Only in New York...

In the UK it is said there's nowt as queer as folk. I like this saying...it feels, well British and like most things from Britain, it fails to translate! So what does one say when some distinctly strange things are heard or said over here across the pond? Well there is never a truer saying than only in New York, for example:

• On one of my first weeks here I found myself getting the PATH to work early one morning (this has recently turned into a more regular occurrence but that a different story) and I was walking along like any person does and I feel something brushing my hand. Thinking it was a bug, a hair or some such nonsense I looked down to find another hand...yes that is correct, an older gentleman was making an attempt to hold my hand. Now I'm sure this was a well intended gesture but it frit the life out of me and I ran at some speed through the platform turnstiles...even the hot guy asking if I was okay didn't occur to me till later on, such was my surprise!
• The second experience is much less terrifying but no less surprising. It happened last weekend when I was late for my friend's brunch due to a misunderstanding at my end on timings! I exited the PATH at 14th ST and rushed to meet the group at 7th & 16th...on my way to such a location (which for those not au fait with the grid system in NY is pretty central to the city) I saw this:

Yes this is a skateboarding surfer in NYC

• The most flattering thing to have happened to me to date was actually on a rather drizzly day whilst I was walking back to work from an event venue a bus sped past me on 51st...nothing new there! Then he stopped the bus, jumped off onto the curb and told me that he loved my dress! Now the dress I was wearing was lovely...but I'm not sure it deserved a short fat Portuguese man wearing a bus uniform to endorse it in such an exuberant and public fashion. After such a rave review he jumped back on his bus and carried on driving his Americans on their merry way! 
• Finally it is not really an 'only in New York' but I think special mention must go to the swathes of scaffolding everywhere! There seems to be no real reason for it to exist...it's never used, yet you can't escape from it. They love to shove it up, leave it there, then magically remove it without it having ever appear to have actually done anything.

After just two months I've seen little bits of crazy...check back with me in a year and I'm sure I'll have some real stories!

XOXO