Of course, BG could invest in a gun, but then he'd probably be arrested instead of the crackhead because basic constitutional rights don't apply in NYC.

Dave

Sounds like New York has not changed that much at all - except maybe for the ethnic mix and the prices...

I enjoyed reading this, Elvira. It sounded a lot like the home I ran away from.

Dave:

BG doesn't have a gun, but he carries a knife with him (except when he has to go to the VA, because they have metal detectors there). He learned this lesson shortly after arriving in NYC in the late 60s/early 70s, when he took an apartment down in the bowels of the wild and hairy Lower East Side of Manhattan. He was assaulted twice--once by a guy who put a board with nails in it to his face and demanded his money.

But that area has since become gentrified, and the only thing the residents worry about now is their ever-rising rent and the noise on the street from all the people spilling out of the myriad clubs and restaurants that now line the newly trendy streets there. New York--go figure.

Thanks Ruvy--actually NYC has changed quite a bit, especially in Manhattan, which is pretty safe, prosperous, and tourist friendly. It's almost like Disneyland! But there's still crime, though not nearly as much as in the "wild west" days of the 70s and 80s. That was a very scary time in the city.

Elvira, I spent a fair bit of time in Manhattan in the 70s and 80s. I'd like to apologise for all the trouble I caused.

;-)

Christopher:

And now you're in Spain, no? There goes the neighborhood...
;-)

They wanted we English in Europe for some reason - the fools!

*puts finger to mouth like Dr Evil*

mwuahahahahaha!



oh yeah, here it's el barrio.

Christopher:

Un Anglais Andalou, non? Quel Dada! (Pardon my fractured French).

I just love to spin tales of el barrio....

Hola Elvira,

no hablo francés pero si, soy un inglés andaluz.

Saludos de Torrox

Cristóbal

Christopher:

I only know a smattering of French and even less Spanish, but I read you loud and clear. Comment #8 was a lame attempt at a little surrealist humor. Un Chien Andalou (the Andalusian Dog) was a groundbreaking Dadaesque film co-created by one of the most bizarrely fascinating Spaniards of all time, Salvador Dali. (It featured, among other shockers, an eyeball being "cut.") You probably knew that already, but in any case, it was a lame attempt to be "clever" and "urbane."--lol. And no, I was not comparing you to a dog--quite the opposite--you are more like a comment god to me.

I really wish I knew Spanish--it would certainly help in BGs barrio. Maybe I'll take it up. Love the sound of Cristobal!

Cristobal, dios de los comentarios! Has a nice ring to it...

Elvira, I did study Spanish in school. Unless you can do a jíbaro accent, it won't help you all that much, except in understanding what is being said (about you).

Ruvy:

I suppose formal Spanish might not be sufficient to translate more colloquial/regional dialects, slang, accents, etc., but I imagine it might help a bit. I don't get the impression people are talking about me, but actually if they are I think I might rather not know what they're saying (lol). Funny thing is, that even though BG and I don't look Latino, sometimes folks will start talking to us in Spanish, which at least makes me feel more at home. But then again, Latinos range in appearance, just as Jews do--some being blond haired and blue eyed, etc.

Elvira, can you and BG say Glock in Spanish? Should I buy you one? Cause I care.

sr

sr:

Um...Un arma de Glock? Oh wait, that might be French. Actually, that one needs no translation.

I just try not to wander out too late at night, and not hang out near the windows. But nah, I don't feel too unsafe in the Bronx. Thanks for caring!

Elvira,

Pleased to know your still around.

Stay safe.

sr

sr, my friend, I'm pleased to know you're still around too. Watch out for the anti-smoking nazis.

The city was such a cool place to visit when I was a kid. My grandparents lived on a street in the Village that had a feast on it every year...nice little italian neighborhood...it's all gone now...neighborhood doesn't look anything like it used to back in the day...I'm not even sure if they still do the feast of St. Anthony any more.

Andy:

Yes, as far as I know the Feast is still in full force, but the neighborhood has changed drastically. There's only a shell of the Little italy that was. A lot of the expansion is from Chinatown, which is moving northward more and more. But the Bronx's Little Italy is still going strong.

Thats quite unfortunate, I went to 711 this mornig to notice a car full of crackheads. Obviously I park next to them to get a reaction, they all start starring at me and talking sh**.

These people should know, that straight people can be alot more violent than drugged out people. I wish I had a frag grenade to throw in their car window. These people are like cockroaches, come out at night and scurry away when they know theyre about to be killed.