A Word From...: Explore NYC on Foot!

I think the best way to do the City is by foot, definitely. You may think I'm crazy, but it's not as bad as you'd think. First thing you have to realize is that Manhattan is not that spread out. The city blocks are really short, so it's nothing to walk around. Walking is the best way to really discover the city. This past weekend Nick and I did a big loop of mid-east portion of Manhattan, from Union Square in the Flatiron District, through East Village, Lower East Side, China Town, Soho, Greenwich Village and back to Union Square.


This is the way to get the real NYC, to really see the people and soak up the atmosphere. So far, my favorite area of the City is Chinatown, but I'm partial to the international population. But the thing I like is that you can fool yourself into thinking that you're in China. It's surreal, and I love it. The markets are so cool. The old people are so cute. The streets are busy.

It's fun to hit up some of the famous places in New York, however, I'm starting to think they can't stand up to the hype. We went to Katz's Delicatessen in the Lower East Side. It's the place that's supposed to have the biggest sandwiches you've ever laid eyes on, the one in the movie "When Harry Met Sally". I'll tell ya, I wasn't thoroughly impressed. The menu "dares you to finish" one of their sandwiches, and with everything that Nick and I have seen about the place we decided to split one. Heck, it was just a normal sandwich. Although, I thought that maybe since New Yorkers eat less, this is a huge sandwich. But no, it was normal. Unfortunately, we didn't take a picture when the thing was whole, but we wanted to make sure we had some proof of our disappointment, so we took a shot near the end. It was an interesting place, but not worth the money in my opinion.


Walking is nice, but after a while you do start to get tired and then you can take the subway.The subways are probably our favorite thing about the city. They're so interesting. Most of the time we've been on the subway they haven't been too crowded, but every once in a while you'll get on a full one. Then it's really nice 'cause you're all crammed in, and hot and sweaty. Yea. I'm just glad it's not like the Japanese subway where they have officials to shove everybody in the trains. Next time we'll write about traveling the subway for your convenience and entertainment!