Tourist Hell

Well, it's kind of a moot point now www.touristhe...

2009-08-14T12:25:18.294-07:00

Well, it's kind of a moot point now

www.touristhell.com/2009/03/there-can-be-only-one.html

So... if you don't mind my asking, which is the be...

2009-08-13T10:27:36.925-07:00

So... if you don't mind my asking, which is the better employer, CitySights or Grey Line? I recently obtained my guide license and am wondering which is the better of the evils.

Personal attacks and name calling (like "humaniacs...

2009-07-10T13:03:34.501-07:00

Personal attacks and name calling (like "humaniacs") will NEVER help your case. I have read things in your blog and comments you have posted on other blogs (like my friend's) and although I may partially be one of those "humaniacs", I am also a person capable of listening to ration comments and opinions.

I personally don't get what is such a great "tradition" about riding a carriage pulled by a horse, but that's just me. My biggest issue is when they go out into the busy avenues.

By reading a lot of about the industry, I have personally changed some opinions about how I initially felt, but I feel that there are still a lot of things that need tighter regulations.

Thank you very much for that GREAT insight into th...

2009-07-10T12:53:22.652-07:00

Thank you very much for that GREAT insight into the horse carriage industry. I am an animal rights person but I don't believe in groups like PETA because they are ridiculous. I have been behind this ban because had not heard much rational thought from the industry people..until now. You really put it into great perspective and I appreciate that.

Yeah I was surprised 2 c the ad in Brooklyn w/ all...

2009-06-09T12:38:42.788-07:00

Yeah I was surprised 2 c the ad in Brooklyn w/ all these names. Ok I c what they're tryin 2 do.

Me, too.

2009-02-16T21:33:00.000-08:00

Me, too.

I love you

2009-02-08T12:02:00.000-08:00

I love you

Ahem. As it happens, Moses has the little star AN...

2009-01-26T21:05:00.000-08:00

Ahem. As it happens, Moses has the little star AND is a stellar tour guide.

Justin Ferate does NOT have a gold star next to hi...

2009-01-25T06:12:00.000-08:00

Justin Ferate does NOT have a gold star next to his name... What a scandal! I have none next to my name either... I aced the test back in 1999.

Very clever article, and yessir that disconnect is...

2009-01-21T18:40:00.000-08:00

Very clever article, and yessir that disconnect is clear, but things that aren't considered?
1) January is the shittiest time to try to connect w/tourists
2) If you speak in a classic deadpan/monotone, who the fuck is gonna wanna listen to you at all?
3) Circle line must be notorious for no interest in an English speaking tour guide, if all they get is mostly no English speaking tourists. I may not get polite midwesterners, but a dickload of Australian and British tourists enjoy my shit to the full extent!
In any case that restuarant joke is good, i gotta use that...

You need a driver's license to apply for a pedicab...

2009-01-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

You need a driver's license to apply for a pedicab license??? Next you'll need a commercial license (big truck) to drive a moped!

Shah? Tsar? Emperor? Count? Emir? Prime Minister?

2009-01-15T23:49:00.000-08:00

Shah? Tsar? Emperor? Count? Emir? Prime Minister?

Well, I've certainly consorted with a fellow guide...

2009-01-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

Well, I've certainly consorted with a fellow guide or two in my time.

Consort?

2009-01-15T16:37:00.000-08:00

Consort?

Thanks for the reminder that "rich" and "good" are...

2009-01-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the reminder that "rich" and "good" are not synonyms!

when the chick from 3rd rock from the sun lies nak...

2009-01-07T20:42:00.000-08:00

when the chick from 3rd rock from the sun lies naked on a horse in protest ads I would call that a fair 'push' by more than a few lunatics.

Regardless of your blather about the exact temperatures, and times, and silly name calling, can you really claim that this is a good and happy life for the horse?

I recognize that there are MANY animal injustices that are generally accepted by the public these days, and I feel that they should all be tackled whenever possible-not just the business of horse drawn carriages.

Lastly, about the tourists-I'm sure that if Mr. Big ordered you to carry him and carey bradshaw on your back through the park you would have just as many tourists telling you 'that piggyback ride was the best thing I've ever done in new york!'.

Trust me, the appeal is not the horse. I'm certain you could convince visitors to new york to do something else silly and turn it into a lucrative business.

I will definitely take the time to read your blog as I'm sure there are a lot of details of the business I'm not aware of. thanks

A major media campaign and a bill in City Council ...

2009-01-03T22:28:00.000-08:00

A major media campaign and a bill in City Council is indeed a "big push" - the biggest one there's been. Avella is the main guy pushing it, but is not the only co-sponsor - there's 6 so far, which is 2 more than the industry bill has. Whatever you think of the guy, you don't further your cause with the personal attacks on him.

