Report of visiting the family
Report of visiting the family
It was not possible for me to write on my blog during our visit to the United States, as I had not brought my computer with me.
I will instead try to make a long report on what we experienced duting the weeks we visited the family. The following days I'll try to keep up on smaller subjects from the travel.
July 2nd
We went by plane from Aalborg July 2nd by Norwegian Air to Copenhagen, where we had a lay over aproximately 4 hrs. From here we flew also by Norwegian Air to JFK Airport in New York, USA. The trip went fine. Almost no turbulence during the travel, but 8,5 hrs flight tires you when not used to these long flights.
We arrived NYC at 9.30 pm and went through immigration. Luckily it only took about 1 hour, before we could continue. We had decided to take a taxi from the airport to Stewart Hotel at Manhatten, where we was to stay the first night. Going out the airport to the heat of about 90°F humid air, was like hitting a brick wall smack on the face. The taxi ride was with quite a death risk. Marlena and the kids, sitting in the back, was not sure if we would survive this. It was going fast, very fast, constantly changing lanes on the highway full of holes and other damages, and with the one hand on the horn more or less constantly. Well, we survived.
We arrived Stewart Hotel to find out they had upgraded us to a suite at 25th floor instead of just a
room. Marlena and I slept in one bedroom, Eliza in a second, while Nichlas chose to sleep a the sleeping couch in the living room of the suite. He wasn't much into sharing bed with his sister. As we had found where to sleep, we were all very hungry. I went down to the lobby, only to find one small sandwich. I went out to the street, to discover just accros the street was a pizza restaurant open. I bought some slices and something to drink, and took it to the suite. Finished eating, and time was nearly 12.30 am, we went to bed. We didn't sleep that well that night. Not because of the suite or the beds, but all the new sounds of NYC, air conditioners and so on, didn't exactly make it easier.
July 3rd
Next morning we got up, and while Marlena was preparing herself, Nichlas and I went down and walked a little down the street of 7th Avenue looking at all the things. As Marlena was finished, we packed up all luggage and decided to head for the train station. It showed out the entrance to Penn Station was just at the opposite corner of the cross road outside the hotel. Even the New Yorkers just crossed the street, we would not dare to challenge the traffic with all our suite cases in hand. We waited for the pedestrian light.
Penn Station is 3 train stations in one. It is the bussiest in all of North America. It took about 15 minuts walk from the entrance, to the part where we was to be. Penn Station is an all underground train station, full of people. FULL!!! As it was July 3rd, just before Nation Indipendence Day July 4th, lots of NYCP was stationed with machine guns and dogs all over the station.
We found some bagels at Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, and purchased some donuts for the train ride, too.
What we wasn't used to, was to get in line for the train ride. A sign at the station showed us where to be, and about 1 hour before departure, people began lining up, and so did we. The line just got longer and longer. As the train was about to leave, a service assistant came and asked people to follow her, all keeping their spot in the line. Reaching the trains we were asked of destination, and was shown to which train wagon to enter. In the line, an elderly woman had told us to get a seat in the left side, as we then would have view to the Hudson River on the ride. So we did. Opposite danish trains, where seats two by two facing one another, all seats were facing foreward.
The ride from Penn Station to Albany-Rennselear Station took about 2 hours. We met with my mother, older brother and his daughter, Avery, in the hall of the train station. First hugs were made. Apperantly it didn't feel akward at all. It just felt like meeting friends. Avery recoreded the first meeting, but we teased her a bit for mostly filming our feets.
The family then took us to Denny's Diner. A chain diner serving breakfast 24 hours a day. It was delicious. With full stomachs we went to my brothers house, where we were to stay the first 6 days.
The rest of the day we was just relaxing end enjoyed our time together.
July 4th
I woke up early, went down and had some breakfast with my mother at the front porch of my brothers house. It was a lovely weather, and we was talking, and looking at the squirrels, chipmonks and birds in front of the house.
Later that day we went to a Ocean State Job Lot, just down the road. A store where my brother has a part time job as a front desk manager. Ocean State Job Lot is a store that buys excess stocks from other stores and sell it cheaper. We shopped a few items.
Later we barbequed some hamburgers, wings and suggages for dinner, and later went to Albany, where we found a spot, from where we could see the July 4th Fireworks by Rockefeller Plaza. Afterwards we went back home and sat around talking for a while, until we went to bed.
July 5th
Like the day before, I had breakfast at the front porch with my mother. This became almost a daily ritual at my brothers house.
Later Marlena, Nichlas, Eliza, my mother and I went to Albany to shop at Target, and afterward at
Walmart. Nichlas though had a hard time finding clothes he could fit, as size Small often was almost like a tent on him.
All this shopping made us hungry. We went to the in-store restaurant: Dunkin Donuts and had some lunch.
The rest of the day we relaxed and spent time with the family.
July 6th
Like the previous mornings, I had breakfast at the front porch, but this day Marlena joined in. While we were sitting there in 90°F (ca. 32°C) humid air, a thunderstorm broke loose. A couple of lightnings stroke down only few hundred yards away from us.
We enjoyed watching the squirrels and chipmunks playing around and hide out as the thunderstorm broke loose. Also a hummingbird came by, as it had mistaken a knot of red robe for a flower.
Later that day I finally got to meet my younger brother first time.
July 7th
My 44th birthday.
Started out as the previous mornings with breakfast at the front porch.
Later that morning, almost the entire family went to Saratoga National Cemetery to visit my fathers grave. My younger brothers wife was not able to be there due to work. Being there gave me goose bumps and chills. We took some photos, and I placed a stone, that I had brought with me from Denmark on which I had written: "Hey Dad, finally I found you. Love John". I placed that on top of the headstone, and the family found that very moving. Luckily I had placed some very strong tape on the backside, so it is not easy to remove.
After wards we went to Lake George Village up in the mountains. We walked around looking at the beautiful village, which is a very touristed place. We had some lunch at a restaurant with a view to the lake and the boats. Unfortunately, that wasn't the best experience. First we waited a loooong time for food to arrive. Then only some of the dishes finally arrived. The adult meals. When we were about finished eating, the kids meals arrived, except one. When the kids were about finished eating, the last order finally was served. The meal ended up taking far longer time than planned.
Marlena, Nichlas, Eliza, Avery and Leila went to Escape LG, where they were "locked" up into a room. To get out they had to solve a line of mysterious questions, collect different items etc. They had 60 minuts to get out. They spent 56 minuts.
Meanwhile Al had to take AJ home, as he had sprained his ancle. The rest of us was looking at stores, the lake and enjoyed some soft ice creame.
We all went home to relax a couple of hours, before we met up at Cracker's Barrel for dinner. After finished eating, we shopped a bit in their shopping store i connection to the restaurant. After this we went to my mothers house, where Marlena had made a danish birthday cake we enjoyed. The time was by then 10 pm. We then went home, as the family all had to go to work the next morning, and Leila to summer school.
My older brother and his family gave me a picture saying: "Blessings" and a huge number of coffee filters. My younger brother gave me a medal of honor from US Marine, as he was given for his service in 2001 in Kuwait. Marlena gave me two tickets for Michael McIntyre Show in September. The family in Denmark had given me gifts before we left.
July 8th
A day of relaxing. Not much happened, as we were all tired from the day before. Also the family had to go to work. Only mom and I went to do some grocery shoppings at Hannaford and Job Lot. I was permitted to try driving my mothers Cadillac first time. It was a bit challenging, as I am not used to automatics.
July 9th
The family was at work. We moved to my moms house, as Spencers graduation was coming closer. Due to this, my brothers in-law family came to stay, so we had to move out. We knew that even before we left Denmark.
Later we went shopping... Again.
This time my mom took us to Colonie Mall. We shopped mostly some clothes, as clothes costs only about 1/3 of the price in Denmark.
When we got hungry, we had some lunch at the food court in the mall. A food court is a lot of restaurants, but with shared sittings. We chose different things. Eliza had some mini-nuggets, Nichlas some burger, mom and Marlena some chineese and I went with some tacos. July 10th
My older brother, Len, had a day off. Anyway until late afternoon, where he had to go to work at Job Lot. Len and Avery came and took us, and mom, to Albany.
