Softato, I am from a very rural area and have also traveled in the large cities of Europe and America including NYC. They can be very confusing. You are used to driving your car and then something like a car becomes useless or a burden. Then you end up with a complicated mass transit system that everybody seems to know except You! I have found that the best thing is a change of mind. Except that you will be a bit confused and that you are not the only tourist who is confused or frustrated. Slow down and schedule in time for just plain confussion. You will feel better and enjoy the "experience" of big city travel.

Intimidated by NYC, oh NO that won't do at all, soooooooooo, if you would like a tour I would be happy to lend a hand, or in this case, a tour.

Just let me know when you are going to be here, and I would be happy to give you a bit of a guided tour of the city for a few hours. I have lived here a long time and know the city well, and would be happy to show you some of my favorite parts. Dim Sum in Chinatown, desert in Little Italy, shopping in SoHO, walk up Broadway, through the Village.

Let me know, and welcome to NYC!!!!

Thanks to all the great information I received here I bit the bullet and will be in NYC Oct. 15-20, staying on the upper west side. I know I will have questions as the time grows near, so you will probably hear from me again.

Great choice staying on the UWS. We really enjoyed the area when we stayed there this summer. Have a wonderful trip - you will do well, I'm sure.

softato, thanks for coming back and posting.

My favorite thing to do with newbies to NYC is the Grayline doubledecker all loup 48 hour bus pass.

It will give you a great overview of the city.

You picked a nice time to come.

You are going to have a great time!

Dear Softato1, My hub and I are also hicks and almost 60. After years of saying how much we hated even the idea of New York, we went for a week and had such a great time, we returned asap to finish our list of must see's!
With just a little help from the natives, we went everywhere on subway with cabbing only when it was getting late and we weren't sure where we were exactly!
Neil Oz is "spot on"-so much is familiar, you'll feel at home as you did in Paris. BTW, DH left his wallet in a cab in the 1970's. The second fare after him turned it in to cabbie who found the NYC office he was visiting and returned it INTACT! And it's only gotten better. Enjoy enjoy enjoy!

Sorry, meant to underline only one word!