New York, New York

Is it even possible not to fall in love with NYC? There are just soooo many things to love about it, and if you are one of the lucky ones who get to go there – then you surely know what I mean here. When going to NYC, a good option for you would be to take the Greyhound – it has a very solid price and so far I’ve been satisfied with their services. Of course, who wouldn’t mind landing in JFK instead? BUT,  transportation is not that important – even if you choose the worst possible option, NYC itself will compensate for that. There are so many amazing things you’ll see such as the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square, Empire State Building, Wall Street etc. Pack your camera and be ready for an uforgettable experience!

1. Times Square

One of the first things I saw after getting off from the Greyhound bus was the Times Square. I can’t even describe how I felt at that particular moment. I was overwhelmed with emotions! The buildingds, the lights, the crowd.. It’s something that you have to experience. The photos could never really capture the feeling you get once you’re standing there and looking at all those billboards. Times Square only gets even more fascinating at night, but for those people who get anxious in crowds – I suggest to stay away. There are often many interesting events and shows happening here so it’s always a good place to go if you’re looking for some entartainment. Plus, you get to see Empire State building once you start walking away from Times Square. How amazing, right?

2. Empire State Building

I really have a weak spot for this building. There’s just something very captivating about it, something that left an impression on me which will never be erased. Maybe it’s because my hotel room during my weekend stay at New York was looking right at the peak of Empire Building and this peak was lighting up my room. I remember I couldn’t fall asleep that night because I wanted to keep that view in my mind and to never forget it.

3. Central Park

If you were to ask me what my top 5 favorite places in the entire world are, I would definitely list Central Park among them. Yes, I’ve heard stories about how big it is, but I was blown away by the reality of how much bigger it is than I expected. Not to mention how badly my legs hurt after walking three hours from one side of the park to the other, rushing to see everything before the sun goes down, scared that I would miss something. What I liked the most was the monument for John Lennon, called “Strawberry Fields“ (photo below) where many tourists, like me, have gathered to leave a flower. Another wonderful monument which brought many childhood memories back was Alice in Wonderland. It’s on the other side from Lennon’s Strawberry Fields, so be prepared to do a lot of walking in general when it comes to Central Park. I also got to see an amateur baseball game during my stay in Central Park. I was really happy that I got the chance to see this game, since I missed the opportunity to buy tickets for the Red Sox. Ooh, I almost forgot! Make sure to check out the fountain and take a picture there, it’s probably one of the most beautiful parts of the park. When I was there, a lady was singing a beautiful opera which made that moment unforgettable to me.

 4. Wall Street

Hmm, now honestly, I do have to admit that I was a bit disappointed by what I saw on Wall Street. I got there on late Sunday afternoon, while there was some construction in the works on the street. I’m not sure i fit was because of that or because I was overly exhausted, but I didn’t quite get the vibe of Wall Street as I thought I would. There was no crowd, no amazingly dressed business men like in the “Wolf of the Wall Street“ and there was certainly nothing special about it. It was even hard for me to get a proper picture since the buildings are sooo tall and there are so many of them, which makes it hard for light to come through. However, I think I simply arrived there at a bad time. Don’t miss it if you go to New York (despite my awful review), after all, it is one of the great symbols of New York, as well as the economy, power and wealth in general.

On the other hand, the famous Bull of the Wall Street took me by surprise. There was something really powerful and captivating about it. There were many people there, making it really hard to take a proper picture, therefore I am posting the one you’ll see below so that you can have a good look at this symbol of Wall Street.

5. SoHo

I like to call this part of New York the “Carrie Bradshaw“ kind of New York. Beautiful, stunning streets with loads of cute little shops and apartments you mostly remember from Sex and the City. Every street there looks like one of those cute little streets where Carrie walked with Mr.Big. Okay, now I am obsessing too much over this TV show. Anyway, SoHo is probably my favorite part of New York City and probably the only place in NYC where I could imagine myself actually living. Everything else was really wonderful and all that, but way too crowded for my taste. Of course, everything has its price, so this is why SoHo is one of the most expensive parts of NYC to live in.

6. Dominique Ansel French Bakery

Last but not least is this little bakery that has the most delicious sweets I have ever tried! A taste of France in middle of New York! Apart from deliciousness, it is also a wonderful place to hang out in, since it has the cutest backyard. But to get yourself some of their treats, you’ll need to stand in a looong line. It’s worth it, trust me. This is exactly what you need after a long day of walking around NY – a wonderful (and delicious) break!

Also, don’t miss out on the famous Central Station (Madagascar, anyone?) as well as the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to visit the Statue of Liberty on Ellis island, but I did see it from the other side of the Hudson river. Take what you can, you’ll have a wonderful time anyway!

xx

Meg