The temperature and condition rules I agree are followed almost perfectly. The riding south of 59th street (which shouldn't be allowed at all) before 9:00PM are not. And, quite honestly, neither is the pricing, but that's another topic for another day.

I don't get a lot of stuff Tourists like to do - but that is what this blogs about after all.

...and btw:Not only are we always sent in when the...

2009-01-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

...and btw:
Not only are we always sent in when the temp goes above 89, but the ASPCA sends us waaay before that on some days.

How could they? Why would they?

Hmmm...there is intrigue here - take a look at the Aug 7 post on my blog, if you're interested.

One would think that, before going to all the trou...

2009-01-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

One would think that, before going to all the trouble to post about a topic, that one would actually familiarize oneself with said topic.

Apparently not.

First of all, there is no "big push" to ban us - there is Avella and a hard-core group of about 100 humaniacs who are pushing this; with lies, propaganda, and ridiculous histrionics, they have conned more into supporting them, but hardly anything that would qualify as a "big push".

Tony Avella is a lowlife hack looking to latch onto high-profile issues for media face-time and keep his core constituents (lunatic humaniacs and misguided LoHV members)fired up to work on his mayoral campaign.

Avella is a mushmouth would-be tyrant, and intellectually challenged to boot (he has been referring to the horse drawn carriages as "horse driven carriages" for 2 years now - note to Tony: horses don't drive @@)

Worst of all, Tony Avella is a stone-cold LIAR (see the Sept post of my blog listed below)

As far as not being allowed to leave the park, you're wrong again. We are allowed south of 59th Street after 9pm and all day Sunday, according to the law that was passed in 1993. Look it up.

Carriages can operate from 18 degrees F to 89 degrees F. You will NEVER find a carriage out there outisde these temps - I will personally Paypal you $100 if you can prove otherwise. Summer '08 we were sent in 18 days due to temps over 89. Snow & rain, street conditions are more nebulous; the law states that it is up to the discretion of the commissioner and/or delegated authorities on a case-by case basis. The video you link to in your post of Dec 19 is a perfect case in point - carriages left the stable between 9:30 & 10am, when there was no precip, and were all back in the stable by 12:30 when conditions started to become worse.

I don't mind discussing or reading opinions of our industry, if they are based on facts. There is enough hysteria from the humaniacs without people adding to it by passing on wrong information.

(and I'm sorry you don't "get" what is so special about a carriage ride - I cannot tell you the number of people in 27 years who have told me it was the best thing they did in NYC)

Here's my blog

http://thewhiffletreenyc.blogspot.com/

If you're going to be a tourguide... it would be b...

2009-01-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

If you're going to be a tourguide... it would be best if you would stop thinking about tourist as stupid... that attitude equates you with the management of Gray Line... tourist are not the enemy... if they sometimes act surly or "stupid" they are only reacting to their tourguide (always begging for tips... who wouldn't act "stupid"?) in other words: get a life! Lead the tour and accept reality. If you think the visitors are "stupid", they will reciprocate.

When you need a union most is when times are hard....

2008-12-24T18:30:00.000-08:00

When you need a union most is when times are hard. But you have to be willing to beat up the scabs. It's the only way.

Where'd you get the pears?(gorgeous writing, btw)

2008-11-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

Where'd you get the pears?

(gorgeous writing, btw)

I'm sorry Stanley is gone. I really regret not tak...

2008-10-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry Stanley is gone. I really regret not taking one of his tours or asking him questions. Despite his big floppy hat and colorful dress he seemed to have an aggressive demeanor that I found intimidating and no doubt scared quite a few tourists. I had always heard he was the best and I'm sure as a knowledgeable NYCer you could appreciate his work much much more than one of the TV show tourists. What a loss. Thanks for the eulogy.

On second thought, I know you work for the blue bu...

2008-10-06T01:22:00.000-07:00

On second thought, I know you work for the blue buses. We definitely met - weren't you trying to get a petition to unionize? Wow you were pretty low key about all the cool shit you do! I mean you could've dropped a hint about what a master city explorer you are. Seriously, I have done the most city exploring and researching of my friends and family and pride myself on nyc knowledge but your adventures are mindblowing achievements! Way to go and thank you. I can't believe I met you already - I was reading your stories thinking "who the hell is this guy?" Why didn't you talk about your feats to the other tour guides? Anyway I gotta talk to you. You must be a NYC Sage.
-Sam

Whats up? You are awesome! I am also an nyc tour g...

2008-10-06T01:08:00.000-07:00

Whats up? You are awesome! I am also an nyc tour guide and was checking out your allcitynyc site. Really great stuff! I very much respect your work. It's well written and amazing all the bridges you climbed tunnels walked through! The QB bridge! That old Bx Courthouse! I am jealous. Did you/ do you work for the blue buses? If so, we met already. -Sam