I had no idea what a culture or life shock it would be to return to the USa via a stop over in Manhatten. New York is not anywhere near the type of USAI am used to. From the moment of crossing the bridge into the huge skyline of New York New York I was a bit ”whelmed”. As my cab dropped me off in front of a doorway on a busy street just north of Little Italy I felt that instead of the feeling of my renegade wanderings being over and my return to my old familiar world beggining? I felt that I had jumped form the frying pan of wandering about Italy all alone and into the fire of a place I had no knowledge of. I jumped; and there I stood on a street with so much happening around me that I felt as though I had wandered onto the stage of a braodway play. Peaople walking by, a street being demolished right in front of me, cars still driving by-mostly cabs and people wlaking about in a hasty pace to get somehwere important and passing this scene and myslef with his 2 bags, as if we were not existant nor important in any way whatsoever. Its New York and NO, I’m not.
For the next 2 days I wandered streets and tried to absorb the beauty fo this utterly one of a kind scene. I say broadway shows from 2 rows back off the stage and I ate food from around the world that we have never seen in Western Colorado. I sang Karaoke and I engaged with wonderful people in wonderful places. Talking of life as I wandered Central Park and bouldering on the rocks in downtown New York with a fellow climber who was more than willing to urge me along. Brad had always said that the greatest test of my ”meet anyone anywhere and make a friend” philosophy would be New York City. Well Brad; how did I do?
In a two day whirlwind I discovered the reason for the love some have for New York City. I cannot wait to return and to pick up where we left off… I think thats somewhere around Alphabet City or our mountain bike tour of central park. Till next time
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Thank You to Brad and all who made my stopover a highlight of my month of travels, Ciao to the big Apple, see ya soon