NYC, there’s something about you.
New York City has been the destination of my dreams since the mere age of six. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a famous vocalist. In high school, I took vocal lessons and dreamed of Broadway roles that would launch me to fame and fortune in the big city.
As I have grown, those dreams of my childhood have shifted shapes and changed directions many times. Today, I want to travel. I want to experience different cultures and ways of living. New York City is an amazing destination on the path towards a life full of travel.
Here are three reasons to visit New York City before officially catching the travel bug.
1. New York City is possibly the most diverse city in this country.
Nowhere else can you meet Italians, Russians, Chinese, Irish and Americans on the same crosswalk. This diverse culture is what makes New York City such a thrilling experience. In a 24-hour span, I consumed Chinese noodles, Italian cannolis, sangria and Irish beer.
The picture above is of Madison Avenue, it's actually how I received my name! Needless to say, it's pretty special to me so of course, I included a picture. Fun fact: in the famous movie "Splash" (1984), Daryl Hannah played a mermaid and named herself after the first street
Through these experiences, I glimpsed the many different cultures and world views of the people around me. I saw how they lived in their home countries and what it may be like to visit China, Italy or Ireland. This insight into the many sub-cultures of the city will be useful in future travels as well as to open your mind to other ways of living and worldviews.
2. New York City is filled with sights and amazing locations that are basically free.
Free attractions mean more money for sangria, yay! While in NYC, I visited Chinatown, Little Italy, SoHo, Rockefeller Center, Greenwich Village, the Met (xoxo) and, of course, Central Park. These sight-seeing excursions were completely free and fascinating! For an even better time, and to keep warm, buy a few drinks along the way. Take advantage of the Subway for it can take you anywhere in Manhattan in less than fifteen minutes. For museums, the prices are negotiable and we entered the Met for only $10 dollars. Also, the public library was incredible and worth a visit.
3. Walking in New York City can be killer, but at least there's sangria at the end of the tunnel.
I walked more than 10 miles per day throughout the city and worked up a great appetite along the way. Taking cabs or the subway everywhere is effective, but try to walk if you’re up to the challenge. Small restaurants and hole-in-the-wall bars are by far the best places to meet locals and try amazing, and cheap, drinks. We stopped at a little Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village where the bartender concocted new drinks and gave us shots all because we were open to the conversation and had no set plans for the afternoon.
Overall, seeing New York City in three days may seem daunting, but it can be done. To do it well, have an idea of the places you’d like to visit. Set a course of action, but don’t be too worried when you get off schedule. Enjoy the little moments. Savor your glass of Pinot Grigio and learn the New Yorker way by talking to locals. Take a stroll through the park. Take pictures, but don’t forget to experience what you’re capturing. Enjoy the architecture as you walk through the city. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Take it all in and let the travel-bug infect you from top to bottom.
Here are a couple extra pictures of the things I found most interesting/thrilling/different/illuminating in New York City, New York!
Here we ate lunch at a small cafe where pickles and coleslaw were served as appetizers. Say what? We're not in Georgia anymore, Toto.
A little place in Chinatown served a huge bowl of chicken and noodles with vegetables for just 5 dollars! I had to use chopsticks to eat these noodles. Talk about skill.
I would like to give a special shout out to Ben for traveling with us and showing us the city! Without his help and friendship, New York City would have seemed much larger and mysterious.
If you're planning a trip to the city, or any other location on God's green earth, just remember to enjoy the moment.
- Madison
