In message , Paul Corfield
writes
I've had almost the same reaction on telling people I went on the
Subway in New York to Brooklyn. "You did what? Do you know how
dangerous that is?" "Err, I am standing here and am still alive to tell
the tale. It wasn't that bad."
We had exactly the same reaction when we were in New York. I've been
twice and on neither occasion did I feel any more unsafe than I would
have done on the Tube. In fact I felt safer than on some Birmingham
buses at night! (Though the Birmingham Metro, with a conductor always
present feels especially safe late at night.)

Still I don't believe in "doing a city" by going round in an air
conditioned tourist coach. I think it adds to the experience to travel
about how the residents do -
Yes and I feel the same about that, however bizarre that might seem to
you reading this here.

In mitigation, I can tell you that I try very hard when showing people
London (or anywhere else) to talk a lot about life there, experiences,
background and so on and not just - say - history. But using a real
transport system is a great way to see somewhere. My interest in trams
has taken me to some very surprising bits of actually rather famous
cities over the years!
--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK

Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk