Hey fellow travelers,
I have been thinking for days how to start writing this blog, what my first post should be about, what city or country or place. At first I thought I could go in chronological order,but then I started thinking about my first travel, and since I was less than a year old I won't be writing much about it. Instead, I decided to make my first post about the big apple - go big or go home, right?
Whether you are fascinated by the "bright lights,big city" or you prefer traveling to remote locations , NYC should be on everyone's "10 cities I should visit before I die" bucket list.
Visiting NYC for the first time and stepping on American soil for the first time happened in the same moment for me which was a cultural shock I am still recovering from , even though it was 2 years ago (Not counting the 2 years spent waiting in security lines, customs, immigration and border protection at the airport, which after 27 hours of traveling seemed like a cruel torture that makes you regret every choice you have made in your life that got you there)
All jokes aside, I have traveled across Europe a lot before but nothing prepared me for that jungle.
The moment you get out of that airport you can feel everything shift, everybody moves a little faster, the buildings are a little taller, the lights- brighter. Alicia was right people , there is nothing you can't do, and If this doesn't excite you then you are not human.
There are two ways to see this big city depending on how much time you have. If you are staying for a week or longer than grab a map (or your smartphone) and do it your own way, visit different parts of the city each day. However, if you only have a day or two like me, you might want to speed things up.
I have never been the type of person that likes doing touristy stuff when I visit a city for the first time. You know what I mean ... camera around the neck, I love (name of city) t-shirt, following a guy with a flag - type of things. Instead, I like experiencing a city like the locals do. Go to hidden cafes, go to bars that are not on the list in your hotel's binder book on the page so called "entertainment" , eat at small pizzerias that usually have a name of an Italian guy, visit monuments and famous buildings at my own pace.
With that being said I have to admit that NYC made me the biggest tourist ever. Soon enough I found myself on a sightseeing bus holding a Starbucks white chocolate mocha, wearing an "I <3 NYC" sweatshirt , taking pictures of everything I saw, and I didn't care one bit.
The first thing that struck me was the architecture, I really haven't seen anything like it. Yes, I have been to cities that have skyscrapers before, but this city is obsessed with them. It reminded me of a competition I had with my sister when we were kids called "who can climb higher and survive". But some of these buildings have no competition and it blows my mind how mesmerizing they look up in the skies. The Empire State Building ,The Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center, 432 Park Ave and The Bank of America Tower are just a few of the skyscrapers that are going to give you neck pain. And If you get the chance to get on one of the observatories that are open for tourists it is worth a look.The NYC skyline is quite extraordinary.
However, NYC can be too much for first time visitors, all the people and noise can truly go to your head. If at any moment you feel overwhelmed and want a peaceful place to clear your head and eat lunch, hop off that bus or whatever you got yourself on and go to Central Park.
Central Park, located in the heart of Manhattan, can truly offer you some peace and quiet before you are ready to continue roaming the city. There are lots of things you can do here from a boat ride to a horse and carriage ride tour, or a simple picnic on the great lawn. I , personally , got a little lost wandering around on foot, found some swings , and the child (that I am) found it's place in the world.
Another "must see" in NYC is the Statue of Liberty, to do this you have to get on one of those boat rides which I find very amusing. Aside from seeing Lady Liberty you also get to ride underneath all the bridges, hear a lot of history and interesting facts and, best of all , see Manhattan from the water (it's quite a view). Just a little tip if you do plan on going on one of these boat rides, take a jacket or something warm with you, I learned the hard way that it's not just a "little breezy" on the water.
I finished my NYC short adventure with a night tour of the city. A breathtaking look of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge is a sight you will never forget.
I really hope I get to come back to this city some day since I didn't get to see even a third of the things I wanted to, so I will make this post a "To Continue" one...
And to all of you ... safe travels!
