Did you smell that?

It has been about three weeks since I first arrived in the Big Apple, and I’ve got to share an important lesson. Your nose can very quickly become one of your best friends.

In a city like this one, you’ll inevitably find yourself running about in a terrible hurry. Maybe you missed the first train, the bus ran late (so far that hasn’t happened), you’re stuck behind a particularly slow group of tourists who think it is important to snap a picture of every single street sign New York City has to offer. You might even get so frantic in your hustle that you don’t focus on where you’re stepping.

Or perhaps you aren’t in a rush. You simply forgot to bring all of your brain along for the day. Those New York hotdogs from the street meat vendors are pretty darn good after all. And if you’re walking around Central Park, there are so many beautiful things to keep your eyes and ears occupied.

Whatever the case may be, whether you are running around like a headless chicken or simply taking in the world around you one pretty statue at a time, pay attention to your nose! This is imperative. As long as you heed this advice, you will be saved from some horrendous mishaps. Let me explain.

When you are walking about New York City and you detect the distinct smell of horse shit, you absolutely need to watch your step.

This is something I’ve experienced most often in Central Park (due in large part to the horse drawn carriage rides), but our equine friends are not relegated to the park alone. Many police officers ride around on horseback throughout the city. Parades in New York seem to happen on every day that ends in y, and we all know how fond horses are of parades.

I’m sure there are poo containment protocols and procedures, but accidents are bound to happen. It is just the way of the world. Not every mound of horse dung can be properly contained or disposed of in time.

So be warned, fellow travelers. Listen to your nose and heed its warnings. You would gladly follow its lead when searching for a restaurant, so pay close attention when it tries to save your life.

Okay, maybe not your life, but horse manure would certainly ruin a good pair of shoes. And with the price of most things around here, it is worth it to take a whiff before taking a step.

Lesson Learned: If it smells like horse poop, watch out.