The trip report I didn't want to write

As the title says, I didn%26#39;t want to write this, but my daughter insisted, saying it may help someone else. So here goes.

My daughter is still home for college break (she has a nice long one), and last week she thought she might like to visit the U.N. I decided to take this week off, and my husband took the day off...so the three of us planned a day trip to New York for Jan. 16.

I called and made a reservation for the three of us for the UN Delegates Dining Room for lunch, knowing it gets mixed reviews, but thought it might be fun for the experience. My husband was especially happy about dining there, even though men have to wear jackets, and no jeans or sneakers are allowed. So we all dressed appropriately.

My daughter wanted to visit a museum in the afternoon and after reviewing them in New York magazine chose the Guggenheim. Afterwards we could walk to Cafe Sabarsky for hot chocolate and coffee. Sounded like a nice little NYC jaunt...

We planned to catch a 9 a.m. train which would get us into the city around 10 leaving us time to take take a tour of the UN before lunch.

For whatever reason, hubby was running a bit slow yesterday (He still has some residual effects from Lyme disease which he got in August). We got to the train station with just a few minutes to spare. He dropped my daughter and I off then went to park the car. I told him that if, for some reason, he didn%26#39;t make it in time, we would not board the train and wait for the next one.

We got on the train. And within a couple minutes the whistle sounded indicating the train was ready to go. I stood in the doorway looking for my husband, but a parked train on the opposite track was blocking my view. A conductor in that train said ';Are you waiting for someone?'; and I told him that yes, my husband was parking our car and was on his way. He said he would catch him and let him walk through his train across the tracks and get him right on our train. I thought that was very nice, so I beckoned my daughter to stay put.

But the doors closed immediately and we were on our way, without husband. Oh brother.

I made a call to his cell phone. No answer. Not sure what to do. We got to the first stop. Should we get off or stay on... Decided to stay on the train. The conductor comes by and I tell him what happened. He says the next train leaves in an hour. I call husband%26#39;s cell phone again to tell him to take the next train and meet us in Grand Central... we%26#39;re in a dead zone, call doesn%26#39;t go through.

Five minutes later, cell phone is working and I have a message, my husband says he is going home and we probably didn%26#39;t really want him to go anyway, so good plan.... ;-(

I call home, no answer. (Turns out he went to work.)

Well at least we know he isn%26#39;t coming, so we proceed with our trip. I am feeling kind of lousy, but put on a happy face not wanting to color the trip for my daughter.

U.N. is a very easy walk from GCT. We signed up for a tour, and in addition to my daughter%26#39;s student discount, I got a discount by showing my press pass. (I also got a press discount at the Gug).

We had a Brazilian tour guide. She was very energetic, and the tour was very nice. My daughter called a friend who goes to NYU and she decided to meet us for lunch since we had an extra reservation. My daughter forgot to tell her that jeans aren%26#39;t allowed. When she arrived, the information desk clerk told us they absolutely would not allow her in the Delegates Dining Room in jeans.

We decided the dining room could wait for another day (one hopefully with hubby in tow). I had a box of mints in my purse from when we dined at Cibo in December so we called and Cibo said they could take us. It was about a five minute walk from the UN.

This was a good idea! Service was friendly fromt the get go. We got a nice, comfortable table, and our server was this tall, cute young man that both girls were gushing and blushing over.

In addition to their regular menu, Cibo has a $26.95 prix fixe lunch which includes an appetizer, entree and dessert. Highly recommend this, a very nice deal. We weren%26#39;t hungry for supper. We enjoyed salads, spaghetti bolognese, cheese stuffed rigatoni with sausage, and roast chicken with wonderful mashed potatoes. For dessert. we all chose the chocolate souffle which was liquidy and decadent.

Afterwards we went to the Guggenheim. The special exhibits didn%26#39;t excite me. I%26#39;m not wild about El Greco, there were too few Dalis, but the Picassos were fine. In all, it was a somber exhibit.

We headed out to Cafe Sabarsky, which is very nearby. And..on Tuesdays it is closed....

Decided to call it a day. My daughter%26#39;s friend caught the subway and we took a cab to GCT. I thought I would pick up a treat for my hubby at Little Pie Co. but there was a train leaving in seconds and we decided to catch it rather than wait six minutes for the next one, so no purchases.

My husband was picking us up from the train and I told my daughter no matter what don%26#39;t smile or laugh because I did not want him to think we deliberately left him behind.

As soon as we got in the car, it smelled like barbecue... so I said ';What did you spend the whole day here roasting a pig?'; So we were all laughing in seconds. I explained our misfortune. He explained he brought a piece of barbecue chicken with him because he was afraid our train would be running late and he was hungry...

All was forgiven. Then my daughter, trying to be especially nice said... ';Dad I have still have afew days off, I%26#39;d really like to go somewhere with you.'; ';Do you have anything in mind?'; he asked.

';Yes. The Intrepid.';

Giving us some more laughs... (Being away at school she didn%26#39;t know the Intrepid was moved to dry dock in New Jersey).

Can you just imagine if we went down the following day to visit the Intrepid??

The trip report I didn't want to write

Great story- so glad you posted and told us about your day.

The trip report I didn't want to write

Thanks for posting and stuff happens!

Voy great tale!

Your meal at Cibo sounds wonderful %26amp; a great price to!

So sorry to hear your husband still is suffering affects from his illness in the summer.

I know you %26amp; your daughter were disappointed that he could not make the day out. However you are so luckey that you only live an hour from NYC. I am sure there will be manymore trips for you to all enjoy.

Nets

VOY - could have been much worse - but you being one who thinks on her feet you made the best of a deteriorating situation.

And, fortunately for you, living an hour away, these places will be there on an upcoming outing.

We ate at CIBO on Sunday - my wife enjoyed the chocolate souffle - the people next to us asked how long it would take (as they are made ala minute) for a souffle and the waiter answered 15 minutes - it was more like five so they ordered something else, after my taste of hers, their loss.

Also you were not on one of those ridiculously regimented (sorry, but that%26#39;s what I think of them) itineraies - despite a not so good start of the day you seemed to have enjoyed what you did do.

Although, I would have waited the six minutes!! LOL

Thanks for the post.

Poppa

Thanks for your comments. Yes we are lucky enough to live just a train ride away, and we will on another day. I%26#39;m not complaining, just kicking myself a little because I know better.

Voy - I feel a little guilty laughing about your day - but it really does underscore the importance of remaining flexible to change and not overly planning ;-)

Ah, yes--I%26#39;ve had those Murphy%26#39;s Law type of days, too. However, you had a positive attitude and thus made the most of things.

Hi Voy

I%26#39;m just checking in after a long break from this forum and saw your post. I couldn%26#39;t help but laugh a little bit while reading your post. I will try to remember this the next time I%26#39;m struggling to get through a bad day - it will remind me that I%26#39;m not alone!

I%26#39;m finishing my drink tour this weekend and hope that everything goes according to schedule! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I%26#39;m hoping to end up at Pegu Club as a special celebration!!

From the subject heading I anticipated reading about an all-time disaster. Glad it wasn%26#39;t that, anyway.

Thanks for the chuckle though. I%26#39;m very pleased you didn%26#39;t trek to the Intrepid.

I%26#39;ve just come back in from the cold after a lovely afternoon with Daisiegee, NYWhiz and the fabulous Louise. I%26#39;m sure there%26#39;ll be some interesting trip reports posted next week.

Weller, see you on Saturday!

Looking forward to it Bettina!! Voy -- you should catch a train down and join in on the tour finale!!!