Day 10 - Travelling Home

The news has been filled with stories of long lines at the TSA due to the current government shut down.  And last night certainly proved difficult by the lines we saw wrapped through the lobby area near the entrance of our hotel.  But the staff here has shared that the lines in the mornings are quite normal but the backups build throughout the day.  Even so, we wake up a little early to give ourselves the extra time.

We decided to eat in the terminal AFTER we made it through security.  So we hopped a bus to Terminal E and checked our bags. Yup, we had six coming home because I always pack a duffle.  It allows me to be a little messier on the way home and leaves plenty of room for souveniers and dirty clothes.

Security was a breeze... we were first in line.  Once we made it through we separated so Scott and Sam could get a breakfast sandwich while I went in search of a Starbucks and Tyler scoped out cinnamon pretzels.  We met back at the gate for our 9:50 am departure.

It was a smooth flight to Atlanta. Tyler was sitting with a stranger and the two of them shared in conversation the entire flight.  It made me giggle remembering how as a kid he used to talk his seat mates' ear off. His neighbor this time seemed to be enjoying herself as well!

We grabbed lunch from a food court - Qdoba and pizza - and then headed to our next gate.

The flight was smooth all the way back to GR.  Because we flew out of Detroit, we didn't have a car waiting so we ordered an Uber and arrived home right around 6:00 pm.  Its been a busy week but we've experienced so much - and so many different things too!

Day 8 - Back to Dallas

I’m so grateful of that we did decide to make progress up north last night because Scott woke up with a lot of sinus pressure.  He was insistent that he was good to travel. But about an hour into the ride, he asked if I could drive.  We pulled into our hotel in downtown Dallas around 11:30 AM much earlier than a standard check-in time but the front desk clerk pulled some strings and had housekeeping clean our room right away, so we only had about an hour wait.

He settled Scott on a couch in the air conditioned lobby and the kids and I walked to a nearby sandwich shop to grab lunch.  We have a JFK Assassination tour today at 1:15pm which unfortunately can’t be rescheduled.  So the kids and I left Scott on the couch and headed out - just a few blocks to meet the tour guide at the JFK Memorial.  (The room was ready within a half hour so he didn’t have long to wait)

The tour was fantastic. Richard is a photo journalist who has studied the JFK assasination for years.  His van is equipped with a speaker system and tvs so he not only drives and narrates the tour but also runs the multimedia including diagrams, videos and original photos from the various investigations.

It was 2.5 hrs and we visited Deally Plaza, the grassy knoll,  the book depository, the home Oswald lived at the time of the shooting, the theater he was found in, the jail and city building where Oswald was later killed, and the spot where JD Tippit, local policeman, was shot as well. 

 

Left - Deally Plaza, where the parade for JFK was ending.

Right - Book Depository where Oswald work. The shots came from the far right window on the 6th floor. 

After the shooting, Oswald returned to his home to change his clothes and get his revolver. This home was originally a Rooming House that held 17 men. The women who owned it passed it down to her granddaughter who still lives here. She has restored it to its 1960s condition and remembers Oswald helping her with her homework as a child.  She is adamant that Oswald is innocent.

Oswald was separated from his wife at the time and had this room to himself. Here is his bed along with the coat he wore following the assassination.

After he left his home, he walked up the street several blocks and eventually shot a local policeman in the street. An X marks the spot on the road where the officer fell. Here is the memorial left on the side of the road.

Then Oswald walked down the street, hiding his coat behind a gas station and popping in to stores to avoid the increasing police presence.  Eventually he slipped into the Texas Theater which is where the police caught up to him.

The tour was so informative and explored Oswald’s life prior to the shooting, the habits and events that led up to Ruby shooting Oswald, as well as the full week of the Kennedy campaign plus the geopolitical climate post Cuban missile crisis and Vietnam.  

The tour ended at the museum in the book depository but Richard ordered out tickets for tomorrow so Scott can join us.  He dropped us off at our hotel and we headed up to our room.

Our room was amazing!  It was a 2-room suite with spacious bedrooms as well as a large living room, dining room and kitchen.  

Scott needed another hour of so of rest, so the kids and I welcomed some down time.  The tour was phenomenal but was like drinking from a fire hose.  We decided to stay in for dinner and order from Uber.

We had steaks and all the sides in our dining room and then relaxed a while catching up on some shows we’ve missed.  Scott headed back to bed around 8 pm so the kids and I just snuggled up on the couch and relaxed.

Hoping Scott is feeling better tomorrow.  

Today’s high: 72, overcast with a few sprinkles (quite cold outside)

Day 10 - Central Park, Goodbyes, Museum of Broadway

We woke up early again to pick up breakfast and eat in our room.  Once we were all ready for the day, we grabbed an Uber and drove to Central Park.  Our driver Samir has been driving for 9 years and learned to drive here in NYC as he began driving for Uber.  He has an incredibly high rating and has taken just shy of 10,000 rides so far.  It was really fun to hear his story!

Once we arrived in Central Park, we wandered over to the outcropping of boulders known as Umpire by Heckscher playground for some pictures and fun.  

Then we walked over to meet our carriage tour.  Our guide was Letty with Brandy the horse.  We enjoyed a ride around the park and heard lots of fun facts about the space.  For instance, the park costs $80M to maintain each year... and all of it is provided by private donations.  It really shows how much the citizens of New York appreciate the space.

We walked over to Tavern on the Green, the most famous restaurant in the park, for our lunch reservations. We were running ahead of schedule but they could accommodate us.  It was a good meal.  

We grabbed another Uber but had him drop us off at the laundromat I found a few days ago.  We had to get some clothes clean before we continue on with the trip.

Then we walked back to the room.  We took a short break and then headed out to Time Square again.  We checked out the Hershey and M&M stores and then sat on the bleachers to rest and people watch.

Then it was time for Scott to head to the airport.  He ran up to pack his stuff while Sammy and I grabbed a snack from next door.  Then he was off!  So grateful for a direct flight to and from NYC that allowed us a lot more time with Scott on the ground.  

Tyler was looking for some down time.  So I took Sammy to the Museum of Broadway.  We had a great time exploring the history and props of so many famous shows.  We visited previously and it still held our attention!

Afterwards, we ran to Old Navy to look for some shorts as the weather is supposed to warm up and we are already quite uncomfortable.  Then we stopped at Taco Bell and picked up food for supper before returning to the room. 

I spent some time planning our route for tomorrow's drive and the activities at our next stop in Philadelphia.  Then we walked back to the Hershey store for a bedtime snack.  

Scott arrived home by 9:00pm. The kids and I spent the remainder of the night in our beds just relaxing.  Everyone's feet are sore from all the walking this week so we were grateful for some rest.