![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Even if the shuttle buses to Fort Tryon Park suk rox.
The 2007 Great Bergental Expedition to the Cloisters took place on Saturday. We were supposed carpool to New Haven, ride Metro North down to the city, take the A train to the Cloisters, and then reverse the process in the evening.
This is not quite what happened.
First, I completely botched the time I was supposed to be in Chicopee to meet up with my carpool group. This was because I misset my alarm and didn't get up until nearly an hour after I was supposed to, and of course they'd left by the time I'd showered, dressed, and driven at approximately Mach One to Chicopee. I then decided that I was damned if I was going to let a little thing like exhaustion stop me, so I drove down to New Haven myself in about an hour, complete with gas and rest stop.
Everyone was surprised but pleased to see me, and off we went to New York. The trip was delayed by about ten minutes because another train was passing on the same track (????), but we still emerged into the glory that is Grand Central Station in New York. I walked around staring at the ceiling and muttering variations of "Holy ----" because I was completely unprepared for how big, and how *gorgeous* the place is. I also didn't know that there are luxury shops, restaurants, a beautiful food market, and some of the most amazing public architecture in the world in what is essentially a railroad station. It was not a surprise to find out that the Vanderbilts were involved.
What was a surprise was that half the restrooms were closed for renovation. This meant a ten minute wait to decant my morning tea, followed by a *long* walk to 42nd Street and a transfer to the A Train (along with "entertainment" in the form of a young woman with a microphone and a boom box singing "Hit Me Baby One More Time." She was a lot better than Britney Spears, or would have been if she hadn't had to stop singing to adjust the volume....)
Which also turned out to under renovation. We could only ride as far as 167th Street, where we transferred to a shuttle bus. Said shuttle bus got us as far as 190th street, where we were unceremoniously dumped...and the next bus refused to take us. Fortunately *another* bus came along and took us to the front door of the Cloisters, after the bus driver swore she'd Take Care Of the bus driver who wouldn't pick us up. A true New Yorker!
The Cloisters itself was wonderful, and there was a great talk by Desiree Koslin of FIT on the wool trade in the Middle Ages. We schmoozed, bought books, ate the black grapes I brought along for snacks, and caught yet another bus back into town.
Bus got us to Times Square, which is nearly as bad for sensory overload as the Vegas Strip. We ate at a place called Dave & Buster's, which was very good, but had a gaming area that was almost as loud (and dreadful for someone with a hearing problem) as Bally's casino. Fortunately we managed to herd everyone together and muscle our way out of Times Square in time to walk down to Grand Central, where I repeated the oh-my-god-it's-a-greenhorn act when I saw the enormous sculpture group on the roof of the building. I also nearly walked into someone when I saw the Chrysler Building in the distance. WOW.
We then took the 9:07 back to New Haven, I ransomed Sapphy from the garage, and proceeded to have a long argument with the radio to stay awake. Got home around 12:30 and went SPLAT.
Today's agenda: sleep, laundry, Excel tutorial with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
baronessmartha, shopping at Ocean State Job Lot, where I FINALLY found deep pocket sheets to fit Betty's super-sized mattress, more laundry to wash the sheets so I could use them tonight, then Concentus rehearsal at fitzw's and helwen's house. I then came home, ate, took yet another Excel tutorial, and scored 90% on the on-line test.
Tomorrow is yet another interview, then off to the salt mines. I expect to make a very, very early night of it...:)
The 2007 Great Bergental Expedition to the Cloisters took place on Saturday. We were supposed carpool to New Haven, ride Metro North down to the city, take the A train to the Cloisters, and then reverse the process in the evening.
This is not quite what happened.
First, I completely botched the time I was supposed to be in Chicopee to meet up with my carpool group. This was because I misset my alarm and didn't get up until nearly an hour after I was supposed to, and of course they'd left by the time I'd showered, dressed, and driven at approximately Mach One to Chicopee. I then decided that I was damned if I was going to let a little thing like exhaustion stop me, so I drove down to New Haven myself in about an hour, complete with gas and rest stop.
