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New York tourists try to make the most out of a bruised city after Sandy New York tourists try to make the most out of a bruised city after Sandy
(5 months later)
The sight of hawkers touting an array of tat to tourists on Brooklyn Bridge returned on Wednesday, in a sure sign that lower Manhattan was trying its hardest to get back to normal.The sight of hawkers touting an array of tat to tourists on Brooklyn Bridge returned on Wednesday, in a sure sign that lower Manhattan was trying its hardest to get back to normal.
After days of being deprived of the delights of New York City, overseas visitors were not going to let a shut-down subway deter them from getting close to the attractions they had travelled so far to see.After days of being deprived of the delights of New York City, overseas visitors were not going to let a shut-down subway deter them from getting close to the attractions they had travelled so far to see.
In and around Manhattan's financial district tourists appeared to outnumber New Yorkers, most of whom had presumably opted to stay at home and wait out the power outage to office blocks and homes.In and around Manhattan's financial district tourists appeared to outnumber New Yorkers, most of whom had presumably opted to stay at home and wait out the power outage to office blocks and homes.
The streets showed surprisingly few signs of the destruction visited upon it by the wind, rain and floodwater of super storm Sandy just 36 hours earlier.The streets showed surprisingly few signs of the destruction visited upon it by the wind, rain and floodwater of super storm Sandy just 36 hours earlier.
The odd window may be boarded up and the shops shuttered, but it is only when you look up and ponder the lack of lights that you notice a marked difference to familiar streets. That is until you look at those roaming around. Gone are the teams of suited fellows ferrying themselves to the office, lunch or meetings.The odd window may be boarded up and the shops shuttered, but it is only when you look up and ponder the lack of lights that you notice a marked difference to familiar streets. That is until you look at those roaming around. Gone are the teams of suited fellows ferrying themselves to the office, lunch or meetings.
Instead the only employees working are the construction workers, police and security guards. And with most of the food markets shuttered and without power, seemingly all those on duty had descended on the same outlet – Steve's Pizza on the edge of Zuccotti Park.Instead the only employees working are the construction workers, police and security guards. And with most of the food markets shuttered and without power, seemingly all those on duty had descended on the same outlet – Steve's Pizza on the edge of Zuccotti Park.
A line of fluorescent jackets queued outside the outlet, situated just a stone's throw from the World Trade Center. Whoever Steve is, he's is likely to be a richer man tonight, given the brisk trade and seemingly inflated prices.A line of fluorescent jackets queued outside the outlet, situated just a stone's throw from the World Trade Center. Whoever Steve is, he's is likely to be a richer man tonight, given the brisk trade and seemingly inflated prices.
"Twenty-four bucks a pie, you're kidding me," moaned one customer. "I haven't seen price like that for a long time""Twenty-four bucks a pie, you're kidding me," moaned one customer. "I haven't seen price like that for a long time"
Still he left with a slice in hand, as did his four colleagues. In the heart of the free market's spiritual home, supply and demand economics were still evident.Still he left with a slice in hand, as did his four colleagues. In the heart of the free market's spiritual home, supply and demand economics were still evident.
Others had a different explanation for Steve's enterprising back-to-business approach.Others had a different explanation for Steve's enterprising back-to-business approach.
"We have been pretty impressed with the resilience of New Yorkers," said Liz Alison, a tourist from Australia."We have been pretty impressed with the resilience of New Yorkers," said Liz Alison, a tourist from Australia.
She knows a thing or two about how cities cope in a crisis, having opted to visit Christchurch in February 2011, just as an earthquake devastated the New Zealand city.She knows a thing or two about how cities cope in a crisis, having opted to visit Christchurch in February 2011, just as an earthquake devastated the New Zealand city.
"This is my second natural disaster in two years," she added, before heading off to find a bus to take her to Macy's."This is my second natural disaster in two years," she added, before heading off to find a bus to take her to Macy's.
Other tourists were having a tougher time.Other tourists were having a tougher time.
