Comments on: New York City: As a Local

By: Sean

Sean — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:25:53 +0000

A great read. It is a unique experience to get the perspective of a local. Just seeing a place as a tourist is not a real experience, it is a generic experience controlled by others. New York for me is built for tourists making it hard to see the real New York depsite the fact I prefered it to the tourist money making New York!!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:09:59 +0000

In reply to waitinginthedark. @waitinginthedark - You can indeed learn so much from wandering the streets. Glad I'm not alone!

By: waitinginthedark

waitinginthedark — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:56:21 +0000

In the past, I used to search and plan a lot prior to travel. I was trying to get as much as possible from the time spent in the place. Then I suddenly changed. I started to simply go around, with no specific aim. Just discover a city step by step. Its life, its rythm. I’m still interested in museums, historical landmarks and other famous attractions, but I am dedicating more and more time to simple vagabonding. because it’s in the street that you can breathe the real local life.

By: Dave and Deb

Dave and Deb — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:16:47 +0000

I love that you said that about people. I always use a quote similar that most people in this world are fundamentally good. Glad to see you on North American Soil and looking forward to meeting up!

By: Michaela Potter

Michaela Potter — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:11:06 +0000

So sorry that I missed you on your short stay here. Next time I’d be happy to wander aimlessly with you in my ‘hood of Chelsea/West Village!

By: Joe Callan

Joe Callan — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:41:18 +0000

I was 12 when I first saw NYC–though admittedly for me it was only a 400 mile journey as I grew up in “upstate” New York. Still, what you say about seeing NYC as a visitor vs. seeing it as a local rings so true.

I’m about 65 miles outside it now, and while I’m still not technically a local, I’m a short train ride away and I’m there enough to pass as one.

When you’re with someone (or become someone) that knows the subway lines, streets and neighborhoods by heart–the city takes on a much more intimate feel. It’s a wonderful energy.

Glad to read that you got to enjoy it from that perspective!