My partner and I ran a tour into the Bronx and it centered at the Bronx Zoo and Arthur Avenue, that other Little Italy in NYC. Creating these types of tours are fun, and although they take time to do, finding the bus, getting admission tickets to the zoo and working out logistics, it does have its dangers.
One of the issues we deal with is keeping 20 to 55 people together at all times, or giving them designation places and times to meet. You count them when they get on the bus, when you discharge them for the different locations, and then before we leave for the next destination.
We have a bus driver, a nice fellow named Victor, who is seasoned, and we assume that the bus company tells him where to go and how to get there. If not, he should ask my partner or me.
We visit the zoo and head for Arthur Avenue, the home of generations of Italians that came to this country, established shops and restaurants and then through the years handed down these establishments to their children. It is a national landmark, called the ‘New’ Little Italy. You can buy only the best imported cheeses, meats and great bakery, pastries, breads and cookies, all Italian in orientation.
One other thing about Arthur Avenue, it is divided in half by a park! One half is NOT the Arthur Avenue I described, and half is.
Our illustrious driver Victor left us off at the wrong end of the avenue. He did not know where he was, we got off and started to walk when we realized that! My cell phone started to ring, when a group ahead of us, some with wheel chairs, called all in a panic!
What to do? Fortunately, we had the drivers cell number and we were able to reach him. He comes, stops traffic and reloads the bus, and finally gets us there.
What’s that old adage about Murphy’s Law?
1 comment:
While you were at the other end of Arthur Avenue you could have shopped for switchblades.
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