On the Manhattan Bridge, Marie Malgram was not in the mood for sightseeing, nor did she have the time. Having arrived on Friday from Sweden with her nephew Casper, she had been hunkering down in Brooklyn over the last few days.On the Manhattan Bridge, Marie Malgram was not in the mood for sightseeing, nor did she have the time. Having arrived on Friday from Sweden with her nephew Casper, she had been hunkering down in Brooklyn over the last few days.
The task facing her on Manhattan Bridge was working out a way to get to Newark Airport for her return flight that night.The task facing her on Manhattan Bridge was working out a way to get to Newark Airport for her return flight that night.
"We hope to get a cab once we're on Manhattan, but we don't know.""We hope to get a cab once we're on Manhattan, but we don't know."
Some enterprising motorists were picking up pedestrians on the Brooklyn side of the bridge – for a price, of course – but Marie evidently hadn't seen them.Some enterprising motorists were picking up pedestrians on the Brooklyn side of the bridge – for a price, of course – but Marie evidently hadn't seen them.
Asked how the rest of the holiday had been, the 44-year-old Swede looked skyward and then to her teenage nephew, "He managed to get some shopping in."Asked how the rest of the holiday had been, the 44-year-old Swede looked skyward and then to her teenage nephew, "He managed to get some shopping in."
Some of it was in the large luggage bags being dragged laboriously across the Manhattan Bridge. The drudgery of getting from point A to B would continue on the Manhattan side of the span.Some of it was in the large luggage bags being dragged laboriously across the Manhattan Bridge. The drudgery of getting from point A to B would continue on the Manhattan side of the span.
In Chinatown, the usually buzzing market day-like atmosphere was gone, with all but the odd hardware store operating, in darkness.In Chinatown, the usually buzzing market day-like atmosphere was gone, with all but the odd hardware store operating, in darkness.
A long line greeted the M103 bus as it pulled up to let passengers on.A long line greeted the M103 bus as it pulled up to let passengers on.
A woman at the front of the queue explained that she had been waiting for two hours. She was heading to midtown west, a journey she would have completed by foot in the time she had waited in line for a packed bus.A woman at the front of the queue explained that she had been waiting for two hours. She was heading to midtown west, a journey she would have completed by foot in the time she had waited in line for a packed bus.
Traffic on the bridges was heavy, but not the gridlock that many had predicted.Traffic on the bridges was heavy, but not the gridlock that many had predicted.
City authorities had not gotten around to updating the less-than-cheery message greeting drivers heading to Manhattan.City authorities had not gotten around to updating the less-than-cheery message greeting drivers heading to Manhattan.
"Stay off roads. Take shelter," it warned motorists in day-glow letters."Stay off roads. Take shelter," it warned motorists in day-glow letters.
Not that many Brooklynites were taking any notice in any account.Not that many Brooklynites were taking any notice in any account.
Mixing it with the tourists were workers keen to check that their Manhattan places of work were in an okay state, and to escape going stir-crazy at home.Mixing it with the tourists were workers keen to check that their Manhattan places of work were in an okay state, and to escape going stir-crazy at home.
"I've been cooped up at home too long, I needed the exercise in any case," explained Amber McMillan, a 31-year-old director of an educational centre in the West Village."I've been cooped up at home too long, I needed the exercise in any case," explained Amber McMillan, a 31-year-old director of an educational centre in the West Village.
For others, it was the relentless wheels of America's legal system compelling them to cross the bridge.For others, it was the relentless wheels of America's legal system compelling them to cross the bridge.
"I gotta get a to court," explained a man who gave his name only as Pete. "I got caught jumping the train.""I gotta get a to court," explained a man who gave his name only as Pete. "I got caught jumping the train."
The irony of being unable to use public transport to appear at his probably postponed court day appeared lost on Pete as he hurdled the barrier separating the road from the bridge's walkway.The irony of being unable to use public transport to appear at his probably postponed court day appeared lost on Pete as he hurdled the barrier separating the road from the bridge's walkway.
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