Today is March 1st and Alex and I have had 4 busy and wondrous days in Japan. I’ll post daily travel blogs when I have the time. But for today I just want to write about my fun stay at the TWA hotel for 30 hours before our JAL flight. I flew in that early because I didn’t want any chance of a winter weather mess or air traffic or airline computer issue making me miss my flight to Tokyo.
I am writing in this tranquil spot in a park a few blocks from our hotel. Hard to believe the busy and modern Ginza district is so close by.
This is a Timelapse from our hotel’s lobby patio (on 4th floor).
After walking 25-35K steps the first 3 days I knew today I would want to rest them so I had booked a 5 hour bus tour. My goal was less than 5000 steps but I am at 11K …. Alex and I explored Asakusa a little after the bus tour.
It’s all good though as I planned this to be a “casual” 4 hour Marathon and to train hard to do the Buffalo Marathon all out in May. I’ll set my watch pace alerts for a 4 hour pace but will be fine if I miss it. Especially as at 68 and sunny it will be too warm! 50s and cloudy is best for racing. And as long as I finish I will get my Abbott 6 Star medal.
I had seen the TWA 1962 terminal at JFK many times over the years. It was made into a hotel in 2019. A great reuse project as it was a historical landmark but had been closed since 2002.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWA_Flight_800_conspiracy_theories?wprov=sfti1
And I really never realized that TWA was Howard Hughes’ company for decades.
Until he went crazy in his later years.
I always remembered Howard Hughes as just an eccentric billionaire who died when I was 12.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/howard-hughes-dies
And I did visit the “spruce goose” when I lived in Long Beach and it was next to the Queen Mary.
I must watch The Aviator (2004) now that I’ve learned so much more.
From JetBlue’s Terminal 5 there is an elevator up one flight….
And then you walk through the long tunnel that used to take people from the Terminal Bldg to the runways.
And then it is ALL 1962. The music, the decor, the cars…..
They have a map of the hotel, there are so many little gems to find.
The room was great.
The architecture of the building so amazing.
And lots of period stuff on display.
And art ….
Then and now …. I don’t think they updated Trump’s egg prices ….
My friend James took me out for dinner so I was away from the hotel for a few hours.
The rooftop pool was gorgeous at night.
In the morning I ran 8 miles on a treadmill in the enormous gym and then stretched for a long time in anticipation of the 14 hour flight.
Then I went up to the roof. The air was only in the 40s and windy but the water was 95 and I had it all to myself !!!
After my swim I had to dry my hair …
They had some vintage stewardesses greeting people.
I visited Connie. At night she is a bar!
And here is a replica of Howard Hughes’ office.
And some other interesting spots.
It was not that expensive for Long Island and totally fun. I highly recommend it for anytime u have a long layover at JFK. U can rent rooms for a part of a day and use the gym, pool, etc.
My race is Sunday (tomorrow for me) at 9am. I’ll probably cross start line by 9:20. I should finish just before u start watching SNL 😉
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Thanks for that walk down memory lane, Dave. My grandmother used to fly out to California every year at least once. To visit my aunt and uncle and cousin. She and I were very close. It was a big deal because I would miss her. She loved that terminal and always flew TWA. In those days one could go with a departing loved one all the way to the gate.
Her boyfriend was an architect so he would explain why the building was special. He’d also point out its defects, the places where windows leaked and plaster was detaching from the walls and ceilings. Since this was the 1970s, I never saw the building in pristine condition. The restoration looks amazing. Will have to stay there sometime.