Today was going to be a chill day. My flight was leaving JFK International Airport later tonight. I woke up around 8:30 am, and the bus was at a standstill—traffic jam everywhere. It was insane, cars as far as the eye could see. In the distance, I could make out Manhattan, but it was still miles away. We were stuck in the bus lane queue, but then the driver decided to take an alternate route. He came over the speakers, telling us that at least now, we were moving.
Arrival at Port Authority
We got to the Port Authority Bus Terminal around 9 am. I was exhausted, so I decided not to lug my big backpack to Jackie. Instead, I stored it at the terminal for 10 bucks. In hindsight, it was a bit dumb—I didn’t realize just how hospitable Jackie would be. She was amazing, but more on that later.
I headed to the apartment of Jackie and Robin, a couple I met two weeks ago during the Dutch football match. They lived near Central Park, but for privacy’s sake, I’ll keep the details vague—I don’t want to give away their secret of hospitality!
It was scorching outside, and I cursed myself for wearing trousers. I finally arrived at the apartment around 10 am, and the lobby looked pretty fancy. I waited there for Jackie, but then she called down, telling me to come upstairs. So, I did. I greeted her and was warmly welcomed into her apartment. I immediately told her how utterly drained I was from the bus ride.
A Refreshing Shower
Jackie was incredibly kind and offered me the chance to take a shower, which I was more than happy to do. I was really glad I met them during the Dutch match—we had such great conversations. Too bad Robin had to work today. He worked for a software company, so he was always traveling. Jackie, on the other hand, was a broker. It felt so great to speak Dutch again, and Jackie was such a good conversationalist—I could’ve talked to her all day! She had this endless energy, and I loved it. I’m always happy to meet people who are so talkative, especially when they’re as positive as Jackie.
Breakfast and a Walk Through New York
After my shower, we headed out for breakfast. Jackie knew tons of places, but I asked for a classic American breakfast, so she took me to a great spot. The food was delicious, and the price-to-quality ratio was amazing—I definitely didn’t expect to get so much for the price. Over breakfast, we chatted about how they ended up in New York, shared travel stories, and I mentioned how strange it would feel for me to head back home. I told her I was looking forward to it, but I still had one more adventure left to go.
After breakfast, we went for a long walk. It was scorching, and Jackie mentioned that a storm was coming in the afternoon and evening. I wasn’t thrilled to hear that, especially since my flight was in the evening. That’s when we started talking about our shared fear of flying, haha. I absolutely hated it—every flight I took seemed to make my fear worse.




Rain, Umbrellas, and Goodbyes
I didn’t have my camera with me, so I used my phone to take some pictures instead. After about 20 blocks, I was tired and ready for a drink. We got close to the apartment, and right around there, we stopped at a terrace for a drink. We kept chatting, and before we knew it, it started to rain. I knew Jackie had to leave for an appointment at 2:30 pm, and sure enough, the downpour hit at 2 pm. It was heavy—really heavy. I was walking around in a t-shirt and trousers, definitely not in the mood to get drenched, haha.
We waited for the rain to let up a bit, then made a run for it to the apartment, which was just half a block away from the restaurant. Back at the apartment, we grabbed my bag, and Jackie was kind enough to walk me to the subway station, sharing her umbrella. We said our goodbyes, and I returned her umbrella. It was really great to chat so much with her. I told her to send my regards to Robin and said I was sure we’d meet again someday.
Travel to the Airport
I took the train back to Port Authority to pick up my backpack, grateful to be underground while the rain poured heavily outside. Afterward, I headed back on the subway to JFK International Airport. It was a long journey, but fortunately, I managed to get a seat. Around 4:30 pm, I reached the Skytrain—an overpriced service that shuttled me from the subway to the airport. Apparently, expanding the subway by just one kilometer wasn’t an option, so they built this skytrain instead, charging $10 for a ride that barely lasted three minutes. It was bizarre to think I’d just spent an hour on the subway for $3, and now I had to pay ten times that for a ride that was only a few minutes long. Oh well.
I bought my ticket and rushed to the train, just catching it as the doors were closing behind me. My destination was Terminal 7, where Iceland air was based. Once there, I wandered around looking for a power socket, but of course, all of them were already occupied.




Power Sockets and Junk Food
Unable to find any available sockets at JFK International Airport, I decided to charge my phone behind customs instead. I had to wait 15 minutes in line before it was my turn. The man at the counter was incredibly friendly and asked if I wanted a special seat. I requested one near the aisle in front of the wings, and he gave me my seat number before asking if I had any final questions. Curious about food on the plane, I asked, and he informed me it was available but for an extra charge. He suggested I eat at the airport instead, as it would be cheaper and avoid extra credit card fees for currency exchanges. I was impressed by his sincerity and hospitality—it was so refreshing. They might have long queues on the phone, but this service was top-notch.
After passing through security, I grabbed some junk food at McDonald’s and set up my laptop on the ground near a power socket to relax and get some work done. Around 8 pm, I headed to the terminal, only to find that boarding hadn’t started yet. We were delayed due to the weather, and boarding was on hold until further notice.
The Flight to the Final Country of this World Journey
Around 8:30 pm, we were finally cleared to board, and the plane took off around 9 pm from JFK International Airport. The flight was incredibly comfortable, and the airplane felt brand new. The entertainment system was top-notch, offering a great selection of movies to enjoy.




The flight to Reykjavik took about 5 hours. It wasn’t too long, but by the time we landed, it was 6 am local time. I tried to sleep on the plane, but of course, it didn’t happen. Despite being comfortable with a blanket and pillow, sleep just wouldn’t come.