Western Wyoming: This really big trip is over, it has been a good one. Yesterday morning we got into New York harbor early. We didn't see the "sail in" as it happened about 5 a.m. However we arose early and watched the sun come up over New York harbor, a very nice sight.
We had to vacate our cabin by 8 a.m., so we took our carry-on luggage with us to breakfast. We got great seats alongside floor-to-ceiling windows up on the 15th deck (the buffet) so we kept them until it was time for our "going ashore" station. NY harbor is a very busy waterway, lots to see.
We've been on ships where the disembarkation process was a mess, this one was smooth. We found our luggage without difficulty and headed for our bus, each towing two pieces of wheeled luggage: a big one and a carry-on.
We did a month at sea with that amount of luggage, obviously wearing things more than once. When you've traveled as much as we have, you learn how to pack. The other DrC favors packing cubes, made of mesh. I don't need them, but don't knock them either.
This trip did fox us a little, we expected more cold and rain. Our umbrellas were never unfurled and most of the time a long-sleeved shirt worn over a tee or polo shirt was plenty. I carried my umbrella some to ward off rain - but left it on the bus as it wasn't needed.
The bus ride to La Guardia airport took us under one end of the famous Brooklyn bridge, a good view. We also saw a fair number of residential streets with mature trees growing along them - frankly I was surprised. It wasn't as grim as I'd expected.
I'd been having some foot trouble so the other DrC arranged for wheelchairs for me in NYC, Detroit, Salt Lake City, and Jackson. It costs some tip money but we really got whisked through security, boarding, and all the airport hassles.
We traveled this trip (both directions) on Delta, whereas we normally go on United or Lufthansa. Delta's equipment wasn't new, we actually flew one leg on a MD-88, a later version of the old DC-9. I thought they'd all been sold to third world countries. On the other hand Delta's people were very nice - the southern touch.
