The idea of driving in the city also made me anxious. I had heard about New York drivers and their lack of driving skills and impatience. And I had also heard something about tolls up North, but I had to scour the internet to see just how much it would cost me. Online estimates put the toll prices roundtrip between $30-$40. Damn! AND I had to pay for gas! Still, to avoid wait times and a system with which I was completely unfamiliar (I've utilized public transportation maybe a handful of times), driving seemed like the lesser evil. I borrowed a GPS and set about my way. I picked up my homegirl along the way for a few reasons: security, companionship, and that fact that she was a "city girl" herself--born and raised.
The drive was smooth, but the tolls were a bitch. $3! $5! $2! $4! $6! Holy shit $9! I thought I was about to run out of money before I even crossed the border. Speaking of border, we not once say ANY sign that said Welcome to New York. We waited, and waited, ready to take a picture...and...nothing. We just figured out that we must've crossed the border because the scenary changed...It was like, if you don't know where the fuck you are, then just leave! Thanks, New York.
There were soooo many bridges...or at least that's what it felt like. And I am terrified of bridges. And then, TRAFFIC. Gridlocked. I ignored the GPS and exited the highway praying that I would still arrive at my destination. (Okay, so the GPS recalculates, no big deal!) No sooner had I exited and was waiting at the traffic light then a New Yorker honked at me and drove around me while going through an intersection--and, no, I wasn't turning--just because I didn't accelerate the MOMENT the light turned green. I arrived at my destination, perplexed, and then had to juggle the next major hurdle: the dreaded parking "situation."
Faced with time constraints, I still managed to drive around the same block or two for approximately 30 minutes to find a parking space. And I probably could have found one if it weren't for two huge problems: 1. Once I was directly at my destination, and then past it, the GPS refused to talk to me anymore...no more "recalculating." And as I am directionally challenged, I could not venture too far for fear of getting totally lost. 2. My experience with parallel parking was limited to a one time event in driver's ed. We don't need to parallel park Down South--we have (free) parking lots.
I found a lot for which I had to pay to park. Paying was the last thing I was worried about. But as it turns out, I paid about $10 to park for about 3 hours--the lot closed at 5. Later on, I did manage to find a space large enough on the street to park and hone in on my skills. I was scared to park in this particular place because the street seemed a little empty and the signs were rather confusing: One sign said,
No parking anytime, No parking from 8-9 am (or was it pm?) on Tuesday and Friday (or was that Wednesday?), AND no parking during school hours.
One sign! WTF?
The pictures that you see up top, are from my first trip. I can't even tell you in which areas they were taken. When I left NYC, the GPS had the nerve to send me in a different direction from which I came. I got stuck outside and inside of some tunnel for what seemed like an eternity. I was so glad to see New Jersey by the time it was all over.
And that great friend that I brought along, didn't share the driving, didn't entertain me, and slept quite comfortably.
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