Wednesday 7 May 2014

And Like That, I Was Hooked

I didn't know what to expect upon meeting her for the first time.  I had heard so much about her that I wasn't sure I'd be able to decide for myself what I thought. She is a beauty, filled with energy and life like no other. She is chaotic, disorganized and will take hold of you and never let you go. I had only ever seen her from afar and the knowledge that I would meet her soon made my heart flicker with anticipation.

Stepping out of the car, I was taken aback by the immediate surge of energy she exuded. My skin tingled and my eyes grew wide. Everything around her was buzzing and my ears filled with the exuberance in her voice. Her constant hum resonated in my bones. Even her smell, a new and exotic odour, wafted about circling around me. I was awake standing in front of her. More awake than I had been in months.

New York City. 
Empire State Building
Photo by Audrey Bresar
I had finally made it here. The one city that was so close but yet I never managed to visit.  NYC is a global curiousity and everyone has to experience her at least once. So often depicted in television and movies and made immortal in Sinatra's rendition of the song by the same name, this city is a Mecca for artists, playwrights, actors and writers. I have long wanted to be swept away by the city's essence.

Swept away I was. Alas, I had only one day to get my feet wet but it was enough to be completely blown away. NYC is a city of countless adjectives. Bright lights, tall buildings, fabulous museums, beautiful parks, fascinating people. My head spun in every direction to ensure I saw and felt everything.

Herald Square
Photo by Audrey Bresar
I experienced such a vast array of emotions. Ground Zero and St. Paul's Chapel brought back all the feelings of horror I experienced watching the news that fateful day. My chest constricted and my breath stopped as I looked at the church where first responders lay to rest before venturing into the madness again. Tears flowed freely as I read the stories of some of those that perished. History that hit so close to home and is still so real.

And then there was Times Square filled with boundless energy. The Crossroads of the World...NO KIDDING! Talk about sensory overload. My eyes didn't know where to look next. If you blinked, you missed something. People were looking up, down, sideways and backwards. Not one person was looking and experiencing the same thing. It would be impossible to have everyone stare at one sign or focus on one of the colourful characters that inhabited the square. But I bet all could feel the electricity.

My time here was short and although I did see all the mandatory sights that are quintessentially and definitively NYC, I need more time to be fully infected by her. As it stands now, I am in awe and like a good drug, she is calling me back for more.


Talk to me! What has been your experience when visiting a new city for the first time? Have you ever been disappointed by a first visit?'

10 comments:

  1. Love this post! You described NYC so perfectly here. It is one of my favorite places to visit as well. Glad you fell for it too!

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    1. Head over heals, absolutely! How can you not become infected by the energy here? I want to go back soon!

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  2. How I'd love to see NYC in the future. The melting pot of culture. I just know I'm going to fall head over heels in love. But too far away from my third world kitchen. Someday soon. :)

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    1. It took me years to get here and I am only a hour plane ride away. The city was breathtaking. I just wish I had more time to spend exploring and indulging! A trip back soon is in the making...

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  3. This is a very captivating post. You capture the essence of NYC beautifully (I come from a place about 60 miles north of the city). When I first came down south for graduate school I felt I had landed on an alien planet. Everything looked as if it had been polished, and the flower-scented air intoxicated me. I have since become enamored of North Carolina, but I still do miss the feel of NYC. Thank you for capturing the memories.

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    1. I am glad I helped you remember. I really wanted to evoke what I felt standing among all the buildings and chaos. The city was less frightening than I thought and as I walked along Broadway, I was entranced. The time was way too short to enjoy everything but I will be back...soon!

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  4. I first visiting New York at the age of 12. I went with a friend while she spent her two weeks with her mom (parents were divorced). It was over the Christmas holiday....and it was magic. I'd never been anywhere like that, nor have I since. I've been back three times since then, the most recent in 2006. NY will always have a piece of my heart. I can feel the electricity just typing about it.....

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    1. Beth, it is so true! It grabs hold of you and never lets you go. I most definitely want to go back and spend more time discovering all the wonderful intricacies the city offers. NYC fills every sense, makes your heart rate quicken and sends tingles up and down your spine.

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  5. NYC is amazing. My parents used to live there so we visited quite a bit -- I miss it! Glad you had a great experience!

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    1. Thanks Sarah! I did. The best part was that not only did I get to see it through my eyes for the first time but I also was able to see it through my kids eyes and they were equally blown away. My son actually looked up at me at one point and said, "I could live here" :-)

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