Back when I was working, we used to take our vacations very seriously, booking the most extravagant accommodations we could manage financially, while still remaining solvent.
The one place we enjoy visiting year after year is New York City, I call it our annual pilgrimage to the center of the universe. I will never tire of it.
Several years ago, we booked a room at the 60 Thompson in SoHo. This was our first stay there. I had been visiting their website daily to fantasize constantly about how wonderful our stay was going to be. It's how I got through the workday.
We arrived at the hotel at about 8pm, tired from our trip, but invigorated by the city's energy. At the front door we were greeted by hip-looking doormen in tight, black silk t-shirts, wearing headsets, as if security for foreign diplomats. We, and our luggage, were whisked to the front desk where we were greeted by the leggy receptionist, who most certainly must have been an ex-model.
She very apologetically told us our room was not available, that she was so sorry for the inconvenience, but would it be ok for us to be upgraded for just one night to the Thompson Suite, and then move the next day? She apologized profusely for the inconvenience and told us they would move everything for us the next day, to minimize our inconvenience.
Yeah, what an inconvenience . . .
As we entered the 850 sq. ft. room with not one, but two bathrooms, we tried to act cool, as if we were accustomed to such luxury, even though both of us could barely contain our excitement long enough for the bellman to leave so we could jump up and down, and squeal with reckless abandon.
Of course, since we were only going to be there one night, we bagged our plans to go out for dinner and ordered room service. We were not going to leave this room until we were kicked out by handsome, burley bouncers. We sipped champagne on the terrace overlooking the New York skyline until our food arrived. We watched Sex and the City on HBO. We luxuriated in the luxury.
Imagine our joy when we returned the next day, after tearing ourselves away for a few hours for a matinee, to find a message from the front desk: they were so sorry, but they would need us to stay in that suite for a little longer, like for THE REST OF OUR STAY.
So it is with this memory that I anticipate our upcoming visit to New York, laughing at how much things have changed. This time, we have arranged home swaps that will accommodate our desire to be there an entire month. We will have to move twice, take care of one kitty, and clean up after ourselves. I've spent hours cleaning, gardening, and sprucing up our house for our New York visitors. We've replaced luxury with sweat-equity and I couldn't be more excited for the adventure.
Do I miss the prospect of a boondoggle upgrade to the Thompson Suite? Sure. Am I totally excited to live like a New Yorker on the Upper West Side, then the Upper East Side, then Columbus Circle? You betcha!
Can't wait for more adventures of S & D in the big apple...
Posted by: Sara | August 05, 2009 at 11:39 AM
east side, west side, all around the town!
Posted by: vicki d | August 05, 2009 at 09:51 PM
I like going to New York, too! My wife and I always go there for shopping. Well, I'm not the one shopping. She insists that we always go there whenever we have the time to do the shopping. We always visit the East coast during the holidays. We stay over at an apartment and visit some of our friends there.
Posted by: NYC short term apartment | February 02, 2011 at 07:53 PM
still fun to read after "ALL" these years!!!
Posted by: Sara | March 21, 2011 at 07:25 PM