A City So Nice...

Other terms first come to mind when I think about my visit to New York. I would say it is expensive, littered, crowded, and very glamorous. My first observation is about how New York nickle and dimes you to death. Most things that I never get charged for ended up on our final bill. For example, we went into a pub for some lunch and the waitress was very attentive to make sure that our soft drinks were full. Then I found out why. We were charged for each refill, even when she took my glass when there was a little drink left. Other miscellaneous charges were for internet access in the hotel, bag/coat check, and paying triple when you buy tickets on a train instead of in the station. I know that is common and we tried to buy tickets in the station but the machines sold tickets to two different trains and we guessed wrong. And then there is the rent. A three bedroom for $12,000 a month does not seems worth it. I was surprised to learn that people who live in rent controlled buildings can pay as little at $200 a month.

One of the things that was a bit of a turn off about the city was the garbage in the streets. Bags were piled up on the sidewalk and a brisk wind sent trash blowing into the street. We decided that this problem is most likely the result of people's attitude, poor collection, and the sheer number of people living on the small island. With so many people space is at a premium, so everything seems much smaller, which is bad news for a big guy such as myself. Everytime we went into a resturant I was bumping into things or knocking something over. But the people living there put up with all these incoviences to live in the amazing aspects of the city. It seemed around every corner a famous location was to be found (perhaps a benefit of the limited space). Seeing the sights in something not be missed. Time Square, Rockefeller Center, Music City, the Met, and Grand Central Station were some of the amazing places that we got to see. New York was fun to visit but I don't think that I would ever be able to put up with the speed and pace.