I have been in NY City this entire week for work. My hotel is near Central Park so I have been running in the morning or evening around the park. Yesterday was the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, so I had to share with 35,000 other runners. I actually like running in the park. I found a good loop that goes around the reservoir. There are a huge number of others who are running, roller blading, riding bikes or just walking. Central Park really is a pretty park, at least the areas that I have seen. I heard that muggings have gone up, but I doubt anyone would try to take my $20 walkman or beat up Jets shirt I wear, especially with hundreds of other within eyeshot. Plus, who would mess with me, I look menacing and like a killing machine.
Speaking of NY, I have come to the realization that the New York Hilton, while having rundown and beat up rooms, doesn’t employe people who are rude to only me…they are rude to everyone. I have stayed at this hotel before and am amazed at how rude, inconsiderate and uncaring the employees can be. But a colleague who lives in the city made a good point. When I ask a clerk behind the counter if they have a Wall Street Journal that I can have, and he points outside and grunts “Newsstand”, he would have said that to anyone, not just me. And when I asked the concierge person for a running map of Central Park and she points at a kiosk with brochures for tourist attractions and some generic NY City maps, she would have done that to anyone. It’s not personal; it’s just the way they are. I like to believe they are kind, caring and gregarious in their personal life, and working with so many people day in and day out has hardened them.
One other thing that is interesting is that cab drivers are like NASCAR racers only with people in the way, and without the safety equipment, and with a stranger in the backseat, but they never seem to bump each other. They swerve in and out of traffic and across lanes as if they are in perfect unison. It’s like watching a large group of ballerinas perform a complicated piece where everyone knows exactly where they and others are supposed to be. It’s a little frightening as a passenger, and thrilling, but it seems to be safe.
Finally, I am amazed at how little actual earth you can see on the ground. It’s almost like it is on a floating man-made platform in the sky. Aside from an occasional portal that has a tree growing out, almost all of the visible ground at major sections of Manhattan has some sort of cement/brick/asphalt covering. With this is the unbelievable amount of buildings, shops, stores and other commercial space that Manhattan supports. There are thousands of large and small stores to support the millions of residents and commuters who come into the city. It really is an amazing city.
That’s it. Nothing special or insightful. Just thought I’d share.
Oh, there is one other thing. Billy Graham is in town for his final NY City show on Friday. There are some posters up promoting it. Billy Graham in NY City is as far away from a good fit as anything possible. Not hostile, just not real appropriate.
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