Sound Walk

Walking around Washington Heights, I am almost overwhelmed by the amount of noise around me. As I walk out of my building I immediately hear Spanish music playing in the distance. This is a common occurrence, as many of the street vendors and local store owners play music around the clock. My attention then shifts to a dog barking across the street. He seems to be barking at some people walking by. Speaking of people, the most noise I hear comes from them. Well, the people and the cars that speed by. My neighborhood is always alive, especially on the weekends, and this Sunday afternoon is no different. I hear a few different dialects. Spanish, English, something that sounds Middle Eastern and even some Chinese. So much diversity. Most of this chatter is drowned out by the traffic that surrounds us. Cars honking, buses stopping and some bike riders ringing their bells. I don't pick up any natural sounds other than the wind. That is howling today. I walk by a barbershop and hear the buzzing of razors. It seems that they are having a heated discussion about last nights game inside. I pass my local laundromat and hear the washing machines spinning. In front of the deli I can hear the cash register ringing up another customer. Then I hear something that I probably wouldn't have if I was not paying such close attention; the rumble of the 1 train from underground. I have been living here for three months and this is the first time I have heard it. I stroll by a park and hear the laughter of children, bouncing of a basketball and shoes running through the gravel. The park is a little quieter than the street, and now I can hear birds chirping from the trees on this sunny day.

I must admit that I am usually wearing headphones when walking around the city, so it was pretty cool to actually take in all the sounds around me and something I will do more often.