I've been home from the Big Apple for a week and now that I've had time to recover from the canceled flight, and get over being bumped from our new flight, and being stuck in Flushing NY for the night, now I can revisit the time spent there and my observations of the Big City.
Now, New York is known for many, many things. Shopping,
food, world renown attractions like the Empire State Building and
Statue of Liberty, Broadway shows, everything moving at the speed of
light, rude natives, crazy cab drivers. Some make it a super popular
place to be while others are complete stereotypes, now grown stale.
And some attractions, well, one at least, will break your heart.
These are some of the observations I made on this trip:
Women wear their shoes and carry their "little brown bags" from
Bloomingdale's as a badge of honor. The more worn out either is, the
more honorable it is to have it.
The people seemed to have slowed down a bit. That constant state of
"rush" seems to have dissipated. Don't get me wrong, New Yorkers still
move and speak with purpose, but it is less hurried, and certainly
more inviting.
food, world renown attractions like the Empire State Building and
Statue of Liberty, Broadway shows, everything moving at the speed of
light, rude natives, crazy cab drivers. Some make it a super popular
place to be while others are complete stereotypes, now grown stale.
And some attractions, well, one at least, will break your heart.
These are some of the observations I made on this trip:
Women wear their shoes and carry their "little brown bags" from
Bloomingdale's as a badge of honor. The more worn out either is, the
more honorable it is to have it.
The people seemed to have slowed down a bit. That constant state of
"rush" seems to have dissipated. Don't get me wrong, New Yorkers still
move and speak with purpose, but it is less hurried, and certainly
more inviting.
The city felt cleaner than it has in years past.
The food was just food. Maybe I didn't eat at the right places.
The water is super soft; you don't need conditioner for your hair.
The people are super friendly, especially if you flash 'em a big smile!
Ground Zero is still incredibly moving. Those working in the space seem to do so with a deep reverence and those who visit will take with them a reminder of what was lost that day, and it will be with them always. The construction of new buildings and the WTC Memorial also serve as reminders that life goes on, ever moving forward, hopefully a bit wiser and undoubtedly a bit stronger.
There are ways to enjoy the finer sides of NYC on a budget. The TKTS both is definitely one of them if you're in the market for a Broadway show.
If the day is hot, one of the best ways to cool off is to hit the waterways around the city. Seeing New York from the refreshing deck of a clipper sail ship is undeniably one of the coolest things I've ever done (pun intended!)
And finally, the most eye opening observation of this trip is that the city doesn't change! What does change is our expectations of it, often colored by where we are in our lives and the adventures and experiences we choose to fill our New York City days with. The city seems to morph to your needs, satisfying or disappointing as much as your attitude will allow.
I broke up with NY last week out of sheer frustration and more than just a touch of homesickness. But I am ready to kiss and make up with this jewel of a city, whose bright lights beckon and whose fierce spirit and tough as nails attitude make it one of my favorite places in the world. I love ya', New York!
Here's to the Big Apple and the people who make it great!
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