First we visited the National History Museum, where the exhibition of 9-11 is displayed, which was the most exciting. It is a huge museum and I felt it like it would never end. Eliza had had a bit too much sugar at breakfast, so we had to go find her some water. Mom had made us suggages, scrambled eggs and pancakes for breakfast. Pancakes with sugar AND Syrup apperantly can take out even the most hardcore pancake eater.
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| View from 42nd floor |
After the museum, we met up with Len's wife, Sky, at Corning Tower at Rockefeller Plaza where she works. She went with us to the observation deck at 42nd floor. Nichlas, who is scared of hights, stayed away from the windows, and just sat on a bench as far from the windows as possible. It was an amazing view from the observation deck.
Afterwards we went to the park below, where there were a Farmers Market with lots of food trucks and other stalls. We had a bite to eat before we went back home.
In the evening one of moms korean friends and her husband had invited us to a chineese restaurant in Albany. It was a cozy evening with a delicious buffet of many dishes of chineese specialities.
July 11th
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| Cousin Denise and I. |
We had a visit from my cousin, Denise, who helped me answering questions which led me in contact to my mother and family back in february.
Marlena and Eliza went to my younger brothers wife work, to have a manicure. I spent some time looking in old photo albums.
In the evening my younger brother stopped by for some time. It was nice. He was quite exhausted though.
July 12th
Today mom took me on a ride to Castleton on Hudson Village see the places the family had lived. We started by the house, where they moved in with my fathers sister and her family. They house stands empty today and is totally grown.
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| The house they bought. |
Mom, dad and my brothers rented an apartment in a house, but it was so infected by cockroaches they didn't stay long. They found another house by the river on the other side of the village, that they rented cheap and saved up some money. After staying in this house for some years, they had saved enough to buy a house themselves. They bought a house right next to the train station in the village, with a back porch just inches from the rails. Mom told me, that dad loved to sit on this back porch smoking his cigarettes and looking af the trains and the river behind.
In the evening my younger brother, his wife and daughter had decided to take us to the Crossgate Mall. Crossgate Mall is the largest mall in Albany, and it was h-u-g-e. The kids was hungry as we got there, so Marlena, the kids and I went to the food court. Marlena though decided to leave to do some shopping. She took all the money with her, leaving the kids and I nothing much to do, so finished eating we just went a bit around and then decided to go to the entrance where we had decided to meet up.
Afterwards we went to Target to buy some swimming suites for Nichlas and Eliza. Well, some more went into the basket...
We were home close to midnight.
July 13th
Today was Spencers graduation party.
We had promissed to be there a couple of hours ahead to help out preparations. The party took place in a pavillion in Volounteers Park in Valatia. The party was held as a Open House event from 12-6 pm where more than hundred guests was invited, but just about half showed up. Never the less, we had a wonderful warm day. The kids and youngsters surely loved the water ballons that was there. As the main person there, Spencer also became the main target of water ballons to his friends.
After tidying up, the family and some of Spencers closest friends, all went to the family house. The youngsters continued the party in the back yard with "pools", bonfire, sodas and more food.
Later that evening, when my younger brother and his family joined in, we had a family photo taken in the back yard. After this was done, we went back home to my moms house. All of us very tired, but specially Nichlas and Eliza were both very, very tired.
July 14th
On the way there, my brother stopped by his work to pick up some walkie talkies in case we should get away from one another.
We tried a couple of rides, but most of the day was spent in the water park, flowting around in the lazy river. That was nice.
While we were there, mom called my younger brother to let him know we
should be back home before street lights went on. We weren't. On the way back home we dropped Leila and her boyfriend off by the Drive In movie theatre. His mother met us there, and she took them there.
When we pulled up by our moms house, we had a huge laugh. She was sitting in her chair by the window, with her blinders pulled up and curtains aside stairing out the window. It was like two teenage boys had come home later than what was granted. Oh my goodness how we laughed.
July 15th
Last full day with the family.
