La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Honey, I’m home! I arrived in Madrid at 5:55 Sunday morning and in Málaga at 8:30. Except for TSA at JFK, which has never once been a pleasant experience, and getting from one terminal to another in Madrid, which is so exhausting it has me thinking of no longer flying through that airport, the trip was very pleasant.
I have hundreds of photos and (less) stories from my 10 days in NYC. I don’t know where to begin. Most importantly, The Kid Brother is doing really well. He even phoned me Friday afternoon to wish me a good trip. He didn’t say he was calling to wish me a good trip. Nor did he actually wish me a good trip. But I knew why he was calling and it was an absolute first. It made me very happy.
I’m elated to be home with San Geraldo, although we did see each other on FaceTime at least twice a day while I was gone. The cats are clearly happy to see me and are paying me lots of attention. I brought them new toys, which Dudo keeps dropping at my feet to play with. More on all that and all the rest. Let’s be a bit random today.
¡Cariño, estoy en casa! Llegué a Madrid a las 5:55 de la mañana del domingo y a Málaga a las 8:30. Excepto TSA en JFK, que nunca ha sido una experiencia agradable, y ir de una terminal a otra en Madrid, que es tan agotador que me hace pensar en no volver a volar por ese aeropuerto, el viaje fue muy agradable.
Tengo cientos de fotos y (menos) historias de mis 10 días en Nueva York. No se donde empezar. Lo más importante es que a The Kid Brother le está yendo muy bien. Incluso me llamó el viernes por la tarde para desearme un buen viaje. No dijo que me llamaba para desearme un buen viaje. En realidad, tampoco me deseó un buen viaje. Pero sabía por qué me llamaba y era una primicia absoluta. Me hace muy feliz.
Estoy eufórico de estar en casa con San Geraldo, aunque nos veíamos por FaceTime al menos dos veces al día mientras yo no estaba. Los gatos están claramente felices de verme y me prestan mucha atención. Les compré juguetes nuevos, que Dudo sigue dejando caer a mis pies para jugar. Más sobre todo eso y todo lo demás. Seamos un poco aleatorios hoy.
• Una mirada retrospectiva a la seguridad. Una fila corta en JFK que todavía tardó 35 minutos en pasar (e incluso tenía un boleto Fast Track), con el personal de la TSA dando instrucciones diferentes a las que vimos en video mientras estábamos en la fila, y la mayoría del personal grosero e insultante. ¡Bienvenido a Nueva York, ahora lárgate (si puedes)!
• La cola en el control de pasaportes de Madrid. Estaba en la cola “Urgente” para aquellos que faltaban menos de una hora para la salida (desembarcar y llegar al control de pasaportes consumió 30 minutos de mi hora y media). Todavía me quedaban otros 23 minutos como mínimo hasta mi puerta de embarque y eso no incluía un viaje lento a través del control de equipaje, eliminando nuevamente dispositivos electrónicos, líquidos, cinturones, etc.
• NUTS FACTORY (FÁBRICA DE NUECES). Calle Smith, Brooklyn. Una nueva tienda cerca de mi hotel.
• El Hermanito gastó gran parte de mi dinero allí, dos veces, mientras decía: “¿¡¿Qué estás loco?!?” La nuez de arriba tenía un brazo que agitaba. El Hermanito pensó que “tuvo una fuga”.
• ¿Recuerdas el pastel de zanahoria de The Kid Brother? (Haz clic aquí.) Este es mi canookie: dos deliciosas galletas con chispas de chocolate y relleno de crema de cannoli.
• El Hermanito en la nieve afuera del Museo de Brooklyn.
• Nieve al otro lado de la calle de mi hotel esa misma tarde.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
JFK stinks! I’ve been through Sarasota, Atlanta, Cincinnatti, Bangor and Los Angeles. I still say JFK is the worst of my experiences.
But I’m pleased you had a good trip.
Dinahmow,
It’s so sad that many TSA agents are so rude and verbally abusive. They give a bad rep to the rest and can make travel unpleasant.
Welcome home! Glad it was a good trip. The airport in Madrid is massive, it took us over an hour to get out of it.
David,
Connections in Madrid are exhausting, although the center of the airport is attractive if you have the time. No matter how long my layover has been I’ve found myself racing through the airport. And lately the security checks between flights have been awful. They used to be much more civilized.
Glad to read you made it home safely. Thanks again for including us in your visit!
