[travel.NYC] weekend of June 11th

[wispfox]

As I appear to be entirely unable to keep track of who of the people that I read are in NYC, and somehow managed to fail to find them all the last time I tried to use the search tool...

And, as I believe this is pretty much set, planwise...

I intend to be in NYC the weekend of June 11th. If I've not already poked you about this fact, and you wish to meet up with me at some point, poke me (email or comment).

I note that I am very likely to be more than a little bit stressed, simply because NYC has tended to terrify me. So I'm not sure exactly how much energy I'll have to do lots of social things. And, please don't assume that I know how to get anywhere in NYC, because not only won't I know how, but trying to do so on my own will be _highly_ stressful. (doing so with people who know their way around and explain things to me will help, though)

I expect to be arriving early/mid evening on that Friday, and leave after lunch-ish on that Sunday.

Comments

[kythryne.livejournal.com]

Would seeing the subway map beforehand help you, or are maps confusing? It's available online, and I'd also be glad to snag a copy of the real thing and mail it up to you.

The subway is a lot less scary than I thought it would be, and most of the city is on a grid, which makes getting around fairly easy.

One of my favorite low-stress things is to spend an hour or three poking around in the Strand. 18 MILES of used books. If you love books even half as much as I do, you should go there.

I also like poking about in the West Village. There are many fascinating little shops there.

Central Park is lovely and restful. And there's a real merry-go-round!

I'll keep thinking of other things that I think you might like...

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Would seeing the subway map beforehand help you, or are maps confusing?

Maybe, but yes.

I tend to have trouble really understanding maps until I'm _there_. It does help, though, if I need to figure out how to get places, if I use maps to fiure it out _before_ I'm there. Maps are _far_ better than not, but I had to force myself to learn to read maps. They are _not_ easy for me.

most of the city is on a grid, which makes getting around fairly easy.

*nod* So I'm given to understand. But I note that all of my compensations for my (mostly) lack of a direction sense involve places not at all planned out, but which are not so tightly packed. The combination of _lots_ of tall buildings and my habits not being set up for figuring out landmarks in a city makes for interesting experiences, at least until I figure out how to adjust for it.

So far, the things you suggested above all sound lovely. :)

[kythryne.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay. I can understand that. I can't really read maps, either, and while the subway map is easier than most for me, I usually have to trace on it with a finger to figure it out.

I suspect a good chunk of my ability to navigate the city is based on having a good grasp of which subway line goes where, as well as knowing which way traffic goes on the major avenues. But since I'm fairly dyscalculic, there's likely more to it than that. I shall examine it and see if I can explain, if you like.

How do you tend to navigate in areas that are comfortable and familiar for you? If I have a sense of what method(s) you use, I may be able to translate the noise in my head into something useful to you. :)

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

I have been trying to figure out how to answer your 'how do you navigate' question, and have been having much difficulty. I'm not sure I entirely _know_ how I do it. Partly, by knowing the roads names (highways, especially), partly by knowing landmarks (usually that someone else pointed out, but not always), partly by habit, partly by recognizing things.

Not sure...