Every Bostonian knows that traveling four hours outside the city to New York for the New Year, is an exhilarating, yet an unrealistic idea. This is not because Bostonian's' hate the Yankees or the Giants, but has more to do with the crowds and the driving. If you've ever seen a Bostonian drive, let's just say there are safer ways to operate a vehicle. New York on New Years supposedly drew a crowd of two million people, that's a lot more vehicles to get in the way of a road raged Massachusetts native.

New Years in New York is something I'd always thought I'd want to do, but never quite felt as though I would get to do. That is, until this year. My friend from England came to visit the U.S for the first time and of course to many foreigners, the first city that pops into mind when thinking of the United States is New York.

It snowed on January 30th, the day My family and I packed our things and headed to the Big Apple, making an already four hour drive a five and a half hour drive. I was convinced people thought a centimeter of snow would kill them. After countless hours in the car and walking aimlessly around central Manhattan my family and I hailed a cab to The Black Tap. I thought it fitting to show my British friend how sweet Americans could be, and if you've seen the trending pictures of the milkshakes, yes they really are that big, and yes they are super sweet.

By the time we quite literally rolled out of the restaurant, my friend and her sister decided they wanted to experience more touristy things and we visited Central Park, where we paid a small fortune to skate. The water was glass as the crowd skated round and round. My friend and I held hands with my brother who, was still a beginner and fell without our support. After two years we had been brought together again in frigid temperatures and among skyscrapers. We laughed for hours skating around until we were stopped by the sight of a man dropping to his knee in the center of the rink. Smoke curled up into the night sky as New York began to light up in its Holiday attire. I seldom get such feelings of happiness, as I did standing with my family and my dearest friend watching two strangers agree to a lifetime together.

I went to the city expecting crowds and a feeling of anxiety but instead found myself warmed despite the cold air and giddy despite the crowds. Now I did not stay for New Year's Eve or dare to venture toward Times Square, but I can easily say I would brave the cold again to be in the big city during the holidays. Between the lights, the food, my family, and friends, holidays in the city will be a time I will never forget, despite the awful driving and overcrowded roads.