Sassybear,
I can’t thank you both enough for training down. What a privilege to spend time with you.
Welcome back! Looking forward to the stories and photos.
Jim,
So much to come. Thanks!
Glad you’re home safe and sound after a good trip!
Debra,
It WAS a good trip. So happy to see The Kid Brother and how well he’s doing. And so many other good people to spend time with. Next time, you’ll have to fly down!
“What are you, nuts?” Haha! Good one, Kid Brother!
I look at your airport pictures and I think, “No. Never again.” I absolutely cannot.
I am sure that San Gerardo and your cats are very happy to have you home. Now, rest and relax and settle back into your nest with your beloveds.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon,
I love being other places. But if I have to go through airports, the fun is diminished. Train travel can be so much more pleasant. Out for coffee and second breakfast and will go back to bed before lunch.
Oh, that chocolate cookie sandwich looks good!
I love that you knew why the Kid Brother called even if he didn’t state it outright.
Kirk,
I know him so well. This was really exceptional for him.
Welcome home and I’m glad the cats were happy to see you rather than punishing you for your absence. SG must have told them to be nice.
I’d love to visit that nut store, though I think monocled Mr. Peanut will always be what I picture.
Kelly,
I thought of Mr. Peanut, too. The cats I think were so relieved I came back that I received no attitude whatsoever.
Welcome home! The worst part of any journey is always the airport – London Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted and even tiny little Luton Airport all have that tiresome “zig-zag” to get through security. The most exhausting of all, however, is Amsterdam Schiphol! We’ve often said while walking its endless concourses, it feels like we’re actually going back to London on foot… Jx
Jon,
I used to enjoy flying but the change (understandable) in security makes it so unpleasant. TSA agents have sadly earned a reputation for rudeness (and I’m sure they’re not all like that). And if you call them on it, you’re pulled out of line. It’s a Big Brother kind of feeling. The airport in Madrid is huge but the lines didn’t used to be so insane. So now 35 minutes between gates can become an hour and a half. We need to plan some train travel!
Uggghhh, TSA lines. Exhausting and frustrating.
Such fun to see your photos (even if they are of airport interactions that were annoying for you).
Great to know that Chuck called you as a send off on Friday, and it makes me smile to think of you and Jerry and the kitties all back together again.
Judy C,
Chuck was a joy to see. And my boys make me so happy. TSA said they were improving their customer outreach. I haven’t seen it in NY.
I meant to tell you… or ask you… I’m starting a book set in Norway in the 14th century, and I am wondering if Jerry has read it. Apparently, it’s pretty famous? Kristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset. It was written around 1920 and Sigrid Undset is apparently one of Norway’s most well known and lauded authors (who knew? not I!).
Judy C,
Thanks! I’m pretty sure Jerry and I both read it but I’ll have to double check. We never remember titles or authors. Shameful. But it sounds very familiar and it’s something we would both pounce on.
I’m glad you made it back home safely
Adam,
So happy to be home. But it was a good time in NY.
Home! after all there is no place like it.
Urspo,
And sometimes that’s a good thing!
Welcome home! Flying is no fun any more. I take a non-stop when I can to avoid the stress of changing planes, even if it means staying at an airport hotel on either end of the trip. Can you take a train to and from Madrid from where you are or from Malaga?
Walt the Fourth,
I hadn’t thought of it, but we did train up and overnight in Madrid for one trip and it was much less stressful. That was years ago now. I should do it again. Thanks for the suggestion. We even have a big-speed train from here to there.
I’m so glad you had a good trip, Mitch! And as enjoyable as it is to visit far away family and friends, it’s soooo nice to get home, isn’t it? Like that old nursery rhyme: Home again, Home again, Jiggity jig, LOL!
Tundra Bunny:
And I returned home (again) without a fresh pig. This was a very good visit to NYC. Now to get past the jet lag!
The Kid brother is a real New Yorker, love to hear about him.
Laurent:
The Kid Brother truly is. And I don’t know anyone who knows the subway system better. He’s amazing.
Ugh. This makes me remember why air travel is such a nightmare. Why are TSA people so surly? I mean, yes, it’s a terrible job — but still.
Steve,
A few of the TSA agents were downright abusive. It’s become a very unpleasant experience. Agents were not unpleasant in Madrid, but it was a mess. Time to start planning train trips. Is there a train from here to Downtown Brooklyn?