48 hours in transit

After 48 hours in transit, with a 5 month old, we got our first glimpse on Manhattan from the ground before sliding underground into the Midtown Tunnel. The husky hues of sunset were the perfect backdrop to a city coming to light. The pinks and purples faded into oranges
and yellows before being washed out into blues and grays. Lights began to twinkle in the windows of the city that never sleeps.

We emerged onto Manhattan under the Empire State Building. Iconic and encapsulating all we looked forward to in our new life here.

But it is not all so romantic. 48 hours ago we left behind our families in Sydney. Our son's grandparents only just stopped short of kidnapping him but did not manage to hide how sad they were to say goodbye. So sad in fact we had our smallest farewell party at the airport in our 2 years of living in the US. Too hard to come to the airport again and say goodbye.

Then 24 hours ago we farewelled our Los Angeles friends (and tried to convince them to move to New York with us)!

In between all the farewells were two mammoth plane rides. Mammoth both in time spent travelling and because we had our robust (as my husband describes him) and adorable 5 month old son with us. The adorability is the harder trait when travelling we have discovered, for even when he is asleep hostesses and other passengers stop and coo and cluck - and none too quietly -often waking the poor little guy up, who of course just flashes a big smile at all the inquisitive faces above him. My husband and I however were all scowls knowing we have little chance of getting him back to sleep for at least another couple of hours!

"Yes he is cute"
"He's 5 months old"
"His name is Noah. Yes adorable"
"It's a Phil and Teds cocoon. It comes with our stroller. Yes it's great."

These are just some of our conversations whilst in transit.

But I guess we shouldn't really complain. We were flying business class and on the Sydney-Los Angeles leg of the journey we had 4 seats to ourselves. Noah is already used to the luxury and space. He may get a rude shock when we head home in November and only in Premium Economy!

A couple of other travel and transitting whinges to end with. We are srrugglung to understand why, when forced to switch planes in Los Angeles on our way to New York, our baggage allowance dropped. Does United Airlines expect us to drop 20 pounds out of each of our suitcases as we pass between terminals? At least the staff were so smitten with our "Mr Adorable" son they helped us repack at the check-in counter.

Some highlights from our travels to New York:
Noah timed perfectly his once-a-week poo to arrive 15 minutes prior to boarding (we got called over the airport paging system for the first time ever as a result)!
Being able to go into the American queue at customs due to Noah's birthright (not that we did as it seemed longer only to be pulled out 10 people from the front of the visitors line and sent to the back of the American line)!
Bring able to sit at our favourite cafe in Los Angeles, Joans on Third, one last time for hours with our friends.

Good-bye Los Angeles. Good-bye Sydney

Hello New York.