I just loved it. From navigating the many subway trains and buses to strolling the streets, people from all walks of life were everywhere. However, as I began to converse with residents, I noticed that my assumption was true – the same problems I see in Atlanta exist almost everywhere. Many of us live amongst strangers. We will continue to address that in future posts, so let’s get back to recapping my first New York City experience.

Transit was amazing! We traveled on so many trains. We visited Washington Heights, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, NYU, Brooklyn again, Chelsea, Staten Island, Greenwich Village, Tribeca, and Brooklyn again. Thanks to transit, we were able to be all over the place. Unfortunately, I did not see any subway rats.

We did however, encounter many skilled, street musicians and artists. Throughout the city, we never knew when we would happen upon another. It was always an interesting surprise. It kept us entertained as we went from station to station and train to train. 

All of the commuting is what led me to nickname NYC the driven city. Everyone is driven and I can see why. If you do not walk fast enough, you may be run over by drivers of all kinds, cyclists, or even other pedestrians. New York City is a walk/drive at your own risk district. It is such a fast-paced environment. I hear birds chirping so often in Atlanta, Georgia. But if any birds are chirping in NYC, they are drowned out by the constant car horns.

At such an aggressive pace, it is easy to dismiss the impoverished. Even more often than the abundance of musician sightings were people with cardboard signs. Within a week, I only observed two people stop to connect with someone in obvious need of support. It broke my heart to see the same issues championed at Love Beyond Walls prevalent in NYC. We know it is a global issue, but it is still shocking when we see it face-to-face.

You would think those holding the signs were invisible. Thousands pass by each day avoiding eye contact. After talking to a native New Yorker, she made it clear that no one really connects with each other, let alone the poor. “People just don’t do that here,” she exclaimed. She was referring to me simply making small talk and asking about her life (which is what I am known for doing).

In such a driven city, the routine sets in and human connection is really lost. Of course there are circles that engage on some level. But by and large, people are inward focused – devoted to furthering their careers, platforms, or families. Though this is the case, I believe that many of us are starved for real conversation.

Everyone we striked up a conversation with continued to talk as if they had words backed up for so long, waiting to come out. I hope we encouraged a few people to engage with others more often. New York is too populated to feel lonely.

Though heavily populated, New York’s massive buildings and structures swallow us all. I see why it is called a concrete jungle. There are buildings of all shapes and sizes everywhere you look. The vintage and modern architectural styles are absolutely stunning, but after a while it becomes overwhelming. I see why so many people often retreat to the parks and waterfronts for an escape.

All in all, it was an unforgettable trip filled with tourism and connecting with family. We were fortunate to see most of the typical tourist sites, but we were more grateful to connect with family and friends. If you ever visit, I highly recommend the following four places: Pershing Square Cafe for breakfast; Los Tacos No. 1 for lunch; Milk & Cream Cereal Bar for dessert; and Brooklyn Bridge Park for a night stroll and waterfront view of Manhattan.

Until next time…check out the additonal photo galleries below.