It may be sweet dreams for the bugs. Sue Frause photo.
I remember reading about a bedbug infestation in New York City recently. That was a little more than a year ago, as reported here by the New York Daily News:
A bedbug epidemic has exploded in every corner of New York City -- striking even upper East Side luxury apartments owned by Gov. Spitzer's father, the Daily News has learned.
I personally know of Manhattanites who were infested with the blood-sucking critters. They not only had to destroy their mattresses, but fumigate their apartments. Ugh!
Well, I came home with a very mild case of bedbugs from our recent Christmas stay in New York. At first, I didn't think anything of it. I was watching Speed the Plow (the Broadway play minus Jeremy Piven, who pulled out of the production not due to bedbugs, but high levels of mercury -- supposedly from eating too much sushi) and kept scratching an area just above my right elbow.
Later that evening, I looked at what I was scratching and there were four perfect little bites. After doing a bit of research on bedbugs (there's no shortage of information online), I found out that the nocturnal creatures leave little patterns. One of them is a trio of bites called "breakfast, lunch and dinner." Mine must have been "breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack."
I'm lucky to have such a mild case. I can live with my four little souvenirs from the BIg Apple. And yes, I'm sure I got them from the hotel where we stayed in Greenwich Village. As far as treatment, I'm not doing anything, and there's no real danger involved. Although you don't want to scratch them and get an infection. It's just weird after all these years of "sleeping around" in my duties as a travel journalist to actually experience, "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Comments
Bedbugs are my biggest fear. I make sure to check the sheets/ mattress when I check in and I don't put my luggage on the floor (in case they want to come home with me). I'm glad you didn't suffer much!
Well, you could have been bitten in the actual theater while you sat in your seat...
Oh, and thanks for the link to Bedbugger!
Sue, Bedbugs are avid travelers, just like you, and they like to catch free rides in people's suitcases. That's how they're transfered from hotel to hotel. I'm sure you've done this already, but wash your bags and clothes carefully & throw anything out you're not sure of. Sleep tight! DC
Yes, that's true about being bitten in my theater seat. But I don't think so. Funny, as I've never even given them a thought before. Sort of like head lice, that's "what other peoples' kids get" ... HA! I'm sure all the bugs froze on the plane ride home as when I picked up my bag it was FREEZING. So thank you Daniel and Danielle and bedbugger for your comments/advice. I'm lucky it was a mild outbreak ...
Sue, thanks for the info about the bite patterns. I was pretty sure I'd been nibbled on this past October in Paris but wasn't absolutely certain. The best one can do is apply Benadryl cream and try not to scratch! I've been lucky this time in Paris, and in fact just 20 minutes ago had a chat with the manager of my hotel about the epidemic. The place I'm staying now is impeccably clean, and I have no inexplicable itchy spots!
You're lucky none hitched a ride home with you in your clothes or luggage! Always check sites like tripadvisor.com and hotelchatter.com etc before you make your accommodations. Also, learn how to check your hotel room. Sounds like Danielle does the right things. Prevention is much easier than handling the problem after the fact.
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