Friday January 18, 2013

Friday January 18/13  update #345

We had left Cuenca last night in the worst rain and hailstorm we had ever seen there.   I got soaked just getting a taxi.  The van taking six passengers for $12 each 3 hours to Guayaquil actually got to leave 1/2 hour early so we made it to the airport with lots of time to spare.  It pays to be early because Ecuadorians are notoriously slow and the lineup behind me quickly piled right up.  Then at the security desk nothing was happening for 20 minutes until the team leader gathered all his officers on the side for a pep-talk, and I actually thought they were going to sing us a song the way they were lined up!  That took forever and we had the fancy body scan and a frisking.   Then we got frisked again before getting on the plane.

A red-eye flight is just what the doctor ordered and I would certainly fly LAN again.  The stewards were very pleasant and the lasagna was really excellent.  I may have actually gotten an hour's sleep in between watching a great selection of movies.

We landed this morning at 5:10 and again I was glad that I hustled to get down to Customs and Homeland Security.  I was at 1.5 lines and that quickly built up to about 10 snaky lines .  I don't know how they ever get through that may people when it took me almost an hour to go my short distance.   We are so delayed that our luggage has already been removed from the carousel.   I am surprised our luggage was till there....   

The cab ride to Manhattan from JFK should have been 29 minutes according to Mapquest but it took an hour because apparently there is a school bus drivers' strike so parents are all driving their kids to school.  

Well I finally made it and checked into the Marriott Marquis Hotel.  The hotel had held onto the 3 boxes we had shipped and actually discounted their usual charges to only $87 so we were very pleased with that.   I was doubly surprised when they quickly delivered my boxes right to our booth, so I began to set up.  

We spent a little to get a customized "Benson Box" for our basic booth equipment and display.  That has proven to be a wise decision because the box is just like new, especially compared to the cardboard boxes of stock that are barely holding together and would ned to be replaced.

We had picked booth 403 because of its proximity to the escalators, elevators and washrooms.  However the way they had the cloth walls set up people could hardly tell that we had any booths in our area.  My neighbors suggested opening the side wall and actually asked permission of the show boss who quickly approved the change.  The net effect is that I ended up with an enviable corner booth without having to pay heavily for that privilege.  Now people could look up and see that there were some retailers in this area.  

I slipped out to get a bite and, even though they claimed it was only around the freezing mark the wind and damp made it bitterly cold.  I even stuck on a toque because I only have my light fall jacket with me.

I tried napping unsuccessfully but at least my body got some needed rest.

Then it was time to get back and finish setting up for the show for a preview evening from 5-8pm.   We had a good start for those first 3 hours so we are hoping for a good final 2 days.

Afterwards I slipped out again to the streets of Times Square to get some street vendor supper fare and enjoyed seeing myself on a couple of the amazing Jumbotrons.  There was even a "Naked Cowboy" on the street and many other cartoon characters offering themselves for photographs.   While New York is often portrayed as a violent and scary place, downtown Manhattan is not scary but a truly magical experience. 

That was today’s excitement.   Hugs to all.    Please see all photos at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/