| This section is to help you slip into New York culture. | | | | shoes instead, there are heaps of funky and dressy |
| No one wants to look like a tourist, because tourists | | | | styles that won't have you feeling dowdy. |
| are annoying and get in the way. You can always | | | | Sportswear is a popular option for tourists, but try to |
| spot one, camera in hand, wearing sneakers to avoid | | | | mix up styles and designs by wearing a jacket |
| blisters after a long day sight- seeing, and dining in | | | | instead of a sweater, or trousers instead of jeans. |
| franchise restaurants out of fear of trying more local | | | | Not only will you feel more comfortable if you stop |
| and unfamiliar cuisine. | | | | for a nice lunch or dinner, but shopping in upscale |
| Our list here will help you, give you the true NYC | | | | areas will be less embarrassing and you'll get less cruel |
| experience, and keep you out of the clutches of rip | | | | stares. |
| off merchants. | | | | Starbucks is the devil |
| Leave your guide books at home | | | | Yeah, there will always be Starbucks and McDonalds, |
| Sounds strange and stupid, right? Well only a little bit. | | | | but do you really need to go there? You can go to |
| First off, everyone hates those people who stand in | | | | those places back home any time you want. Try |
| the middle of side walks, head down engrossed in a | | | | eating and drinking where the locals do, ask around- |
| map or guide book- oblivious of the pedestrians | | | | the local newsagent or cab driver will know. A good |
| around them that want to get past. Don't be one of | | | | bet is your hotel receptionist or bellhop if you find |
| those people. Even other tourists get annoyed by | | | | one. Try hot dogs sold from pavement vendors, hot |
| those people, and more than likely, you will be | | | | pretzels and coffee houses without a trademark, |
| verbally abused. | | | | you'll probably find better quality there anyway, not |
| Read your guidebooks before you leave the house, | | | | to mention possibly save some cash! |
| over breakfast or before you go to sleep the night | | | | Get used to the smell |
| before. Know where you're going before you step | | | | New York has rubbish. Not just a little bit either, loads |
| onto the busy sidewalk! If you need to double check, | | | | and loads of it. It lines the streets in central |
| pull over to the side so you're not in the way, or | | | | Manhattan, despite being cleaned away every day. |
| better yet- pull out the books and maps over a | | | | Get used to bad smells and brief wafts of strange |
| coffee break so you can concentrate more. | | | | stench whenever you pass a dark alley. While the |
| Secondly, by leaving the guidebooks out, your bags/ | | | | smell of rot is a little more subdued in winter, it's still |
| backpacks will be much lighter and less likely to hurt | | | | not going to go away, so don't let it ruin your sight- |
| your back later! If you need to, rip out the maps or | | | | seeing walkabouts. |
| make notes that you can refer to. If you can't part | | | | Have eyes in the back of your head |
| with the guidebooks, buy the less heavy, smaller | | | | If you don't know where you're going, and you |
| editions like "Best of New York" from Lonely Planet. | | | | probably don't, don't get caught up in the |
| Don't dilly dally | | | | atmosphere of it all. Crime in New York is rampant |
| This has many positive results. Genuine New Yorkers | | | | just like all the TV shows tell us, but you still have to |
| know where they're going and how to go about it. If | | | | be smart about what you do and how you go about |
| you don't want to look like a tourist, be confident | | | | it. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times, don't |
| and walk with authority. NYC moves at a mile a | | | | leave stuff sitting around- as you might as well put |
| minute and its residents will expect you to also! Once | | | | up a sign that says 'I don't know where I am, so feel |
| you have your bearing, walk there quickly. Not only | | | | free to rob me'. Don't walk around with bags |
| will you save precious time and see more, but you | | | | unzipped or flash your money around. Yes yes, all the |
| won't get pushed or shoved out of the way, or | | | | stuff your mother tells you when you go travelling |
| even sworn at as people pass you. The most | | | | without her... |
| important positive with this one, is that you'll burn | | | | Put the more expensive stuff out of view for as |
| tonnes of calories if you walk fast which means you | | | | much time as possible. That digital camera around |
| can eat more hot dogs. | | | | your neck is begging to be snatched in the crush of |
| Avoid tourist attire | | | | Times Square peak hour. Only pop it out when you |
| It can be tempting when you're in a new city to | | | | need to along with phones, PDA's, laptops and freshly |
| dress for comfort rather than style. This is fair | | | | bought goodies. Ladies, don't go for the obligatory |
| enough, since you're the one who has to put up with | | | | jog in Central Park alone, or after dark (even with a |
| annoying clothing or sore feet at the end of a long | | | | running buddy). |
| day. But keep in mind that New York is a global | | | | Keep your eyes open to the people around you and |
| fashion capital and there are some places where | | | | where you're travelling. Dark alleys with dead ends |
| sneakers just won't do. | | | | are not good places to hang around! Enough lectures, |
| Ditch the sneakers and try comfortable walking | | | | you should know the fundamental rules already. |