MF4SURE .
New York, Is it all its cracked up to be?
So, i went to New York for the New Year this year, totally awesome, cold and busy as expected, but wow!
So i flew into Newark, the little brother of New York that doesn't play sports, and we got a share taxi service that takes all your luggage and yourself of course to your hotels in Manhattan, me being from the UK, i'm used to very careful and cautious drivers, unlike myself, so to get into a car with this large fella with him continuing his conversation from the Airport to our hotel 30 mins later, i knew this was really my home!
We arrived at our 40 something floor hotel down 42nd street in-between 3rd and 2nd, and i was instantly impressed, i don't know if that's because ive already gone death due to the constant beeping of car horns, or that the hotels temperature inside kept me from growing icicles on my nose. Either way, i was glad to be in the NYC for the first time!
We had a little walk to go and get some grub, it was late, so we could only see the bright lights of the Empire State, Chrysler Building and alot of the other huge landmarks. Eventually, after some deliberation, we walked into a little pizza place, near Grand Central Train Station. Anyway, i walk in and on my left there are about 10 pizzas laid out to order slices of, and now, these slices were HUGE! I now see how New Yorkers re-fuel after a long day of walking from block to block. I ordered 2, as i do love a good pizza slice, and my dad ordered 1 aswell, so 3 pizza slices, maybe $10? Try nearly $15!! Amazed, but that was welcome to New York!
We had a nice day out in the Big Apple, which lead to a buzzing New Years Eve in Times Square, we had tickets fro a party, so it would be easy to get to right? WRONG! We were about 200yrds from the Ball-Drop, but we trounced through over-reacting territory-conscious mix of New-Yorkers and the masses of Tourists, which alone took over an hour to take 4-5 block route to get to our eventual destination. Despite this, my impression of NYC wasn't tarnished, if anything, i found something in there which made me like it more!
That much--anticipated count down to the turnover of a new leaf and a new calender finally arrived, and despite the lack of fireworks (thanks health and safety), the confetti was much, much more mind-blowing, i even found on the floor a small square of the stuff, with a wish on, which read something along the lines of "I wish for a safe 2013 and i hope for world peace" Which is great right? That showed me NYC had a soft side, i was gaining respect for this concrete jungle.
My trip was for another few days, we went on a boat trip, which wasn't for the jock who thinks he can get away with shorts in any situation, it was FREEEEZZINNGG! But it was great to see the lady herself, the Statue of Liberty, and the south side of the island.
Central Park was pretty awesome too, it was winter ofcourse, so the waterfalls were out of juice, and crispy sound of leaves as you trek through the 100 something acre park. Trying the Ice Skating there was a hoot! I knew it would be hit or miss with me on the frosty death-trap being ridden by 3cm wide metal picks, but luckily for me, it was a sure fire hit! Until i saw the 8-Year-Old future Ice Hockey pros literally were running circles around me, ok, NYC 1-0 Me, ill give them the point this time. We found a busking performance from these 2 African American Fellas, one the main-act and the other his Jester Side-Kick, who were BRILLIANT! There main dude who could do 90,000 flips or something like that, to as they say, "Perfection!" But there mix of race remarks and witty humour, with a little Worlds Strongest Man impressions, it was pure genius. He deserved a few dollars, and the crowd of 100 or so gave then some New Year love.
It isn't a vacation to the NYC if you don't hit up the cloud-grazing Empire State Building, we took the general admission to the 86-floor vertigo-ensuing floor, were we eve took the choice to walk from floor 80 up 6 flights of stairs to get the top, the lifts were packed like tuna fish! Anyway, we got there, and as we brushed the bead of sweat from our eyebrows... there is was. It was enchanting, clear blue skies, and looking down on what i now consider to be, the BEST city in the world. With tourists shoving there cameras and phones into my chest to take there photos of their memorable holiday, that was the moment when i realized there is something about this town, whether its the classic salty pretzles, or all the different shops, or like a great man once said that the fact that there is every type of person in this great city, and i think that's what makes life, that little bit more interesting. Ill be back soon NYC, Stay Awesome. Over and out.
Be Safe, Play Hard, Go Win.
MF4SURE .
