New York City is called the City of Dreams for a reason – it’s one of the most fascinating places on Earth so The Guy and I decided to stop here before our trip to Eastern Europe (I’m headed to Prague for ICL surgery since it costs 3-4 times as much in the States).
I fell in love with NYC 10 years ago with its fast pace, unparalleled diversity, and tasty eats. The energy in this city is like a giant machine with a vibrant hum coursing through the busy streets and if you don’t keep up with a sense of urgency, it will trample you.
Even in -11 degree weather, people were out and about. The massive screens in Times Square shone brightly and the only things missing were the live models in the Macy’s window.
There’s not much to say about the Big Apple that hasn’t been said already, so I’ll focus on my favorite part: the Subway. Here’s a list of the types of people you might find on the mass transit that serves this unique city of over 8 million.
1. The Tourist
You can tell the tourist on the subway because they probably have their map out, trying to figure out the rail system.
For the truly uninitiated, they might accidentally drop something on the dirty floor and bend over to reach for it. As the subway starts with a jolt, the tourist topples over to the more experienced riders’ amusement and they laugh at him as they look away.
You can also tell a tourist apart because they probably have “I <3 New York” t-shirts and speak openly to other passengers. Also, they walk too slow through the subway tunnels.
2. The Artist
Whether it’s singing, rapping, or doing some sort of acrobatics in the train car, you can get an impromptu show on the subway at any given moment. The only thing you can count on is they’ll be asking for a tip afterward.
Artists range from people young and full of vigor to old and grizzled. Sometimes when the show’s over, you might catch a drunken Artist clutching his giant instrument case to his chest and digging for a Natty Ice in a tattered bag, only to fall asleep before he can crack it open and take a swig.
Because the struggle to be an artist is real.
3. The Person That’s Above it
This person is dressed to the 9’s in a freshly pressed suit made of the finest material and takes out a handkerchief to hold onto the handrail, because germs.
Or she’s wearing mink and Jimmy Choo’s – sitting with perfect posture, knees and ankles together, and taking up as little space as possible. If anyone happens to touch her, she’s disgusted at their uncouth behavior.
These people would much rather pay $10 per 1/2 hour to park their car but it’s in the shop this week so they have to hang out with the underlings on the subway. Oh the horror.
4. The Kid
Plenty of kids take the subway because everyone has to get from Point A to Point B.
Some tough guys skipping school have something to prove and spend their time bitching about the tourists and how much they want to beat them up and steal their wallets.
Others are well mannered and follow proper subway protocol. As soon as you can walk on your own, you can take the subway on your own – even perform in its winding tunnels.
5. The Mom
This person is holding onto little hands and trying to get their kid to stay still on the subway ride. Lord help her if she has more than 1 child and is trying to manage during rush hour.
6. The Homeless Person
The homeless use the Subway to stay warm and keep huddled under a bundle of tattered clothing in the corner of the train car.
When someone finally kicks her off, she heads toward the McDonald’s in Times Square where she squawks loudly at regular intervals and spends the rest of the time working through a conspiracy theory.
Or he goes up to the entrance of Penn Station where he asks for donations to prevent the raping of a little girl while holding a giant stuffed teddy. When a tourist asks, “What little girl?” His eyes shine bright and says, “You know about her too?”
7. The Student
This rider is paying close attention to the poems and other clever advertising on the Subway walls, no doubt trying to come up with their own inspiration while clutching their textbooks and holding onto the subway rail.
The world is still at their feet and their shininess hasn’t been dulled by the City quite yet.
8. The Average Everyday New Yorker
This subway rider follows all the proper etiquette of riding the subway – No staring, keep eyes averted, let people off before getting on, stand for disabled/elderly/pregnant women, and never start conversations with strangers.
Overall, taking the subway is an experience everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. If you can’t head over to NY, don’t worry. There are lots of subway systems across the world and they’re equally thrilling/interesting.
My favorite part of New York the first time I visited was the Subway and it still tops high on my list this time around. But since I couldn’t spend the entire time riding around, here’s what else we did.
Most importantly, now I understand the importance of Yuengling and a good slice of pie. East coasters swear by these staples and they’re hard to come by anywhere else. It’s a big deal, I get it.
What about you? Have you been to New York and what was your favorite part?
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