New York City Here We Come

My first trip to NYC, started just as expected....as a transportation learning experience. The directions given to me by my city slicker friends were good...everything went as planned. Get off the plane at 6am, check...damn it's early, really it's 3am westcoast time, get your luggage and hustle to the subway station...check. Take the Air train to Howard Beach...check, then take the A train uptown...check, get off on 96th St...hmmm, how come the subway isn't stopping? "Oh well, we'll take the next stop guys' . "Ummm, riiiiiight...how come the train is speeding up past the next stop" (blank stares all around). Here is the one situation you have three intelligent ladies who won't stop and ask for directions...who knows, at this point it can be pride, hunger, lack of sleep...pick one. Can anyone guess which stop we ended up gettin off at? Hmmm, anyone, anyone...Bueller? 125th, yes folks that's right, smack dab in the middle of Harlem, walks three girls with three rolling suit cases, tired, hungry and confused. "Ok, screw it guys let's just pop for a cab. It can't be too expensive from here." "Dude, where the heck are all the cabs...isn't that one of the things New York is famous for? And how come all these cars are honking at us?" "Alright I'm just gonna ask the guy at the convenience store to call a cab for us"...to my suprise and humilliation the cars honking at us, are actually cabs. They're just unmarked, meaning they are not bright ass yellow cabs. I swear Addie, Dom and I are usually much brighter than this tale is leading on. ;) Anyhow, we get in the cab and head over to Mystikals. "Sorry, hope we didn't make you late to work". So the directions were good...but not great, we missed one very important detail, you have to take the local, and not the express train. The express is express, because it doesn't stop at every station. One lesson, I will take with me to all my future visits in the Big Apple...pay attention to the little things. On another note, I appreciate all the hospitality, and trust that you are extending to your not so good amigas. Thanks mo! I owe you one. Time for a short nap...to be continued...