''In New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York,
New York''
I needed a bit of inspiration for today's song so decided to go random and spin a Song Generator wheel to see what came up and just run with it.
Empire State of mind by Alicia Keys and Jay Z came up and the nostalgia just hit me.
I will never forget the first time I saw New York. It was love at first flight. ✈ The plane was circling in to land and the stewardess told that if we looked really carefully we would just about to make out the statue of Liberty. Whether or not that was what I saw, I will never forget that feeling of excitement knowing that after years of planning and dreaming, I was finally there.
I was very lucky to have the opportunity to work as an au pair for a wonderful family in Connecticut, about a two hour train ride away and over the course of the year would get to experience many adventures in the city and create lifelong memories with my fellow au pairs, host family as well as my parents who came to visit.
I loved the energy of the city, there is nothing like it. As the saying goes "anything can happen in a New York Minute" and that's what I loved about it. Each time it was like being in a whole new place with so many new things to see and explore.
Some highlights include:
Cheering on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden
Climbing up into the crown of the Statue of Liberty (they had stopped this a few years later)
Experiencing Broadway Shows
Running through Central Park with my Dad.
Pizza. Enough said.
A poignant tour of the World Trade Centre on the anniversary by a New York Firefighter. The strength and resilience of New Yorkers is beyond incredible.
Running through Grand Central Station getting lost
Ice-skating at Rockefeller Centre
Falling over while ice-skating at Rockefeller Centre
Feeling on top of the world from the Empire State building
Exploring the Natural History Museum
Enjoying a bagel and coffee
Pretending I was fancy down Five Avenue (Massive sunglasses - check, Audrey Hepburn-esque outfit - check, air of nonchalance - definitely not)
The M & M store. Three floors of chocolate. *This is not a drill. I repeat. Not.a.drill*
Little Italy
And then in honour of the New Year:
Standing in Times Square in the freezing cold for over 8 hours, just to get a spot in front of One Times Square New York, to see the ball drop. Despite the cold and being huddled up against thousands of people, it was a magical experience and one I will never forget.
In the hours leading up to midnight, the mood was festive with strangers swapping snacks and offering to hold places so others could pop out for a quick loo break. Funky red hats and massive orange balloons were handed out to everyone and all you could see was a sea of red.
We were right by the MTV studio and had plenty of entertainment to distract us from our chattering teeth with live music (I remember Jordin Sparks and then Kid Rock - dressed to the nines in red cowboys boys, red undies and not much else.) A massive board announced each countries' New Years and you could hear the chants going up around as people from all over celebrated their own home's ringing of the new year.
When at last it was time for the New York Countdown and the ball began to drop, spirits were high, hugs were traded between strangers, confetti flying all around and experiencing the very first New York minute of the new year, it was perfect.
I could honestly go on for days on New York, there are so many amazing memories and so much more still to uncover but to tie this post up, as per Billboard.com on Empire State of Mind -
"The Song not only represents New York but also the HOPE that New York represents and the possibility. The chance to follow your dreams no matter who you are or where you came from"
- This sums up that first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty for me, it was the moment that I had to pinch myself and truly realized that travel dreams were coming true ❤
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