Spotlight Destination | Emma Matsuda
Before arriving in Manhattan I’d written a
long list of galleries, attractions and landmarks
I wanted to see – however, the best way to
experience New York is to simply wander,
and to soak in the craziness. Even the subway
stations can be a really interesting place.
They’re dingy, have stained walls and grime,
and resident to almost always a jazz band or
busker of some sort. And also, rats.
In New York, people aren’t pretentious. There
is so much cultural diversity, poverty, lack of
education, and political injustice that, quite
frankly, there’s no room for pretension.
It’s not like Australia where you go to Fitzroy or
Northcote in Melbourne and everywhere you
look there are well dressed people with smug
attitudes and time to kill.
No, New York is real (as in, ghetto).
Most people wear sneakers and denim, or
casual wear. No one pays attention to you. It’s
great, and at other times lonely. There are so
many different types of people packed into one
place, it’s almost overwhelming.
New Yorkers also don’t like to stall. You’d
better know what you want to order when
you go to purchase your bagel or coffee,
or otherwise you’ll be told how much time
you’re taking!
Note: Be especially wary of this in Grand
Central Station.
Issue 4, 2016 | The Travellist
45