Originally published 1906-12-23
Not how my last experience in NYC was
Was in Manhattan a couple years ago, it wasn’t so bad. Crosswalks are where people get pushy. Most people try to keep to themselves.
People who don’t live here in NYC imagine it’s constantly like times square on new years eve. It’s far less than that.
The first time I was in NYC, I exited the train station and got turned around. I had printed directions but couldn’t see the cross streets on it so I asked someone which way was north. He didn’t say a word, just spun around and did a two-handed point like a cartoon.
I walked for several blocks expecting to see the street I had to turn on. After a few blocks, I walked into a real estate office and asked for help.
Yeah, the dude just fuckin lied. I had been walking west. So I walked another 2 miles in the hot summer sun, really soaking up the aroma of leaking garbage bags piled on the sidewalk. I fuckin hated NYC after that.
But then I wound up going back 8 years later and it was all right. I don’t love NYC but I don’t hate it anymore (and congrats on graduating to garbage cans lol)
He might have been wrong rather than lying. A startling number of people don’t know where they are. A former partner of mine usually knew where she was, but didn’t think in terms of NSWE and would be confused if I said “come to the SE corner of the park”
Also I live here and just last night walked like four blocks in the wrong direction because I wasn’t paying attention and turned the wrong way.
