Borough Hall
It was a hectic day in New York City the other day. I walked more than 15,000 steps all over the city. I started by going to the office to pick up some supplies and drop off some healthy treats for my colleagues. I’ve decided that I want to give gifts that promote good health instead of sugary treats that people say they don’t want, but end up eating anyway. It’s pretty hard to stare down a warm plain-glazed donut (my most serious temptation), but having a lovely selection of olives and mushrooms makes for a happier snack.
After that, I had to get to Grand Central Station to meet a friend and colleague. My office-mate assured me it was only a 15-minute walk, but – and let this be a lesson to you - New Yorkers always seem to lie about distances and travel times. Whether it is for their own amusement or I’m just a super slow walker, I’m not so sure. I walked at a quick pace (I thought), but it was a crowded day in the city. Despite everything, I made pretty good time and got close to the station. However, I was surprised to find that Grand Central Station had been moved to a different location.
I think it’s rude when this happens – entire buildings are picked up and dropped in other parts of the city just at the precise time I’m looking for them. Unfortunately, it happens quite often here. I pretty sure this is why there are so many traffic jams in the city.
Eventually, I arrived at my appointment 20 minutes late. Thankfully, my friend was kind and understanding. We had a great conversation and a great cup of coffee before she showed me how to take the subway to my next appointment in Brooklyn. I had never taken the subway before, but my friend took me down an endless staircase into the depths of the city. It was like a parallel universe, a huge underground tunnel with dirty trains hurtling through.
We were tetrised in like sardines in the train, and people pushed and squeezed themselves to fit in. We braced ourselves and then hurtled through the tunnels to the next station. Finally, I got off at Borough Hall and was amazed by the beauty of the place. The sign was intricately designed with amazing detail.
In the end, I was proud of myself for taking the subway. I made it to my next appointment only a minute late, and it was a wonderful meeting at a great spot in Brooklyn called the Tipsy Grape. But that's another story.
