New Yawk, New Yawk!

We got a 10:00 flight out of Gainesville and had a quick change in Atlanta.  One ticket bumped to first class, and Gay graciously let me have it – after all, the free glass of wine would've been wasted on her!

  

We also paid an extra ten bucks or so to have a limo waiting at LaGuardia (rather than get into the long cab line) and we were installed in the Hilton by 3:00.  Made a couple of phone calls and went out wandering at random.

Not completely random.  I aimed us toward Art Brown, the International Pen Shop, a true Mecca for those of us who worship at the shrine of the fountain pen.

I was intrigued by the new "5th Mode" Parker, which I've been seeing in email and catalogs from places like Fountain Pen Hospital.  Parker claims to have come up with a fifth kind of writing instrument (after pencil, ballpoint, dip pen, and fountain pen, I think), but when you subtract all the gosh-wow from the ads, it really looks like a disposable fountain pen that slides into a fancy external pen holder.  So the pen part that writes is an $8 insert, but the pen entire runs $160 or $190.

I have paid that much and more for a good pen, but you're normally shelling out for a good nib, not a throw-away. 

So I tried one and, yeah, it was a pretty good pen – better than the usual cheap throwaway.  Pretty good feel, but not a hundred bucks' worth.  So I asked him what he might have that was new and interesting in an italic fountain pen.

He brought out the Stipula "Vedo," and at first I wasn't impressed.  But that was because there was some residual lacquer on the point.  Once that was worn and washed off, it was quite a revelation – a true italic nib, but the thinnest line I've ever seen in one – stainless steel, 0.9 millimeter rather than 1.1.   

It cost as much as the Parker, but actually was a new pen for me.  So Gay got it as an early birthday present.

That excitement over, we walked some more and Gay asked Siri for a Spanish restaurant.  The computer voice steered us to the Sangria, which had excellent authentic food.  No wine, though, in spite of their name; I guess they lost their license or let it lapse.

Huge servings; more shrimp than I could eat, which is quite a bit.  We waddled slowly back to the hotel, to rest up for a fun day tomorrow, which we haven't yet planned.

This is the first time in decades that we've come to New York and not done any business.  Feels a little strange, but we've met with all my agents and editors in the past month or so, in Florida and Phoenix, so why not just play tourist.

The poisonous hot dog vendors are advertising a new treat – crunchy hot dogs, with a sprinkle of dried fried onions!  Can't resist!  This is what travel is all about . . . .

Joe