Paradise Found

I spent last week in Gotham, aka the Big Apple, aka NYC. Like the T-Shirt says – I love New York – it has an energy and a buzz which you only find in massive international cities. But there are a few things which are not quite so appealing:

• The Cold – it is only when you spend time in a cold climate at winter time that you realise that 60 degrees fahrenheit (15 celsius) – which is Bermuda winter – is actually pretty warm.
• Sirens – admittedly, they are the true soundtrack of the city. I would say I hear a siren once a week in Bermuda. In the Big Apple it is more like once every 15 minutes. Sirens generally mean trouble, so too many of them and you know you need to watch out.
• Acknowledging Others – it becomes very difficult not to say “good day” to people you pass on the street – after all, that is what you do in downtown Hamilton every day. But people tend to stare at you if you do it on a sidewalk in Manhattan. And don’t even think about making eye contact on the subway.

(Come to think of it, $650 a night hotel rooms – especially for a Hampton Inn – aren’t too sporty either)