Kathleen Rear

It’s big! Like, really big!
Makes me sound like a gawking tourist doesn’t it? Yep, I was.

All the travel shows tell you, “If you don’t want to be taken for a tourist, do this and that and this….”
I’m not sure that’s very realistic. No one is going to take me for a native New Yorker, or Parisian, or Londoner etc.
The guy marching down the side-walk conversing rapid fire on his phone, or the woman in a skirt suit with ear-buds firmly in place on the subway, those are natives and they pretty much ignore you.

photo by Gavin

Here’s what I learned.

Step out of the flow of sidewalk “traffic” to take pictures.

People in big cities are protective of their personal space:
-While riding the subway, don’t take up more than your fair share of real estate.
-Don’t touch anyone while riding the subway if you can help it.

Tell the cab driver what corner you’d like to be dropped off at rather than the address.
“38th and Park Ave” rather than “70 Park Avenue”

Leave a good tip. Especially if it’s a place you’ll be frequenting.

NYC really is the city that never sleeps. Traffic noises and service vehicles go all night long. You’ll want to buy a white noise app for your phone.

I truly enjoyed the differences between NYC and home. I think that’s why we travel. To gain a better understanding of the world, but also to appreciate what we have waiting for us when we go home.

More later on my NYC experience! Till then….