Being the last day in the city, I furiously tried to visit every major sight remaining. After checking out of my room, I went to, the unfinished Cathedral of St. John, General Grant’s Tomb, New York Public Library, Grand Central Station, Cleopatra’s Needle (Egyptian Obelisk), Empire State Building, Chinatown, Wall St, New York Stock Exchange, and World Trade Center Site. In Chinatown, I ate some dumplings at one place, a $2.50 bowl of noodles at another (not a single tourist showed up while I was here), and coconut juice on the street (straight out of the fruit).
Then I took the subway and headed towards the airport. Unfortunately there was construction on the track and an entire portion was shut down. They directed all the passengers over to buses to drive the stretch to the next open station. This added nearly an hour through congested streets.
Finally arrived at JFK International Airport after an extra charge for the Airtrain going the last stretch. And then checking into the plane, I sure got questioned. How long are you staying in London? Really, that’s your only bag? That sure isn’t much luggage for a long stay? First international flight? Apparently traveling one way from NYC -> London with only one bag makes you look like a suicide bomber. They flagged my boarding pass with a thorough search. Fortunately the search wasn’t too bad at this airport.
Past security, I exchanged almost all of my US Dollars for UK Pounds and Euros for a fee of $6 plus a bad exchange rate. But at least I don’t have to carry around US cash and coins for the rest of my trip. Right now I’m waiting to board an Air India 747 to London. Departs at 7:45PM and arrives at 7:30AM.