January 9, New Orleans to New York

Well it's after midnight and I'm doing a blog entry, and a very exciting day it's been.

I didn't get much sleep last night because it seemed as if New Orleans was going to float away. It poured most of the night, plus there was plenty of thunder. In fact I was woken up by thunder shaking the doors of my room ... at least that's what I think it was!

The hardest part of the day was the start. You see, after lugging all our suitcases up to the attic a few days ago they had to come back down, who would have thought! So prior to breakfast 3 suitcases, 2 bags, 1 carryon, and 2 backpacks had to be lugged down 2 flights of narrow stairs.

Breakfast was delicious, fruit salad, followed by scrambled eggs, sausage and english muffins.

At the airport Mum, Dad and I had managed to book ourselves on the same airline, so it was a simple matter of getting to the terminal, checking bags (all under weight ... phew!), through security and to the gate.

I was first to leave at 12.20pm so we said our goodbyes at the gate and Mum and Dad are safely on their way back to Australia. The plane I was on was TINY, so tiny in fact that they had to take my carryon bag and stow it under the plane as it was too big for the luggage compartments. On the upside I had a seat two seats all to myself! Surprisingly I got snack service and free drinks on the flight too.

Landing at JFK was interesting. I think we arrived at the 3rd world terminal part of JFK. Not jetway, in fact steps that the ejected themselves from the plane. Then we had to walk down a very breezy walk way to the terminal. I'd elected to catch the subway into the city, and was pleasantly surprised by how quick and easy it was (aside from the part where I nearly got stuck in the subway turnstile 'cause I didn't think about whether or not my bags would fit).

My hotel was a short walk from the 34th Street Station, and check in was quick and easy. I arrived around 5.30pm and was out of the room by 6pm.

I wandered up 8th Ave with two goals in mind 1) get to the theatre for the Heiress on time, and pick up tickets; and 2) go to the theatre for "Once" and buy tickets for tomorrow night.

Along the way I found a Dean and Deluca, and 'cause I was feeling kind of hungry (no lunch will do that to you!) I went in and got some sushi for dinner.

A little further along I saw a big sign advertising 'Cake Boss Bakery' so I went in, and yes, it was an outpost of Buddy's bakery Carlo's. So I got myself a Lobster Tail to nibble on.

With my hunger satisfied I managed to make it to the theatre where "Once" is on, and get tickets for tomorrow night. Job one accomplished. In the same block is the theatre where a few weeks ago Mum and I saw Katie Holmes in Dead Accounts. Turns out it was a good thing I didn't wait to see it when I came back ... it's closed and the theatre was in darkness.

Another 3 blocks down I found the theatre for 'The Heiress'. Picked up the tickets and then went for a wander in Times Square, visiting the Disney store and generally browsing.

Around 7.45pm back to the theatre to find my seats. A great position in the middle of the orchestra section. The theatre is gorgeous, with the most sumptuous red velvet curtains I've ever seen. The reason I chose to see this show was partly because it's based on the story behind the "Merchant's House Museum" that I visited when I was in New York a few weeks ago, and also partly because Dan Stevens' of Downton Abbey Fame is in it.

The play was AMAZING. The story centres on Catherine Sloper (Jessica Chastain), the somewhat socially awkward daughter of a rich doctor. Her cousin brings a friend around, Morris Townsend (Dan Stevens) and he woos Catherine, when he's really just after her inheritance. He convinces her to elope with him, but she has a huge fight with her father and he threatens to disinherit her ... and Morris never turns up to take her (knowing that she isn't coming with her inheritance). The upshot of the story is that 2 years later (after Catherine's Dad has died and she's in full control of her fortune) Morris turns up again. Catherine tells him to come back and that they'll run away again, then leaves him standing outside knocking desperately.

Jessica Chastain was absolutely amazing as Catherine, she was awkward and shy you could feel her anguish and desire to be loved. Dan Stevens was equally amazing as Morris, I was in love with him despite knowing his mercenary desires!

Also amazing was the set, the front room of a 19th Century New York Town House. I wish I had been able to take some photos of it. The costumes, particularly of the ladies were breathtaking, and thankfully they actually changed them, rather than just using the same dresses over and over.

At the end of the play I high tailed it outside to get autographs, and ended up standing with a Mother and Daughter from Sydney who were stage door hopping. We had a wonderful chat and they were kind enough to take my photo with both Dan Stevens and Jessica Chastain. Yep that's right I met and got photos with both. They were so friendly, I even spoke to Jessica about the Merchant's House Museum and she talked about her favourite parts from her visit. I didn't realise but she's got a pretty big movie out, sitting in bed I saw the add for it 'Zero Dark 30'. I'm definitely going to go and see it!

Now I've got to go to bed, because it's now 1.06am!