Hi, OP here:

I knew that the 6k euros may have raised some suspicion. This is the annual gift my father used to give me and my brother around christmas time. Well, he passed away this year so I got this from my mother and I just run out of time in exchanging it to USD and I thought the rate may come back....well, it was bad timing as it almost always is when you try to time these things...

I do always keep around 500 euros for my next trips but I really need this 6k in USDs to pay for all the Christmas shopping my wife did

No AMEX office here so it looks like I am at the mercy of either Chase of BofA

Thanks for all comments, I won't do this again....I'll just exchange it at once and be done with it!