Who needs sleep when you are in the city that never sleeps?

Current location: Flight between NYC and St. Thomas

Why sit around and be bored when you can ditch the airport and go for dinner in Manhattan? As my employer booked my flight he was apologetic for the 16-hour layover I would have to endure at John F. Kennedy airport in New York. I was excited about the prolonged hours of my journey, because one of my favorite things when I travel is to have long layovers so that I have time to see the city. I have done this in Prague and Hong Kong earlier, and a layover in New York is especially convenient as I have a lot of friends living there. A Facebook post later asking which new-yorkies who wanted to hang out with me it was decided that I would have dinner with some childhood friends that I have not seen since I graduated high school seven years ago. The flight from Finland was delayed, and due to a medical emergency we had to return to the airport when we were standing on the runway about to start. Needless to say, the flight got delayed. Once we had landed, I spurted past a good 60 people to get a head start in the immigration line. If there is a hell on earth constructed by the devil in human form, it must surely be the JFK customs and immigration. I have been flying through that airport a good 10 times at this point, and never, never ever, can you expect to stand in line for less than an hour and 45 min. By the time I arrived to the immigration officer after having sick-sacked for an eternity around red ribbons, I was tired, cranky and late. When I finally made it to Manhattan by subway, all negativity was gone. We had dinner at 38th and Lexington and went up on the roof-top to check out the view. And up there I was taken by awe of how cool my day had been. Who flies from Europe to have dinner in Manhattan, to later go to the Caribbean? I do, apparently, and I felt, just this once, that I am living my life to the fullest.