@ Dritch
Sorry to be short last night, but I find it sad when people give up the pleasure of travel or judge a whole city based on it's airport. I'm not a city girl, but I do enjoy travel and while I mostly wouldn't want to live there, big cities have much to offer. Our last great European odyssey, we spent time in London, Paris, Rome, Milan, and Zurich. We had a fantastic time, and because we stayed outside the tourist zone in apartments we were often outside our comfort zone when picking up groceries, etc. But we also enjoyed seeing a little real city life and meeting people who do not make their living accommodating tourists. The scammers were of course in the tourist zone.
Chuck is quite right about who gets picked on and why in NY. I haven't been in NY much myself, but I have spent time in a number of large cities, and the airport and train station scams are the same where ever you go. I have several general pieces of advice. First while it's probably impossible not to look like a tourist, you can look like you know where you are going and what you are doing, even if you don't. Doing so will save you from the great bulk of scammers, beggars, and thieves. Second, look alert (not paranoid) and generally aware of your surroundings. Third, sad to say you should be wary of people who offer you unsolicited help. Just by picking who to ask yourself, you eliminate the bulk of the scammers. Finally, do not engage with people who have odd requests. Chuck is quite right that "Fuck Off" in universal in U.S. cities.
Sorry to be short last night, but I find it sad when people give up the pleasure of travel or judge a whole city based on it's airport. I'm not a city girl, but I do enjoy travel and while I mostly wouldn't want to live there, big cities have much to offer. Our last great European odyssey, we spent time in London, Paris, Rome, Milan, and Zurich. We had a fantastic time, and because we stayed outside the tourist zone in apartments we were often outside our comfort zone when picking up groceries, etc. But we also enjoyed seeing a little real city life and meeting people who do not make their living accommodating tourists. The scammers were of course in the tourist zone.
Chuck is quite right about who gets picked on and why in NY. I haven't been in NY much myself, but I have spent time in a number of large cities, and the airport and train station scams are the same where ever you go. I have several general pieces of advice. First while it's probably impossible not to look like a tourist, you can look like you know where you are going and what you are doing, even if you don't. Doing so will save you from the great bulk of scammers, beggars, and thieves. Second, look alert (not paranoid) and generally aware of your surroundings. Third, sad to say you should be wary of people who offer you unsolicited help. Just by picking who to ask yourself, you eliminate the bulk of the scammers. Finally, do not engage with people who have odd requests. Chuck is quite right that "Fuck Off" in universal in U.S. cities.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
