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We're a lot more helpful and open to visitors than our rep suggests.
I take the M60 bus, which goes between the Upper West Side and LaGuardia Airport via 125th Street in Harlem, to and from work every day. It's always packed with tourists or visitors (whose large suitcases clog the aisles, making it difficult for us working stiffs to move around). I love overhearing conversations tourists are having with passengers as they ask for directions. A typical one goes like this:
Bus driver announces, as bus pulls off Triborough Bridge from Queens into Manhattan: 125th and Second Avenue
Tourist, heavily burdened with luggage, standing and confusedly looking at map over New Yorker's head, to New Yorker: Is this where I get the subway?
New Yorker: Which subway are you going to?
Tourist: 125th Street Station.
(There are 4 subway stations on 125th Street from east side to west side. Every subway station on 125th Street is called "125th Street")
New Yorker: Okay, but which train?
Tourist (looking nervously at crumpled directions): The Second Train.
New Yorker: You mean the Number 2?
Tourist (double checking): Yeah. The second.
New Yorker: That's Lenox Avenue.
Tourist: This stop?
New Yorker: No, just stay put to Lenox. It's a few stops. The driver will announce it.
Tourist returns to seat and says to companion (confidently and loudly so all tourists and New Yorkers will know he's a pro): We take the second train at Lemon Avenue. The driver will announce it.
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