RIVERDALE

January 27, 2007 my brother, Horacio, Cary and I left Queens at around 8:30 in the morning to attend a 10:30 am CPR class in Riverdale. A friend of mine provided us with concise instructions on how to there. As soon as we got to the 1/2 train platform, it was announced that 2 trains are running local, so I mentioned that we might as well take any train (since the plan was to take the 2 train, which was express, to 96th and transfer for the 1). We all hop on the train, Horacio and I taking turns with my DS and my brother and Cary looked at the map and stated that we have a long way to go to 231st. So we stayed on, not really minding the stops. After hours on the train and the announcement stating Intervale Avenue, I wondered how many stops more to go... so, I looked at the map and realize that we are on the the 2 line and it took us to the other side of Bronx. So, we all cheked out the map, decided to get off Gunhill Avenue and take a cab from there to our location. Gunhill station came, we all get off and out of the station. As soon as we were outside, we realized that hailing a cab is really out of the question. So, we tried to think of another plan. I checked out the bus map, since we were by the bus stop, hoping that there is a slightest chance that there's a Bx10 bus. After studying the map, I found out that we could take that bus (Bx28) to Montefiore Hospital and transfer for a Bx10. After a minute, the bus came, we all hopped in, Horacio made sure with the bus driver that we could transfer to Bx10 later. As soon as we got off at Montefiore, we tried to look for the station going to Riverdale when a guy came up to us and pointed it to us. Then we marched on our way and found ourselves by Golden Krust, where my brother graciously bought us beef patties before the bus came. When I saw a bus coming, I exclaimed to my brother that they have to hurry but then I realized that it was different bus, a lady then informed us that the bus we are waiting for is coming from the corner. She asked us where we were going and confirmed that we were waiting at the right post and that it is going to be a long way for us.

When the bus came, we got a call from our CPR instructor, she was already furious at us for we were late and were still 15 minutes away. We were counting stops by this time, since it felt like we were going to a different state, it was all uphill. By the time we got to our stop, we read the directions once more, this time there was the three of us reading it. After much discussion, we found ourselves in front of her door ringing her doorbell, got reprimanded once more.

After getting our certificates, we all found ourselves on the right path to the city once more. We all rewarded ourselves with Paul's Burger (the greatest burger I have ever had and for a really great price!!). Then Horacio and I went home for that much needed sleep, while my brother and Cary went to SoHo to get my brother's iPod.

I never thought that we would get lost as we did. The directions given to us was so clear, there were four of us. I guess no matter how good the map is, or how many heads there are when people aren't talking in the same language they really are bound to get lost. Now, I can imagine how people could still get lost with mapquest while having a navigator on the passenger side.

Lesson learned: never fully rely on anyone, if you must, still make sure that you, yourself, know where you are going; and, have everyone read the directions and know where you're going, especially if you know that you would be absorbed in playing tetris and/or reading a book.