New York, New York...

We've finally arrived after a very long trip. It was very routine really - no ripped pants, no diversions to other cities, everything worked out very well.

Virgin Australia were very good. We'd booked the emergency row seats so I was expecting a wider row. However, there was a big gap in front on the seats where the stewardess sat for takeoffs and landings so really easy to get up to stretch our legs when we wanted. It was a smooth flight and we arrived on time at LA at 8.30.

No problems with immigration either. Virgin dock at the Delta terminal so we were the only plane being processed. However, LAX is not a great place for a 4 hour wait for your next flight. No wi-fi, virtually no shops and a bit old and tatty.

When we got called for our flight to New York, I thought we were going to get bumped. We went to board and the machine bleeped and we got sent to another desk. She wanted to know if our name was Songbird (?) and then how we were getting back to LA! The flight was absolutely full so I was thinking they were overbooked and they were going to bump us off the flight. I think they found out we'd already had our checked baggage loaded otherwise...

Then another 5 hours on a plane which was really hard work. A stop over for a day or two would have been a good idea. We arrived in New York at 9.30 in the evening, walked what seemed like 5 k's to pick up our bags which not surprisingly got to the carousel before us. A fixed fare $45 cab ride (take note Melbourne!) and we were at the hotel by 10.30. We dumped the bags and jumped the queue for the link to the rooftop bar for a beer. The Brooklyn Summer Ale hit the spot and the view was spectacular.

A decent night's sleep. It's now time to go and find a decent breakfast. Forecast a sunny 85 (30) today. What's it like where you are?