So where we left off – I had last posted that I was feeling a little sleepy as we were landing at JFK.  So at JFK, the car was waiting – but this was 2.30 on a Monday afternoon, and I needed a caffeine shot so that I could at least make an attempt to stay awake until a reasonable time, bearing in mind I am working tomorrow.  My very understanding Virgin driver agreed to let me go to the handy Dunkin Donuts at the airport, but as usual I got in the wrong queue and it took ages.  Not a great start but hey,  I was in no hurry.

Thankfully the drive passed without incident – always good in these situations. Let’s face it, you never want an incident to report.

So the hotel is an aparthotel – that sounds fancy schmancy but just means you have a kitchen bit – which honestly, works well for for me needing a decent cup of builders tea on a regular basis.  Let’s face it Americans, Lipton just doesn’t cut it.  The room was good – I say room, actually three if you count the living/kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.  But no complaints from me, I like to pretend I am quasi living here – if you disregard the fact that I couldn’t afford it if it was on my own dollar, and that it is in close proximity to colleagues I might not want to be in close proximity to……

Giovanni met me at the front desk – ever so friendly,  clearly angling for his tip, but nevertheless a joy- he sorted the bags and met me at my room to show me around.  Apartment is all good – lots of room, the facilities I am after, a bar and restaurant at the bottom of the building -we is good!  He showed me the basic amenities and left me to it. Which is good cos it is a neighbourhood I am familiar with, having stayed at the Gild Hall hotel on the diagonal of the block, many times.  And as an aside, I would recommend – there is a great bar, buzzy at certain times of the day, and a sports bar right outside, which for us girls who have men waiting for them to get ready, is a godsend.  

Now, if you know me, you will know that my builders tea is right up there on my list of priorities, so grocery shopping was the order of the day. But when I got there, I was a bit overwhelmed. Not sure why really – I grocery shop all the time in England, but in a new country I was a bit lost.  So in the end, I bought:

• Fat free milk
• One random yogurt
• Evian
• Eggs
• English muffins
• Whipped butter
• A punnet of strawberries
• Wheat flakes

As you can see, a rabbit in the headlights shopping list.  Where is the sweet stuff? Where is the soft drink slightly more interesting than water?  What, other than eggs, are you going to eat for dinner?  I put all of these important world questions to one side, cos I needed dinner, and where better on night one than good old Stout on John Street. One Shepherds Pie and a glass of rose later, I was ready for bed.  And that was day one…………..