Don't Be a Target

Visiting New York City for the first time can be exciting and somewhat overwhelming for the unitiated. One can be easily mesmerized by the tall glass covered buildings, the noise, the throngs of people, and the sights and smells all around. New York City used to have a seedy reputation as a crime ridden city filled with decepit and despair, but most of that has changed in the last 10-15 years. Gone are all the seedy elements that once made New York City as infamous as any legend could claim.

The best example of this is Times Square. Today, it is a shining brilliant beacon of lights and family friendly restaurants and activities. No so in decades past where it was over run by adult bookstores, peep shows, and prostitutes galore. Some might argue that the seedy history that was Times Square and most of Manhattan were more furn than the seemingly tame surrounding found today. But at least today, one can walk around most hours of the day without fear of violence or being mugged.

This is not to say that danger isn't around. It just has gone underground a bit. Those who would do others harm and steal from innocent tourists ply their trades in more subversive and scurrilous means. Some pose as hapless tourists themselves spinning stories to the unsuspecting about their bad luck in the city. They will say how some tragedy has befallen them and they need some money to fix that tragedy. I have personally experienced these charlatans over and over again. I have witnessed many a tourist fall for these hard luck tales and hand over large sums of cash to these total strangers.

It used to be when you visited New York City you had to safeguard against possibly violent people like muggers, junkies, and outright lunatics. You still must take precautions to avoid such people, but also be vigilant about the people with these sad tales. And these professionals are everywhere in the city: the parks, in tourist spots, on the subways and buses, and in front of restaurants and bars. I don't want to seem harsh when I dismiss their claims of woe, but I have seen on many occasion where people like this gather more money in a day than most people make in several days. And they do this in a short span of hours.

One of the first things I taight myself about travelling to New York City, more specifically Manhattan, was to try to blend and not stand out in a crowd. This means not wearing any jewelry, expensive clothing, or any other physical means of drawing attention to myself. I keep my wallet hidden and carry very little cash. I don't wander around in neighborhoods I am unfamiliar with, and I never, repeat never look at a map on the street. People who do might as well tattoo the word TOURIST on their forehead with a pretty nice target sign nearby.

The city is awash in bookstores, card stores, and drugstores. All of which sell local maps. You can pop into one of these places for a minute or two and study a map quickly to see where you are and where you would like to go. I usually carry a small notepad also to jot notes about locations, subway routes, and any other general information I may find useful. This method has never failed me and is a solid piece of advice I can offer.

My aim in this blog is to share the excitement of New York City for the newcomers and tourists alike. If I can help someone enjoy their experiences here more so because of something I can share with them, then we all win. And winning is always so much better than losing.

Visiting New York City

This forum is dedicated to visiting one of the greatest cities in the world: New York City. The comments made here are based solely on my own personal experiences and obeservations in New York City. I will mention favorite places, great ways to get around, hassles to avoid, and how to navigate the city like a local.

My love affair with New York City began as a child through movies, music, and the iconery associated with New York City. As I got older, I eventually made my first trip to New York City in the mid 1990's. This was a scary thing at first, visiting a huge metropolis by myself. The breadth and scope of Manhattan alone can be overwhelming.

Eventually I made many trips here, learning more along the way, such important things as street smarts, subway etiquette, avoiding possible dangerous scenarios, and other helpful things along the way.

I loved New York so much I developed a strong desire to move here. And I did just that, well sort of. I did move to the metro New York City area settling east on Long Island. I am still close enough to visit whenever I want, and far enough away to enjoy a suburban way of life.

As this blog progesses, I will talk about specific experiences and cool things to experience in the Greater New York Area.