New York; the city that never sleeps. I know it’s a cliché but, seriously, this city does not stop!
I think the first thing that hit me about New York is the sheer volume of people walking the streets every day. My first question was ‘Where do all these people live?’.
Oh, and the second thing was just how many taxis and black cars there are, they’re everywhere.
When you visit New York there are so many attractions that you should visit, here are some of our top picks!
Times Square is a major intersection and tourist destination. What can I say, when I walked around the corner…wow! It was just so amazing; I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many lights.
The Empire State Building is a 102 storey skyscraper located on Fifth Avenue, not far from our hotel, so lately we’ve been passing by it almost daily. The incredible infrastructure is one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
Rockefeller Centre is amazing, it is one of the most popular attractions in NYC. Of course, its main attraction is the Top of The Rock. During our visit yesterday we had a bit of a wait to get to the top with the rest of the crowds, but it was worth the wait. What a truly wonderful view of both Central Park and Manhattan’s midtown.
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom for millions around the world. As we headed towards her on the ferry she was such an imposing figure to see, and until you step foot on the island you just can’t fathom the magnitude of her size; truly spectacular.
The most important one is of course, the 9/11 Memorial.
We headed off to visit the memorial. From the moment you cross the street into the memorial there is an eerie silence. First you hear the leaves of the 400 trees, planted around the memorial, rustling in the breeze. The next sound you hear is the water flowing in the 2 remembrance pools.
It’s very strange that these are the only 2 sounds you can hear in such a bustling city, it almost feels like the rest of New York has been switched off.
Amongst the 400 trees stands one Callery Pear Tree, now known as the “Survivor Tree”. This tree was severely burnt on 9/11, but it was rescued from the site and replanted at the site in 2010.
Alongside the 9/11 Memorial stands the museum, which honours the near 3,000 victims.
New York, I am looking forward to spending some time with you again.
