The Money

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

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So today is the day for which we have paid the big money. The 90th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade viewed from room 610 at the J. W. Marriott Essex House. Clay had expected more for our money and last night it arrived. We had gotten ready to get in bed to watch a movie at 8pm when the doorbell rang and there was knocking. I had set the do not disturb button at our door so I was leery but I had on pj's and Clay had on only underpants. So I was at least covered. I went to look out the peephole while Clay shut himself in the bathroom. I must have been visible because as soon as I touched the door the man on the other side loudly apologized for ignoring the DND and said he was delivering gifts. I opened the door and he handed me a heavy Marriott tote bag. Inside were a pair of waters, a pair of etched glass souvenir Essex House coffee mugs, a novel, a guide booklet, a tiny souvenir-sweatered teddy bear and a plaid souvenir lap blanket. I am pretty sure Clay still doesn't think he's gotten his money's worth!

So anyway today was the big day and it was pretty special. It would have not been fun to be outside and on our feet again for hours today. However, we had been notified in advance in writing that we would be unable to stand in front of the hotel during the parade and that we could not sit on the bleachers across the street as they were reserved for Macy's guests/clients. Neither was true. We watched random people line the rails below our room for an hour before the parade as well as help themselves to the bleachers after the organized fill occurred for about 30 minutes prior. I guess you couldn't count on either or as Clay said figure out how to get there with all the road and sidewalk blocks. The only reason we could see it was that we were above it. Anyway, it was fun. The window is small and we pretty much had to stand up and lean against it to see the parade except for the random very high balloon that was even with the window. Those moments were golden though! I am glad we did it and now it's been done.

So, we've spent all day inside and have dinner in the Essex House's Southgate Restaurant at $125pp at 5pm. Clay thinks he can eat his money's worth and is sure I can't. I am sure I can't either! He has a plan though. The other night at Nino's Tuscany they had $3.50 each oysters on the half shell. They are on the Thanksgiving Buffet menu tonight. Clay figures that if he eats 20 to 25 oysters and some turkey or beef that he has gotten his money's worth. We'll see.

We've checked in online for our flight home tomorrow on United. Essex House wants $10 or so to allow us to print them in their Business Center so that is not happening. Clay has mapped out a public transit route for us to Newark Airport tomorrow and we'll allow plenty of time for that with the added goal of getting there early enough to find a kiosk and print our boarding passes at the airport.

The Thanksgiving buffet was good but we're both positive we did not eat our money's worth! Clay ate about a dozen oysters. I ate a half dozen raspberry macarons so Clay felt I made a bigger dent than expected. It turned out to actually cost us $337. The 20% gratuity was automatically added to the bill for the self-service buffet! Then there were taxes and a $12 beer Clay ordered. They included welcome drinks and coffee after. We had one of each of the welcome drinks. Both were seasonally tasty. One had rum and spices and one had vodka and apples. We both thought that we had prepaid for everything on this trip months ago and we're surprised to see the original $125 pp charged on the tab. We didn't have anyway to prove it and after a manager checked our hotel account, he couldn't find that we'd paid it. Clay checked when we got back to the room and couldn't find the $250 we both thought had been charged when we made the reservations. So, Clay went back down and authorized the charge.

Unless something extraordinary happens, I won't be back with any more posts about this trip. It has been a good trip and a good birthday present even if a bit too extravagant.

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