NYC Travel Quick Facts

We are back from New York and had so much fun!  It was exhausting and we needed more time to see everything, but I don't think I would've lasted one more day.  I've been on vacations that involved lots of walking before, but never as much walking as New York City required.  Anywho, just a few things we learned while in NYC for a few days in list form:

• Navigating the subway system isn't rocket science, but it's close
• If you enter the subway platform and realize you are on the wrong one and cross the street to go to the right one, you can't use your card to enter for another 10-15 minutes
• You will probably wait on a train that's not coming...apparently you are supposed to have ESP and know what trains aren't running randomly
• Make friends with the locals, they will direct you (and in some cases, walk you to your location) and laugh at you later
• The subway map in your hand isn't helpful when it only includes Manhattan and you go to Brooklyn
• While waiting on the subway you will be mistaken for a native if you aren't holding a map
• When you are polite to a local, they will ask you where in the South are you from
• It's common practice in Chinatown for someone to walk up to you, unzip their jacket, and ask if you need Tiffany, Chanel, Louis, whatever
• 2 AM in Times Square looks just like 5 PM...all the lights make it so bright!
• The streetcart vendors are young guys who are tired and hung over
• Navigating Central Park is just as hard as navigating all of Manhattan...only GPS can't guide you
• If you want to go to the restroom, you have to buy coffee, a sandwich, etc first
• Ice is a luxury in restaurants
• If you ask for iced tea, you will get something that looks like it but tastes like sewer water
• There are posted driving laws no one follows
• People honk...a lot...for whatever reason
• There are some streets where the fine for honking is $350
• If you want Dr. Pepper at most places, forget about it
• The firefighters are nice, the police are scary
• There's an insane number of runners in Central Park, and they will run over you
• My theory was right...New Yorkers are not overweight....they have lots of walking to do and lots of stairs to climb
• NYC is a massive melting pot
• Eating dinner at 11 pm is perfectly acceptable
• You need to start a training program at least 3 months in advance to build stamina for maximum shopping and sightseeing