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| Cousin Harold and I. |
In the afternoon mom had invited some of her neighbours, friends, and relatives to come by. Also the wife of uncle Butch (Denise's father), as well as cousin Harold, after a sister of my father came by. We sat and talked under the shade of the pine tree in my moms yard.
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Later my brothers and their families joined, and Len started the grill to bbq. He had also brought some leftovers from the graduation party. After finished eating, my brothers and I finally had a couple of beers, as we had talked about for a long time. They also tasted some danish akvavit, that I had brought with me, but didn't like it. Len thought it tasted like dirty old socks, to which Avery would like to know when he ever had tasted that?
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| My cousin Denise's son |
After eating, most of the guests went, and just the family was left. We hang out and had so much fun. We really felt like an integrated part of the family. We were no longer guests, but a full part of the family, just living remote, but home for a visit.
We decided to go to the local Stewarts to have an ice cream, before everyone went home. Big hugs and bro fists was given. This was not a final goodbye, but see you again. We had all come to love one another dearly.
July 16th
They morning and afternoon was spent packing the suitcases, and weighing them over and over
again. Repacking, weighing again. All the shoppings, gifts and so on, had surely put some weight to our luggage. We had a limit of 44 pound (20kg) of each checked in luggage, and we hit just ounces below that.
By 2.30pm Len came to help bringing the luggage to the train stain in Albany. We was told to be there an hour before departure to have a good seat, so we did. Showed out not many was going, so we had plenty of space. Len and mom stayed at the train station until we needed to get in line. Mom stayed longer, wiping her eyes over and over.
Train ride went fine, and seemed like a lot faster than when we got there. Arriving Penn Station we went out to 8th Avenue and got in line for a taxi. The driver decided to take the trip across the city instead of using the highway. He said the highway was holding still due to t
he traffic. Well, in that way we got to see some of the NYC. The ride took just about 1 hour and 15 minuts. Luckily they have a flat rate to JFK Airport, but again it felt like a ride with life as a gamble and with a driver almost falling asleep.
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| Sorry for bad quality. Waiting at the Airport. |
The plane was not to leave until 11.30 pm, so we were in good time. Unfortunately the security confiscated a jar of apple butter from Cracker's Barrel, as Len had given to Marlena. Also the sodas and waters mom had given us to drink, was taken and trown away.
Terminal 1 at JFK showed to be a big disappointment. We had high expectations to this big airport. Almost nothing there, but places to eat and few expensive stores. Marlena got in line to buy some Cheese-it biscuits and chips. All in all 4 items. They charged $40 (ca. 270 kr), so we decided give it all back and not to buy anyway.
We found a bench to sit down waiting. It was a couple of boring hours. While sitting there, I found an envelope in my carry on, one of moms friends had handed me with $50 to snacks for the kids at the airport, so they had their chips anyway.
July 17th
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| Photo of the 3D GPS at the airplane. |
On the flight we all saw some movies. Marlena and I had a bit of sleep or resting, while the kids didn't sleep at all.
We landed about 1.30 pm (danish time) in Copenhagen. All of us very tired. After passport control we went to find the gate from where our flight to Aalborg would departure. We found a place to sit, as all of us were too tired to walk around. Specially Eliza was all pale from tiredness.
Barely 4 hours later we departured Copenhagen heading for Aalborg. Not many passengers at the flight, allowing me to sit by a window. I was looking out the window the entire flight, but was almost falling asleep a couple of times.
Arriving Aalborg and after gotten hold on our luggage, we took a taxi home. A very easy ride compared to the NYC Taxis. Marlenas sister had placed flowers and a "Welcome Home" greeting at our dinning table. That was nice.
After getting home, we were intrested to see, what and if anything from our suitcases had been confiscated. Specially were we affraid of a snowball my mother had given to Marlena, but everything was there.
About 8 pm Eliza went to bed, and shortly after Marlena did too. A little hour after Marlena went to bed, I did too. On my way to bed, Nichlas was all up and going. He planned to watch a movie. He was so overtired he nolonger felt the tiredness. I shot off the wifi and went to bed.
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