Discovering Chelsea

NYC Trip with Vicki
June 12, 2011

Sunday Shrimp Fijata

Paleo Dinner on J's Balcony

Shrimp Fajitas prepared on the new grill pan.
He said, "It looks just like the picture." shrimp fajita
I said, "Yea, and it came out of your kitchen."
Yummy

Memorial Day

Fort McHenry

Picnic gathering from the ever entertaining-in-itself Attman's.
Where else can you wait in line for 1/2 an hour and be totally entertained by what is happening in front of you, behind you, and on the other side of the counter? We even got a morsel from the guy slicing corned beef when we grooved to his grooving over Bob Dylan - what can be better than corned beef right off the slicer? This is what Nosh on Rye looks like - Roasted Brisket, Corned Beef, Swiss, Cole Slaw, and Russian Dressing. And then the fabulous pickle pulled from the container and sliced right before you hit the cash register.


So this is the next best thing about the day - settling into our folding chairs under the shade almost at water's edge. This is where we watch the water traffic big and small, waiting for tug action, and hopeful for a large container coming or going. Really, it doesn't matter, we are content to sit and watch. And never get bored. After all, we are on the water and have not had to go over bridges or navigate clogged roads, and even today, when it was really HOT, there was a breeze. We feel shore bliss.


Yep, this is how we like to spend time.

Don't Engage

We finally assended from Dante's Dulles. Turkish Air had more leg room than the United flight we were on briefly before it was cancelled. Service reminded me a bit of flying overseas during the 70's. Civilized. We left on-time - 10:50p - and shortly thereafter, a full dinner service was served - on real plates and real stainless. Amazing. The only thing not offered were warm moist towels in the a.m. About 1 1/2hrs prior to landing we got a full breakfast - mind you, we landed at 4:00p.

Soooooo good to see S. We stated our trip across town in the cold and rain. By foot, metro, bus, up and down stairs we dodged traffic and crowds. Oops, and I almost forgot to mention the ferry ride - so foggy we didn't see much. Good thing we packed light. By the time we made it to the hotel, J&I were in need of a bit of regrouping. Lovely that the hotel room was welcoming warm.
S gave us a brief tour of the near-neighborhood, then we popped into a restaurant she knew was good. We had a lovely fish dinner (J&I had bluefish, S had anchovies). We headed back to the hotel in the rain. A man approached J&I and began working a bongo-type drum, persistent for a contribution. S edged in, made a sharp oral clicking sound and gave him a dismissive wave of the hand; off he vanished. She instructed us sternly, "Do not engage." Okay, we'll work on that tomorrow.

Expectations

Expecting to hear that we are enjoying S's company, being wowed by the sights of an unfamiliar city, eating yummy unidentifiable food? Bet you are not expecting to hear that we are still in G-town. Due to those rip-roaring storms last night our flight was eventually cancelled. 1st - the plane we were suppose to fly out on was given to another group for some mysterious reason, 2nd - the plane that came in that we were to take out was struck by lightening descending and did not pass the safety check to continue, 3rd - another plane was sent for us from Chicago, after circling for quite a while was sent to Pittsburgh to wait it out, but eventually the crew's max duty time would have been exceeded before landing in Istanbul.
Because Turkish Air was a part of our reservations, United was obligated to get us on their flight today - I heard folks who would not be rescheduled till Monday - actually we almost aren't anyway. Plan B: Turkish Air, April 17, flight 8 departing Dullas 10:55 pm, arriving Istanbul, April 18, 4:10.
Grateful to still be going, sorry we will be almost 2 days behind. Expecting to have a wonderful time.