Slowly making my rounds throughout the world, I decided to finally take on the wild card, New York City. A busy city like New York doesn’t seem like the best place to take a break and wind down after being stressed out from the small town lifestyle, but even the biggest and busiest cities can offer that relaxation.
New York City has something to offer for every type of person and more, which can make every trip to the big apple a new experience. From the high-end shopping of Madison Avenue, to the museum mile or to the rich art and culture of Harlem, any visitor can be sure that they will never be bored.
Getting lost from wandering aimlessly through the tall buildings and busy streets and letting my mind drift off with the sound of the sirens made it easy to focus on myself. New Yorkers tend to get the reputation of ignorant or rude, but the reality of it is, is that they are just focusing on themselves. It is a strongly individual city and no one cares about what you are doing unless you make them.
New York has some of the best and eclectic variety of food which really drew me into the city. Lethbridge in my opinion doesn’t have great Asian food so one of my main goals was to find some real, home-style, family run, hole-in-the-wall Asian restaurant. After finding my dream noodles and orange chicken I realized that Lethbridge needs to step up its game to be classified as authentic Asian food.
If you are a history or an art buff like myself then you will fall in love with what New York has. It is like the city throws it up on you after a night of binge drinking in a pub on the East Village. Museum mile is host to the world famous Metropolitan museum of art which displays everything from Egyptian and European history to classical and modern art from all of the famous names you know. If you don’t want to spend your entire day at the Met, which is easily done, then there is a variety of modern, classical, religious and innovative gallery’s within walking distance for your convenience.
If you ask me, I would tell you to just avoid the tourist sites. There is nothing wrong with them but New York has so much more to offer than the Statue of Liberty or Time Square. Yes, they are pretty and interesting to go to, but if you really want to know what the city that never sleeps is like then hop in a cab and head to the communities of Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen or to Astoria. That is where the real life happens. I wouldn’t have danced on a train, met the most amazing locals or discovered unique hidden shops if I was stuck in a tourist line to stand on the top of the Empire State building. (side note: go to the top of the Rockefeller, it is cheaper, better view and smaller lines)
The saying goes that if you can make it in New York, then you can make it anywhere and that is true on so many levels. The city is not for the weak hearted or minded and anyone will find that out within five minutes of leaving the airport. It is welcoming to everyone from any race, religion, sexual orientation or whatever other classifications one might be worried about. My biggest piece of advice for anyone travelling to NYC with a group or alone like me, is to just do you. Do what you want, when you want and if you are lost, stay lost. If you have a task list and a set schedule, you will never discover what New York truly has to offer to you.
