Was this really happening? Am I really going to New York today? Were both just two thoughts going through my head that morning when I woke up. I was checking something off of my bucket list that I did not think would happen anytime soon. What was the city going to be like? I knew it was the city that never slept, but I never imagined that to be true till I saw it for myself.
Not only was I ecstatic about visiting a place I had never been, but I was visiting New York City a place I had dreamed about visiting for years. From the moment we landed to the moment we took off, it was everything I had hoped. We saw and did everything I had wanted to do in the short three days of our visit.
The moment we landed couldn’t have been a more perfect start to the visit, I saw snow, see in Texas, our winter last a few seconds and most of the time we just see ice and not snow. When we landed and I saw snow all over the ground, I turned into a little kid on Christmas. I was incredibly happy to see actual snow since we went from fall to spring this year and just skipped right over winter.
Now the true fun started as we made our way from the airport to the Big City! The city looked so close, but I learned during my visit that miles and driving time mean nothing in NY. We entered our Uber car and in an instant I knew we were not in Texas anymore. I was a million miles away from my home, because everything was so different from Stephenville or even the big city of Dallas. I was in a city who loved honking, when someone was in the way as well as when there really wasn’t a need; I think they just love the sound it makes or to just drown out the noise of the constant traffic. Everyone was a crazy driver, they seem to like playing chicken or bumper cars! I honestly did not think we would make it to the hotel in one piece.
New Yorkers are nothing like Texans. They do not like to keep a conversation going. Our uber drivers to and from the airport did not say a single word to us. The rest of the time we were there we walked everywhere and I learned everyone looks down to avoid conversation. There were a few times we would ride the subway and when asking for correct directions, talk was minimal and rude, unlike us Texans who love to talk and need no real reason to start up a conversation. The only people who loved conversations in NY were the street sellers in Chinatown wanting to sell us anything on Earth. I wonder why New Yorkers are that way. Is it the constant hustle and bustle?
During the few short days of being there, we walked thirty-four miles and boy was I exhausted at the end of the weekend. Figuring out the blue, red, green or yellow subway routes on a weekend isn’t for this Texas girl. I was never so glad to get in my own car and drive to Starbucks and not having to worry about traffic jams or being on the right subway.
We saw the New York skyline at both Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building and also visited the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero. Visiting Ground Zero and the Statue of Liberty made me really step back and appreciate what this country is all about and the freedoms we have. We should never take these freedoms for granted.
I was truly amazed at how they crammed so many buildings and landmarks on such a small island. I really do wish I could have brought Central Park home with me. I had never been to a park that big and with so many things to do. They had an ice skating rink, carousel, carriage rides, a castle overlooking a lake and the Shakespeare Garden, statues, museums and so much more things to do! Plus, it was really the only place to see grass and trees in the city. I guess this girl needs a little nature in her life.
