When I found out I was going to NYC, I was a little excited and a little apprehensive. After all, I had never been there and didn’t know what to expect. But this is what I found out…NYC is just a city like any other city. Each one has it’s good points and bad points, but a city is just made up of people, and people are everywhere.

This is what made me write this post. Well, let me back up a little and tell you what I think of Hotel 57. I have never encountered friendlier and more helpful staff anywhere. Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans is the only place that has come close. That doesn’t mean that staff in other hotels have been rude or unfriendly. I mean that the employees here go out of their way to be friendly. Everyone from the people at the reception desk to the bellmen to the maintenance people. Anyway, back to why I’m writing this post. We had a brunch that ended around 2:00 and there was nothing we had to do until our dinner here at the hotel at 6:00 tonight. So I’m thinking, wow, I have four hours to walk around and see stuff. I left the hotel and walked down 57th, Park Avenue, and a few other streets. But there was nothing to see, and it was hot and muggy, so I grabbed a couple of canolis and the worst iced tea I’ve had in awhile, and went back to my room. And here I sit, getting ready to do some editing. I wish I had just stayed here and edited instead of wasting time and effort. 😦 Yeah, there are lots of stores here, but we have stores in the town where I live. I can buy stuff at home. LOL

If I was on a vacation where I was just sight seeing, things might be different. I might have time to go farther and see some interesting things. But I could find nothing here in Manhatten (I think that’s where I am, LOL) to see. I’m nowhere near the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty or anything like that. And I have no one to hang out with…I hate doing things by myself. I think I’m fairly close to Central Park, but I was scared to go there alone. It takes so long to get anywhere by taxi because there’s so much traffic.

That brings me to another thing. Why do drivers, especially taxi drivers, feel the need to honk their horns CONSTANTLY? That’s all I hear from my hotel room. Last night, when we were in the van going to the party, the driver behind us honked AS SOON AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. Our driver hadn’t even had time to take his foot off the brake. I don’t understand this behavior at all. *shakes head*

Anyway, I’m a little disappointed. If I had a native New Yorker to guide me around town, I think I would have a much better time. Maybe someday I’ll come here on a personal trip instead of a business trip and that will make a difference. I regret that I’m here in NYC and don’t have time (or money for a taxi) to see the really good things that I know are here. 😦

On the bright side, the parties, brunches, and dinners that have been planned for us are awesome! The party was at an individuals house, the brunch was at the Union League Club, and the dinner will be here at the Opia restaurant in the hotel. It’s all been yummy so far. :0)