April 16th 2015 – It was a beautiful crisp Spring morning, as my partner and I strolled for the first time through Central Park in New York. Most of the trees were still bare and the leaves were just starting to grow back. The air was fresh and ground still a bit dewy. As we gripped our coffees and casually strolled, a thought occurred – I actually couldn’t believe that I was in New York City. Almost to the point where I had to do one of those over the top rubbing your eyes in disbelief moments. Finally I was here!
I had only ever seen New York through the eyes of movie and tv producers, and since the introduction of social media, then it was through the eyes of Residents and Tourists. I could see… but never truly experience. This all changed when we finally took the plunge and added New York to our trip following on from Los Angeles. I have always wanted to go to New York but wanted to go for 3-4 weeks and have a wallet full of cash to do it. Nice dream, terrible reality.
The thing you have to realise that even a couple of days in this amazing city will introduce you a vibrant, eclectic, alive atmosphere and that, is the experience to treasure. We had 6 days in the Big Apple, staying in the now popular hot spot of Hells Kitchen. Firstly can I say how freakin cool the name of this suburb is?! In saying that, I do know that this suburb wasn’t always the hip, bustling hub that it is now. We found this to be a great location, close to Central Park and Times Square and it offered a plethora of places and things to see.
Over our 6 days, we did many things, and there are so many reasons to love this city, but for me, there were certain things that stood out in particular:
- “I knew I should have made that Left turn at Albuquerque” – Thinking you will get lost? The city is one large grid, it is pretty much impossible to get lost. We walked almost the entire length of Manhattan Island and never once uttered the words – “where the bloody hell are we?” (Aussie joke). Remember a particular Avenue as a reference point, that’s one of my best pieces of advice.
- “IT‘S ALIVE” – to quote Frankenstein, there is really no doubt that New York has a pulse. From the moment we landed, I felt it. The vibrancy and the energy were captivating. It is hard to explain, I didn’t really fully get it until I went, but trust me you will feel it too.
- Eclecticism 101. – Imagine a patchwork quilt, all the different squares all living together in harmony creating one large collectively beautiful piece of art. This is how I would describe New York. With so many neighbourhoods, cultures, ethnicities and people, it is truly amazing how one city could be so beautifully diverse.
- Night Shift – They say that New York is the city that never sleeps. If you felt like Pizza at 3am in the morning, you can get it. We found ourselves eating dinner around 9pm, and as we were doing so many things, it never seemed to be an issue. Many places had very late night trading hours, which meant you could enjoy yourself without worrying about the time and when they closed.
- “Hey I’m walking here!!”- Unlike Sydney which is disturbingly car dominated even in the city itself, New York is densely dominated with people. This translated to people having more power when they crossed the street (in mass I might mention). Once they had the little green man, it didn’t matter that cars were coming, they were walking and ain’t nothing gonna stop them! Whilst incredibly dangerous when you really think about it, it was also proved how much power a large group of determined people have. Drivers in Sydney really couldn’t care less about Pedestrians, but that wouldn’t fly for a New York minute. I loved it.
- Food, glorious food! – It is no secret that I love food, I mean I should be the size of a house with how much I eat. The abundance of different food types all so readily available in New York was heaven. From custom made burgers, to Pizza slices bigger than my head, Italian and Greek restaurants to name a few, to beautifully made Salads and Sandwiches, it was all there. We had a lovely bite to eat in a Café on 5th Avenue and the food was simply mouthwatering. I must admit that my rather large love for burgers was certainly catered for. I tried Bison for the first time. Quite delicious.
- Rome wasn’t built in a day – New York’s architecture is constantly evolving. The juxtaposition of modern buildings mixed with Art Deco, Gothic and Brownstone architecture is simply stunning. Wooden rooftop water towers adorning most of the lower style buildings created a brilliant visual. As we walked the streets, I noticed a large amount of construction, both street and building all over the city. They say you can never stop progress and they are right. New York is one of the world’s most iconic and beautiful cities and this will always stay consistent.
- Take a stroll – Central Park in a word is breathtaking. We explored about 95% of the park and it took us most of a day to see it all. The sheer size is phenomenal and it is something everyone should see at least once when they come to New York. Its position, embedded almost in the heart of Manhattan allows Residents and Tourists alike a chance to escape the city and stroll (or run) through a wonderful urban environment. There were parts that almost felt we weren’t in a city. To create that kind of isolation within a park that is within a city is without a doubt, remarkable. Central Park will always hold a special place in my heart for that and many other reasons!
- In the evening – Most of the days we spent in New York, were jam-packed with activities and landmarks to see, we would set out in the morning and then literally fall into bed at night. The transition from day to night was often masked by enjoyment and fun. However one of our days we had pre-booked a Harbour lights cruise. Anyone going to New York should do one of these tours, I recommend it wholeheartedly. We used Circle line, but there are many others. It departed from the Pier 83 on the Hudson River at Dusk, we cruised around to the East River under both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges and back past the Statue of Liberty. This was magical to see the city at Sunset and as night broke, the skyline of buildings lit up like fireflies. We got to see New York in a completely different perspective and got some really beautiful pictures.
- Small fish in a very BIG pond – The moment I got off the plane at John.F.Kennedy Airport, I felt small, the irony being that I am 6’2. What I mean by this is that I felt small in the grand scheme of things. As we walked through the streets of New York, it was abundantly clear that this was more a global hub than I had ever imagined and everything gravitated around it. New York is home to the world’s most well known Politicians, Business moguls, Actors and Actresses and fashion icons just to name a few, all who operate from this notable city. Something about the scope intrigued me. Maybe it was a sense of being part of something bigger? Maybe it was the fast pace? It is hard to pinpoint exactly what, but there was definitely no denying New York’s global position. In saying this, by no means is Sydney which is my home, small, but in relation to New York, it’s practically a county town. For once in my life, I didn’t mind being small.
One of the greatest things about New York is that everyone will have a different experience. There is something for everyone. Your list may be very different to mine, your experiences will vary and the reasons why you love New York will resonate in you for years to come.
One thing I can guarantee though is – I will certainly be going back.
One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years – Tom Wolfe, Author
Ranter & Banter 