On the plane to New York, over cloud, lots of planes leaving Chicago. I like Chicago, lovely, lots of tall buildings, went on a great architectural river cruise, had a cocktail on the 96th floor of the Hancock building and went to the 106th floor of the Sears Tower. In some criteria the worlds tallest (it's occupied at the highest level) structure.
Had dinner at the Hudson Bar, (100 wines by the glass and very very good) and Charlie Trotters where the food was very good but most other things weird - no cocktails, no Scotch, no Cognac. Extensive but impractical wine list, service left a bit to be desired, very not cheap.
There is still a lot to do in Chicago, I really like it, lots of lousy coffee though and the cost of living appears to be quite high.
I was tired getting in to Chicago but a very nice room at the Midland meant I had no jet lag. Lets see what happens when I reach Cairo. Good seat on this flight, window but no one next to me. I didn't have much time to get to my flight but still managed two beers in the Lounge, which was large and empty. It looks like the same lunch on this flight as on the Chicago flight (Potato Chips instead of Corn Chips). This plane is a 237 (3 + 3 seating) while the other was a Super 80 (2+3 seating).
The train trip to the airport was good, a lot of crappy buildings next to the line and it was part subway, elevated and ground. Little glimpses of farmland and rivers below then more cloud. We have music on this flight. Got conned into a shoe shine in Chicago, $10 for the experience at least my shoes are a bit cleaner. Drug stores in America are amazing, the choices are amazing, so many different brands.
Times Square
Night River Cruise
Day 5. New York - Transit
Towers
New York was great, it is hard to comprehend it's size. I checked into my Hotel (shoebox) then I walked along 57 to 5th and down to Times Square. Then down to the docks and back to Times Square which by now was really rocking, joined the paparazzi for Jackie Chan, had a couple hot dogs from a street vendor and donuts from Dunkin Donuts. Back to the docks for a night cruise to Brooklyn Bridge and the statue of liberty. Then back to the hotel to crash after a shower.
Got up at 8:20, missed breakfast for what it was worth. The hotel was tired to say the least, then off I went. Taxi to the Empire State, then walked to 3rd and got the subway to Wall Street. Wall St is quite amazing, down to the water onto a big boat ("Peking" a 4 master) then to a near by pub. Had a Glenrothes, a Guiness and an excellant steak sanga, finished off with 2 Dalmore 12 year olds. Then walk to Twin Trade Towers and up to the roof, very cold, very murky views. Subway to Times Square again then walk to Minkos, the hotel and Taxi to Airport. BA lounge being reconstructed, cheese and bickies, but it had a shower! very nice. Hopped on the Jumbo, managed to get an extra leg room seat, row 40. Individual TV's watched U252.
This is a funny flight, just under 6 hours flying, leave 10:00pm arrive 9:00 am, where's the night?
Dinner was good a very very good bit of steak, normal vegies. Breakfast cornflakes and fruit salad.
Patrick Newman © 2000, 2001