Going Down

I talk a lot about living on a hill. Well, the subway is built under that hill, and when the down escalator at 181st street isn't working, this is what you face.

Don't get me wrong.. as long as the UP escalator is still working I am not complaining. When I first moved here there was a day when the up escalators, there are 2, were not working and I nearly panted myself to death coming up these stairs.

There is, however, a "Customer Assistance Intercom". See the red sign? See how close it is to the TOP of the stairs? Well, by the time you have managed there from the bottom, you can crawl the rest of the way. I figure that if you push the button a voice comes on and says "You made it this far, you can make it the rest of the way.. Just put one foot in front of the other and plod along you wimp."

I was new to the neighborhood then. Now I know there is an elevator at the other end, but it lets you out at 184th Street, so there is some walking included but it is downhill from there to 181.

Living in New York is NOT for sissies.