First post -- Welcome to New York City.

...and welcome to my little island on the web, as I sit in my chair on the greatest little island in the world, just a mile offshore of the USA, right about where we like to keep it. My name is Stan. It has been my honor to represent New York City to visitors from around the world, for the past 15 years. if you have a question I'll either answer it outright, or refer you to people who can do a better job than I can.

This blog is meant to be a repository not only of my own feelings and thoughts, but also of information about New York City, for those of you who wish to come here. Will I have free advice? You bet. Check out my volunteer work under the name "TourguideStan" on TripAdvisor.com, for my tips on things to see when here. TripAdvisor has several other great posters who know how to get travel deals. I don't, but I do know how to charter a bus and guide for a group of 40. And how to get from Chinatown to The Cloisters without going on the highway.

Part of the reason for starting the blog is that I want to increase my web presence, in order to gain more bus tourguiding gigs. I'm good; you should try me!

Most of my current income is derived from my pedicab, a form of rickshaw. I own a 21-speed Main Street, made in Colorado. It's like a mountain bike with seats, seatbelts, hydraulic brakes, LED lights. Everything but a motor. I drive people for tours of Greenwich Village, Midtown or Central Park. The seats are heated in winter, and there's a cozy carriage blanket. People love my pedicab tours.

But I'm a licensed guide, a member of the Guides Association of New York City (www.ganyc.com). That means I'm good enough to have spent $100 on membership dues. I'd rather do what we in tourism call "step-on," meaning I step onto the bus, sit behind the driver, give turn instructions and use a microphone to call out the sights. It sure beats pedalling two people up and down hills. Though there's a great deal to be said for the intimacy of touring with just one couple, especially in the Village and Central Park, where motor vehicles just aren't capable of doing the tours. The work isn't really hard, but it's time to ease my way into more tours wherein I get to sit back and take it easy.

More later. Please say hello.