...I decide to take the train from Jersey in Manhattan and find out it is a longish trip and I meet a mime on the platform; a Broadway commuter?
...I discover that I haven't unlocked my bank cards for US payments, call my bank, get a promise they'll handle it "by Monday" and realize I'm stuck with whatever cash I got... Awwww....
...I find Manhattan as stimulating as ever
...I discover it's not at all easy to exchange money here - banks won't do it if you don't have an account for example; they will, however, point you in the right direction and even hook you up with discounts
...I also buy the corniest, tackiest NYC-themed (think Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building coalescing at sunset) iPad shell available - it's like the Big Apple for my small apple. But hey it was $10!
...I find some of the black guys handing out flyers at Times Square and among airport staff are native French speakers. Which is great cause there is a s***load of French tourists here
...I find the bus to my favorite mall as filled with Asian shoppers as ever. It's so bad I have to cut the line to get on..
...I see the electoral campaign and Halloween themes are everywhere... Imagine Trump made of pumpkins... Donald... Trumpkin..?
...at the mall it's Indian summer in full swing complete with beautiful autumn colored mountains all around
...I remember about those two most memorable inventions of the American shopping industry: tote bags (duffel sacks to carry all your potential items of clothing around the (often huge) store before trying them on or buying them and magnetic strips for pins taken out of shirts in fitting rooms - just some of the things that make shopping in the US so nice, and so dangerous
...waiting for the bus back in a line I struggle with my bags and some useless packing paper - a mall employee looking on immediately offers to trash those for me so I don't have to lose my place in the line; I love how nice people are here to each other.
...I take the bus full of sleeping Asians and exhausted Mexicans - everyone drained but happy clutching their bounty with their weary paws
...I walk around Times Square enjoying the costumes of gaudily dressed Halloween revelers - and find a cool Day of the Dead cookie at Starbucks - they're all out unfortunately!
...I set out on my way back to Jersey and realize that not all Trenton-bound trains are the same - mine is an express and as a result I miss my stop where Lucyna is waiting for me. Then we have a compulsory stop to let other trains pass, then she drives to meet me at the next stop...long story short, I arrive home 2h later. But it's a warm beautiful night and it's still a very happy ending to what has been a very fruitful day.