This summer I had a great opportunity to fly over the pond and revisit the places I'd seen almost a decade ago:- the beautiful California coast, San Francisco, LA, Las Vegas and of course... New York :) It was the first time I've visited the Big Apple and hopefully not the last. Every place has something unique and attractive about it - the character, culture, food, architecture, fashion or simply the landscape. New York has it all.
We spent five days exploring Manhattan and a bit of Brooklyn on foot and were blown away by the huge buildings - each and every one so slightly different but all of them testifying to the scale and importance of this city. Hell's Kitchen, East Side, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Soho, the Financial District and huge Central Park right in the center of Manhattan are some of the familiar districts we visited. You don't get bored of this city as it is so diverse. Each area has a completely different atmosphere with its own attractions, events, galleries, shops, places to eat or relax and they are all next to each other. Just by crossing the road you go from fancy Soho to hippyish Greenwich and down to the Business area and the famous Wall Street.
New Yorkers seem to be used to crowds of visitors taking picture of every famous sight and will always find a moment to stop, explain and just generally be polite - the stereotype is just not true. There is a sense of general pride of being New Yorker, living in New York and supporting that welcoming culture.
This city gets busy with the morning rush to work and then with tourists. Many of the most popular attractions are in lower Manhattan and areas like China Town and Little Italy are always heaving with visitors from everywhere for good reason. We loved Mulberry Street lit with fairy lights and little tables cosily tucked next to each other. There's no chance of private conversation as you are literally elbowing the person at the next table. ... and of course the Italian waiters pitching to you to try their menu because it is the best! A great end to a long day :)
My highlight of New York is its freedom of expression in art and general style. It makes this city colorful in every sense. Beautiful graffiti on the walls, contemporary sculptures on the streets, parks and social areas with little fountains and monuments and Central Park full of music sounds, paintings and open air salsa dancing classes.
New York city just feels so alive - full of vision and achievement. Thanks for sharing my adventure.
Neri