Everyone was surprised but pleased to see me, and off we went to New York. The trip was delayed by about ten minutes because another train was passing on the same track (????), but we still emerged into the glory that is Grand Central Station in New York. I walked around staring at the ceiling and muttering variations of "Holy ----" because I was completely unprepared for how big, and how *gorgeous* the place is. I also didn't know that there are luxury shops, restaurants, a beautiful food market, and some of the most amazing public architecture in the world in what is essentially a railroad station. It was not a surprise to find out that the Vanderbilts were involved.
What was a surprise was that half the restrooms were closed for renovation. This meant a ten minute wait to decant my morning tea, followed by a *long* walk to 42nd Street and a transfer to the A Train (along with "entertainment" in the form of a young woman with a microphone and a boom box singing "Hit Me Baby One More Time." She was a lot better than Britney Spears, or would have been if she hadn't had to stop singing to adjust the volume....)
Which also turned out to under renovation. We could only ride as far as 167th Street, where we transferred to a shuttle bus. Said shuttle bus got us as far as 190th street, where we were unceremoniously dumped...and the next bus refused to take us. Fortunately *another* bus came along and took us to the front door of the Cloisters, after the bus driver swore she'd Take Care Of the bus driver who wouldn't pick us up. A true New Yorker!
The Cloisters itself was wonderful, and there was a great talk by Desiree Koslin of FIT on the wool trade in the Middle Ages. We schmoozed, bought books, ate the black grapes I brought along for snacks, and caught yet another bus back into town.
Bus got us to Times Square, which is nearly as bad for sensory overload as the Vegas Strip. We ate at a place called Dave & Buster's, which was very good, but had a gaming area that was almost as loud (and dreadful for someone with a hearing problem) as Bally's casino. Fortunately we managed to herd everyone together and muscle our way out of Times Square in time to walk down to Grand Central, where I repeated the oh-my-god-it's-a-greenhorn act when I saw the enormous sculpture group on the roof of the building. I also nearly walked into someone when I saw the Chrysler Building in the distance. WOW.
We then took the 9:07 back to New Haven, I ransomed Sapphy from the garage, and proceeded to have a long argument with the radio to stay awake. Got home around 12:30 and went SPLAT.
Today's agenda: sleep, laundry, Excel tutorial with
baronessmartha, shopping at Ocean State Job Lot, where I FINALLY found deep pocket sheets to fit Betty's super-sized mattress, more laundry to wash the sheets so I could use them tonight, then Concentus rehearsal at fitzw's and helwen's house. I then came home, ate, took yet another Excel tutorial, and scored 90% on the on-line test.Tomorrow is yet another interview, then off to the salt mines. I expect to make a very, very early night of it...:)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-09-24 03:30 am (UTC)From:Next week is the Ft Tryon Medieval Faire.
Wanna come back down? ;)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-24 04:50 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-09-24 10:35 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-09-24 04:09 am (UTC)From:Next time you've at Grand Central though , i'd suggest exploring the Central library across the street, and Bryant park is a denet place to chill out when fashion week isnt in town.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-24 09:46 am (UTC)From:Good luck on the interview!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-24 10:57 am (UTC)From:For future reference, there is an underground track shuttle from GC to Times Square, which saves quite some foot pain. It costs as part of the subway system, and is quite rapid.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-24 11:23 am (UTC)From:whooo hoooo!!!!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-24 01:50 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-09-24 06:08 pm (UTC)From:On the other hand, Grand Central is still a delight, even though the old frozen custard stand is no more. The fact that the food court downstairs now boasts an outlet of Junior's (mmm-mmm, cheesecake!) almost makes up for the loss.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-25 04:32 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-09-25 04:03 am (UTC)From:Where exactly is it?
Inquiring minds ( and stomachs) want to know.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-25 04:33 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-09-25 10:50 pm (UTC)From:Since it's fifteen minutes away from my school, it'll be very tempting to go there for lunch breaks.