I love New York
Tuesday, March 21, 2006The best thing about breaking the routine for a holiday is its ability to kick-start the creative juices. Note to self: take more time off; everything seems shiny and new again. At least for now…
New York was, as expected, a bewildering feast for my naive senses. I snapped (hello flickr), caught up (hey Bart & Chris!) and ate as much as I could (hello belly). The most difficult thing of all to comprehend initially was that this city which I’ve seen so much of on the big and small screen is real and actually functions; all those impossibly tall buildings have people bustling around in them. I guess these feelings are the inverse of the stereotypical “How quaint!” often heard from American tourists over here.
It being our first time in the big apple, we mostly stuck to the core (groan) tourist sights, though relished visits to the wonderful Grounded coffee house in Greenwich Village, Cup in Astoria and John’s Pizza in the West Village (the latter two came well recommended from our wonderous host Bart). The views from atop the Rockefeller Centre, on Brooklyn Bridge and the Staten Island ferry were truly breathtaking – and all the more rewarding because there was so much to recognise. Photos, none of which do justice to the wonderment beheld, will be on flickr very soon.
Less loved was the Subway, which often felt to me like a dirtier, wildly confusing and less friendly version of the Budapest Metro (where they play a little tune when the doors open). It’s not very friendly to newcomers, but we just about sussed it out (though we did occasionally half-expect to end up plunging into Hudson Bay…)
I’d go back in a second. The people, the sights, the sounds, the smells (hmm, perhaps not the smells), the buzz and the weather – which jumped from being below freezing to 22°C in just 5 days – make it a really bizarre and fascinating place. Hopefully it won’t be ridiculously long before I get the chance to pay another visit. Thanks to all who gave us tips on what to see and do – our sore feet are testament to the fact that we packed in pretty much all we could, and apologies for the big fan-boy-stylee post. It just had to be done.
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Sweet, NY is cool. I stayed an entirely insufficient 3 days there and, to my eternal regret, thru circumstances beyond my control, didn’t go out on the piss at all. And it was St. Patrick’s Day.
I expect to post a similarly starry eyed post shortly as I’m off to Tokyo for an entirely insufficient 2 days.
Where are you off to next?
redking
on March 21st, 2006
Lucky sod – Tokyo is such an intriguing place. I look forward to reading all about it.
Funny you should mention the alcohol thing – we did venture out clubbing one night to Crobar, where we were lucky enough to have guestlist (and thus free) entry. Two double JD&Cokes cost $40 though! They were so strong I was dancing to anything and everything about two minutes later…
Not sure where next. Probably a trip around Ealing, as there’s no money left in the bank account :-/
Simon
on March 21st, 2006
I’m trying to figure out exactly what the inverse of “How quaint!” is… “Holy crap!” perhaps?
Sounds like a good time was had, holidays are great, aren’t they (I will venture to NY sometime before I die… alas budgets limit us to St.Annes or Scarborough at the moment). Off to Flickr I go.
Gordon
on March 21st, 2006
Hey, no need to apologise. I’d be highly suspicious of anyone who came back less than starry-eyed about NYC. And you’re right, part of the magic is that you’ve seen so much of it before on TV or film and then suddenly there you are – like being in a film yourself. Which isn’t at all the way I felt when I visited that village where they film “Last of the Summer Wine”. P.S. Tokyo is the only other place I’ve been to so far that really does live up to the hype.
rhino75
on March 21st, 2006
I very much enjoyed meeting you chaps, and despite the journey it was to get into Crobar, I had a BLAST! You are welcome back anytime! You’ll have to check out my ‘hood (Harlem) next time.
Tonya
on March 28th, 2006
I’m jealous! I really miss that city. Any photos from there?
Livy
on March 31st, 2006