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Having lived in New York City for a long time on and off (though I also spent much time in Hawaii as a child) , I have noticed that odly some neighborhoods and places remind me of other cities or countries for reasons other than the obbvious one(the culture).
For instance, Jamaica Queens is obviously Jamacian in terms of culture and people, however, by coincidence it is also Jamacian in terms of geography:
1. Like Jamacia, there are commercial areas with a large residential hill above. Notice above one of the main drags, Hillside Avenue, you see a quiet hill of houses and when you see the cars go by with Jamacians, it reminds you of people driving up the hill of Jamacia.
2. You see houses with small basketball courts just like Jamacia.
3. For some reason perhaps because of the Hill and the distance from skyscrapers the warm weather during feels more like Carribean heat rather than New York Manhattan skycraper more dry heat.
4. In the back area of South Jamaciia, rather than Manhattans grid there are miles of side streets just like Jamaica.
5. Additionally, you see small Jamacian businesses of course. However, the buildings are low lying enough just like Jamaica. You could even film a back street with the indie beef patyshops and have it pass for Kingston.
Two briefer examples:
1. In Chinatown, besides Chineese culture, the smog from the massive bridge traffic, the very steep hill and seeing the big bridge next to the Chineese factories remind me slightly in the summer of Hong Kong's geography.
2. Red Hook, besides containing many people of African descent, with the sea breeze, old fashioned ports, and many cargo ships reminds one of a developing African Country's port city.
My question is: Are there any neighborhoods that remind you of places out of New York or even other countries based on the physical setup.
For instance, Jamaica Queens is obviously Jamacian in terms of culture and people, however, by coincidence it is also Jamacian in terms of geography:
"The neighborhood of Jamaica is completely unrelated to the Caribbean nation of Jamaica; the name similarity is a coincidence. The Lenape were the Native Americans living in the area when the English took it over in 1664, and named it "Jameco" after a Lenape language word for "beaver"."
Personally I also don't find Jamaica similar to Jamaica the country.
But yes occasionally different parts of the city can remind me of some other cities I have been to.
Brooklyn is named for Breuckelen, a town in the Netherlands dating back to the 12th century. It seems that when the first Dutch settlers got here, they thought the local topography looked just like Breuckelen--and so they named it for home!
queens seems to be similiar to NE Philly. urban, yet almost suburban in some parts. similar style 2 story rowhomes. and the neighborhood really do look alike.
If it had political boundaries and wasn't a theoretical place, I'd say Far Rockaway resembles purgatory both demographically and physically. (sorry seventh)
and Times Square is consumerist Hell.
Last edited by twist07; 06-29-2011 at 06:28 PM..
Reason: times square
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