Five friends and I just returned from New York. Three of them had never been so we took 6 days and did every touristy thing imaginable. We rose early and didn’t hit the sack until early the next morning. I’m now home sick (not to be mistaken with homesick). So if this blog makes no sense, there you go.

I won’t bore you with all the places we went and things we did, but trust me, we did it all and saw it all. Instead I’ll tell you the good and the bad of what happens when 6 women travel together for 6 days.

From left: Sharon, Patty, Me, Sue, Pam, Karen

We started splendidly, getting to SFO in plenty of time. Already a victory with 6 women, wouldn’t you say? When we noticed our boarding passes said TSA pre-approved, we high-fived our luck, knowing we’d pass quickly through security. I did, however, somehow manage to misplace mine between checking in and the security gate. (Found it.)

Anyhow, we stayed in Brooklyn in a family-oriented community called Carroll Gardens where Brownstones line streets framed with beautiful old trees.

In front of our rental

Our first meal in Brooklyn was rather late so when we got to the restaurant, they were out of most menu items. Pam ended up with tomato soup we’re pretty certain was a cup of spaghetti sauce.

The next day we headed for the World Trade Center but before we reached the subway, Sue realized she forgot her scarf. We waited while she ran back for it. Once she joined us again, she discovered she’d forgotten her purse. And they say I’m the one who forgets things.

World Trade Center Memorial Fountain

Anxious to try New York’s famous Cronut (croissant-doughnut pastry), we visited Dominique Ansel Bakery. Our opinion? Save the calories for a Serendipity Sundae as big as your head.

Cronuts, among other goodies. And yes, we ate them all

A Serendipity sundae

Sisters Patty and Karen will talk to a wall, so on our subway rides they became best friends with anyone sitting near them, from gangster-looking fellows to elderly ladies. People on subways tend to keep to themselves; there’s little talking. But not whenever we boarded a train. We conversed with everyone around us. Seems a simple smile and hello go a long way, even on a New York subway.

Waiting for the subway

We actually found New Yorker’s to be very friendly. Maybe they took pity on us obvious tourists with our map. Everyone we encountered was pleasant except for the owner of a bakery in Brooklyn. He was like the soup Nazi from the Seinfeld program. He was so rude I thought he was joking. But no.Going home, we hired a driver to take us and our boatload of luggage to the airport. Felix was awesome and got us there with time to spare. Then we realized Karen’s luggage wasn’t in the car. Holy crap.

Felix drove back for it with our promise to make it worth his while. But he narrowly missed the cutoff to check luggage, so Patty stayed with Karen and they took a later flight home. They didn’t get in until 2:30 a.m., 7 1/2 hours after our scheduled arrival.

Us abandoning Patty and Karen at JFK

We, on the other hand, didn’t have it much better. President Obama was at SFO so we were stuck in the plane on the tarmac for 3 extra hours. I almost regretted voting for him.

Guess I’ll watch my fourth movie

All told, we took planes, trains, automobiles and a boat. We spent 146 hours together and shared a home with only 1 1/2 baths for 6 women. We walked 56 miles, eating, drinking and sightseeing our way through Manhattan. And best of all?

We returned home not hating each other one single bit.

NYC backdrop

Empire State Building

Times Square