People Watching
I like to people watch. Anywhere people gather, malls, markets, parks, etc… are excellent place to watch people. But the best place in all the world to watch people - New York City.
I’ve recently been working in the Big Apple and after work I hit the streets and wander through Manhattan just observing the people. From Times Square to Central Park to the World Trade area there are plenty of places to just watch people.
People are fascinating to watch. When in their natural state, people will do rather interesting things.
I was walking down Madison Ave and decided to count people that just pick their nose. While no one was full on digging their finger up to the second knuckle picking, there was the quick pickers, the wipers, the two finger two nostril cleaner and the pretend I am doing something else other than picking my nose picker. In 5 blocks I came across 8 pickers.
While strolling though Central Park this afternoon I observed couples kissing in the park. Hetero couples and Homo couples. Young couples and Old couples. Public displays of affection was everywhere.
Then at Times Square you have people everywhere taking pictures or filming theirselves against a backdrop of bright neon lights. People walking with shopping bags overflowing with purchases from the stores. If the country is in a recession, it is not occurring in Times Square. There were people gathered in a circle watching an armless man doing back flips and front flips. They would clap and cheer. I was amazed that people found this as entertaining.
Then there are the people in line waiting for the doors to open on the Broadway shows. People dressed in their finest and people that were dressed in their not so finest. I overheard one lady proclaim that she was attending her 5th showing of the play. Her 5th? Did she not understand the play the first four times?
People are wonderful. People are interesting. People are amusing.
After an evening of people watching, I feel so much better about myself.
Agreed. Nothing like watching the seething masses to realize that your gene pool aint so bad after all!
I too, find the human animal fascinating.
It’s the best when it’s warm outside. When I used to work near Bryant Park, I’d take my lunch break there. It was one of the best places for people watching.
I’ve lived in the Manhattan for over 10 years now and sometimes I thought I’d seen most everything until one day I saw a woman squat, drop trou and pee on the sidewalk — right there in front of Duane Reade in broad day light.
Oh yes .. .people watching is fun.
Airports are good places to do it, too.
I, personally, rather enjoy, maybe even prefer, to pick in public.
I enjoy my fair share of people watching too, but I tend to spend more time just picking.