On a hot June afternoon, we talked to dozens of tourists as they disembarked from a three-hour sightseeing cruise.
Who’d you go on the tour with?
My mother and two sisters. We’re on our first-ever mother-daughters holiday. It’s been good. Really good. Well, a few quibbles.
Like what?
Three of us wanted to go see a Broadway show, and one of my sisters didn’t. She just would not see a Broadway show. We’ve been traveling together for almost two and a half weeks now. And we’re all staying in the same hotel room. The whole time.
Did you have anything left to talk about on the boat?
Oh, we actually all sat in different spots. I stayed in the back, one of my sisters was up in the front, my mother was on the inside, and my other sister took the other side. I do think we were the only group not sitting together.
What was your first impression of the city?
The first thing I saw when I got out of the cab was a Mount Everest–size pile of garbage. It was really quite shocking.
How was the tour?
Delightful. It was so comfortable in there. We had a window seat, we had a glass of wine and some potato chips, and it was just perfect.
What else have you done on your trip?
Last night, my wife, Billie Jo, and I saw Harry Potter 1 and 2 on Broadway. Yeah, that was an experience I wouldn’t repeat.
Was this your first time in New York?
It was. My aunt said, “Hey, girlie, want to go to New York?” And I was like, “Yeah,” and now here we are.
*This article appears in the July 8, 2019, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!