I might speculate that the people who say you "YOU MUST LEAVE THE CITY AT ALL COSTS" don't live in the city to begin with. They are not accustomed to the city and therefore don't like it.

Country folks such as myself are not equipped to survive in the city. Our finely honed instincts are all wrong for the city.

Ferinstance, on my last ill-advised trip into NY City, I was trying to drive from Manhattan to Long Island ("Longuiland" in the local dialect) without a detailed local map. I looked up at the sun to orient myself and took the nearest street West until I got near the Hudson River. Then I headed South to the tip of Manhattan where it joins the East River and continued to follow the coastline as it curves East. From this point I could SEE Long Island and a number of Bridges. However, the entrances to the bridges are several blocks in from the shoreline amongst a maze of one-way streets and dead-ends. Eventually I got of there, but I'll take a loincloth and knife in the middle of the woods to a pocketfull of subway tokens in the city any day.

Just as we post articles here about the stupid hiker from the city who got lost on a well marked trail, had no gear and died a quarter mile from an interstate highway, I'll probably end up being the subject of a report on a hungry, dehydrated guy who was rescued after being lost in a subway station for three days. City forum members will post comments like "...the idiot didn't even have and iPod!"

A response to your “ill-advised trip into NY City”.

You begin your little communiqué by explaining how you oriented yourself using the sun, but then you failed to go in the proper direction. Long island is to the east of Manhattan. Anywhere you are on Manhattan, long island is to your east. This is not something to brag about. Next you criticize the bridges for being, well, bridges. “However, the entrances to the bridges are several blocks in from the shoreline amongst a maze of one-way streets and dead-ends” The bridges over the East River must be high enough for boat traffic to pass underneath them. This requires that they gradually rise to a height above the river. This is why they start inland, other wise you would need a car elevator to get you to the proper height. While you may consider this to be a stupid concept you will notice that there are many bridges around the world that follow similar logic. You go on to say that you failed to bring a map. This was your mistake, not New York’s. Also, next time I would suggest wearing your glasses, as there are tons of signs on how to get onto the bridges and tunnels. You state that “eventually I got there”. I would certainly hope so, considering that there is more than one way across the river. In fact there are many:

1. Triboro bridge.
2. The 59th street bridge.
3. The Williamsburg bridge.
4. The Manhattan bridge
5. The Brooklyn bridge.
6. The Brooklyn battery tunnel.
7. Midtown Tunnel

Had you been on the FDR (The highway on the east side of Manhattan) you would have also noticed that half the signs were for the next bridge or tunnel over the river.(the other half being exits) This highway is the major thorough fair for the east side of Manhattan. Logically it follows that from this thorough fair it just might make sense for the city to enable motorists to be able to cross the river into Long Island. Do not get all mad at the city because you failed to properly use the transportation system. Next time, do not be so quick to criticize an entire city, when you get frustrated and lost due to your own stupidity. City forum members will post that if you are smart enough to post on the internet on a BB then you are smart enough not to get lost, or die in New York City. But then you couldn’t brag about how you are a good ‘ol country boy could you?

Deep breath Dan!! I think THSENG was just saying he was out of his element in the city.. Being born and raised in NYC, I didn't take offense to his comments, I just noted that he was a "tourist" ;-)

Look on the bright side, the Yanks won tonight.. Unless egads... You're a Mets fan!! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hey, can't I be a Mets fan and root for the Yankees too? GO NY (whichever team) - now when they are playing each other - I root for the Brewers... (who, obviously aren't playing, so I avoid arguments...)

In urban environments, you can orient yourself by looking for satellite TV dishes. They all face more or less south, pointing at geostationary satellites on the equator.

kc2ixe,

You can also be a Yankee fan and root for the Mets...when they're playing the Red Sox. Yanks in 3!

I used to be a Brewer Fan (AL) and a Cub Fan (NL)... until Bud "the moron" Selig moved the Brewers to the National League. Now, I have 2.5 favorite teams. The Cubs (1), the Brewers (.5 I like to see them do OK, but not fanatic about it as I was). and ANYONE PLAYING the YANKEES!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Go Tigers!!!

Hey, this is really good advice... thanks
<img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The Evil Empire isn't all bad. Come to the dark side, Ogre. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yanks in 4?

Mets in 3!