Day Two-Finding the right place to stay

Thursday morning, 8am: I am struggeling having to hold back the sightseeing for another few days, and rather concentrate on finding a room to stay, before my internship starts on monday.

Craigslist.com the best place to find almost everything, from a bycylce to rooms. 

There are lots of posts each hour to choose from, distiguished between Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Islands. The agencys are a bit anoying, as they post the same ad every third line and all they probably offer is a non rewarded fee you have to donate.

I was kind of expecting the same amount of rent youd have to pay in London, but it is actually more expensive. However, the rooms are usually waaayyysss bigger (Box rooms, don't exist here), and living costs (travel, Food, Entertainment) is also cheaper.

I've spend a few hours searching the internet and calling up people, (its rediculous, you have to also pay if someone calls you on your mobile-bloody money-vamps)

After a few calls, I finally got two appointments the same day. Ive made my way downtown and its pretty interesting viewing apartments in a new city, coz you probably got to see places and neighbourhoods, you would not see otherwise.

I did felt a bit 'scared', when you see those big black vans, with all around toned windows and some underground hip-hop music grooming out of the slightly opened window. With a glance, you can gather some silhouettes of pretty rough looking people inside, starring at you with no expressions whatsoever.. just don't shoot please!

What is that all about? Is it real or just the media, that has ut into hour minds, some neighbourhoods might better be off avoided- for your own safety!

The guy from the apartment in  East 156th street explained to me the following:

'the neighbourhood has always been cool. Of course there is drug business, that's what keeps the area good and safe. 

They would not let anything happen here, and take good care. Their own street police, they are. If theres robbery, stabbing going on and the police will come, that will mean trouble to them. So don't worry, the area is cool!'

Well, if you say so!