Mark, you should have TOLD me to get a shot of 51st Street, and I would have. However, I did take a particular couple of photos just for you.
I was having a frustrating time with the Internet in the hotel room, so I took the subway (all by myself! I’m always proud when I do this, which I know sounds stupid to people who’ve lived in NYC–it’s not like it’s a complicated or unusual thing to do) to Columbus Circle with my laptop. My plan was to find a Starbucks or any wireless spot, do a little work, then spend a couple of hours just relaxing in Central Park.
Things didn’t go as planned–I am cursed when it comes to Internet connections, I think–but I did find a Starbucks, place my order, and walk to the back to pick it up. First I saw this sign hanging above a basket:
Then I looked down and had my Magic Mark Moment:
Thanks for being there with me. You and I had a conversation with the father of a couple of kids a few minutes later and said really nice things to him which put a big smile on his face. I may have been hot, tired, and Internet-deprived, but that hour in Starbucks turned into a lovely part of my trip, and I was where I was supposed to be.
Awwwwwww…Makes me want to hug the both of you!
(You are cursed when it comes to internet connections on your travels!)
Ain’t fate great?!?
Wanna come to Pensacola with us next week? There’s one place on the whole island to get an internet connection… and it must be paid for…
You took the subway?! My good woman … haven’t you ever seen an episode of Law and Order?! Don’t you know what happens there?!
I’ve sat here with the litle “leave a comment” box open for a few minutes. Even stepped out to smoke. Only thing worth of this is
I’m better, now that that’s out of my system. Try to chip away at my tough exterior all you want; you can’t make me feel.
(I know exactly the pride you felt in the subway! Depending on the hour, it can make you feel so inadequate: All these people who know exactly where they’re going, and they even know at which door to board the train, so that when they arrive at their destination they can step off right at the stairs, and beat the pack. Once I mastered it, I felt so kingly.)
That “where to stand” thing started coming back to me at the very end.
“I was where I was supposed to be.”
That’s an awesome feeling in itself. And to take the subway alone! I remember it being like Mr. Toad’s at times. You never know what will pop out in the subway.
You want to ride the subway like a local? Here’s a tip. Never, ever, ever, under any circumstances, (and especially not in the summer,) board an empty subway car when the rest of the train is full. Because an empty subway car on a full train means one of three things.
1. There’s no A/C.
2. There’s a foul stinkin’ homeless person in there.
3. There’s no A/C and there’s a foul stinkin’ homeless person in there.
A ride on the NYC subway – $2.00.
Coffee and a bagel in Grand Central Station – $3.75.
The look on a tourist face when they realize they’re trapped in a car with no A/C and a foul stinkin’ homeless person – Priceless.
ROFL. I want to post my homeless subway guy story, but I don’t think I can do it justice. Tim and I were cackling like crazy when we left the subway though.
I am way proud of you tackling the subway. I take public transportation when I travel but it is never easy and usually a bit muddled for me due to the Generalized Anxiety.
Trippy about the books…..very trippy.