Firsts - they're so important in our culture - we write down the dates for first tooth, first haircut, first bath, first step. Well, yesterday The Hertel 7 took their first trip into New York City, and much to my blogging pleasure there is enough hilarity to keep you reading for a while, so you now have my permission to get up, go to the bathroom, grab yourself a donut and cup of joe, and then come back to sit for a spell. Joining us on our trip to NYC were my parents, Grandma Miss Dianna (GMD) and Grandpa Randy(GR). Now, GMD has been to NYC once before with my sister, but that was of little consequence other than when she recognized the hotel she had stayed at.

We got a kind of late start on the day because we didn't know what we were doing until 11:30 that morning. After heaps of indecision, we decided we would take the train from Oradell into the city and head for Central Park, maybe go to the zoo. My gosh, it sounds so easy when you just type it like that! The train station is 2 driving minutes away from our house and we arrived with plenty of time to spare, got our tickets and onto the train with no issues. I managed to snap a few wonderfully touristic photos before the conductor yelled at us, "No pictures on the train!" and then he mumbled something about terrorists that I couldn't quite make out.




Matheson was super excited at his first time on a train, and I wish I could describe to you his face every time a train or subway car pulled up next to us - it was a glorious mixture of sheer joy and sheer terror - and I am certain that Matheson really believes when he put the palm of his hand out in front of him it slowed the train down. For this trip, we needed to switch trains at Secaucus station in New Jersey, get off that train at Penn Station, walk a couple blocks to where we got on the subway and take it to 5th Avenue and 59th Street and Voila! you're at Central Park. Of course, this is 4 adults who've never been on the subway (except for GMD who rode the subway with Aunt Dana, but just followed Aunt Dana and had no clue how things worked) and let us not forget that we've got 5 children in tow, so we're trying not to lose anyone. (Let me take the time to comment on the Subway. Maybe you've heard this before or you know from firsthand experience, but if not, let me tell you - the subway is HOT...and we're not just talking a little more hot than the street - it's like 25 degrees hotter. And stagnant, the only breeze comes from the trains and an occasional brisk walker.) So, we walk down into the subway station at 34th Street and go to buy tickets. It's just crazy - there's about 200 other people, 25 vending machines and these other machines where people are buying tickets. So, GR walks up to a machine and proceeds to buy 4 Path train tickets which took a mere 10 minutes, but when you're standing in 100 degree stagnant air with 5 squirrely kids and a small bladder it seems like a bit more, and we then head down for the subways. That's when we see the ticket counter. Yes, the ticket counter for the subway tickets that we actually need. GR walks up to this guy whose about a foot away but separated by plexiglass so he's talking through this microphone that might as well be a kazoo.
GR holds up the Path train tickets and says, "Hey we need to get on the subway, is that what these are for?"
Plexiglass man - "Nphrope!"
GR - "Well, what are they good for?"
PM - "Souvenirs"
GR - "Well, it's a good thing they were cheap then, huh?"
So, GR then obtained the correct kind of tickets which aren't even tickets, it's like an ATM card that you swipe. We had 4 swipes for the adults and the children were free. Unfortunately, Lilli didn't know she was supposed to go under the bar and before GR could tell her not to she took one of the adult trips through the turnstile. So, when everyone was through besides GR, we just figured he would go under the turnstile. When that proved to be a bit too tight a squeeze, he just hopped over the bars. While I was watching GR go over the bars so were two of the most serious looking police officers I've seen - ever. At their behest, GR gladly went back and paid for another swipe and went through the turnstile legally.

Central Park was beautiful and we went to the zoo. We bought the membership so we'll have free visits to Bronx Zoo, NY Aquarium, Central Park, Queens and Prospect Park zoo for the next year. It's a cute little zoo. Being the smart/frugal people we are we packed lots of snacks and bottles of water in GR and Matthew's backpacks. So, we munched on string cheese and crackers for a bit.





We stayed at the zoo for a couple hours, and walked around Central Park. The kids all climbed onto a big rock.





We got out of the city with no issues and were making great time. As we reached the final platform in Secaucus to board the train that would take us home it happened. I was sitting down, thinking, "Wow, we went through the whole day and didn't get on one wrong train. Man, am I hungry." That's when I noticed Matthew waving frantically at me from the front of the car, saying "This is the wrong train. Hurry. Hurry!" And then the doors shut. So, we got on the wrong train. And not just any train, but one that didn't make its first stop until about 35 minutes out. The conductor on that train was visibly entertained by our predicament, but he told us what we needed to do - which was get off at the first stop, wait for the train heading back to Secaucus, get off there and then pray we made it for the 7:32 train to Oradell because if not we would be waiting until 9:32. We ended up getting back to Secaucus about 5 minutes too late, so we waited in the station lobby. By this time I think it's fair to say that we were all quite hungry, so we hit the snack shop about 10 times. Seven slim jims, three V8 splashes, two sodas, one game of charades, one golf magazine and 100 minutes later we boarded the correct train.

Although our little snafu at the end cost us some time and made for a really late dinner, it was still a great day, and definitely one I will not soon forget. I'm hoping that was my first and last time getting on the wrong train, but something tells me it won't be.