Wednesday, January 5, 2011

I heart New York.

“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years” ~ Thomas Wolfe

At the time of my last blog, Danny and I were about to embark on our adventure in New York City. Well, here it is January and I'm just now getting around to an update!

As I feared would happen, I fell in love with NYC! I dreaded leaving. I instantly longed to go back. I dream about her still. I think I may need to see a doctor.
;-)

After coming home, I was particularly struck by the above quote by Thomas Wolfe. Many paint New York as a cold and uncaring city. I didn't see it that way at all.
The city streets hum with an energy you can feel night and day. Except for a few rude cab drivers the people were friendly and helpful. As I stood in the shadows of her skyscrapers, I still couldn't believe I was really there. You see these images on TV and in books and movies, yet here you are seeing them with your own eyes! It was a trip I'll never forget and I can't wait to go back!

Here's a few pictures I took in the city. Thanks to my sister Holly for helping with the editing process!



After checking into our hotel, we set out on foot to see the Brooklyn Bridge. It's one of the oldest suspension bridges in the US. Construction on the bridge began on January 3, 1870 and it opened for use on May 24, 1883. It spans the East River connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.





Looking back towards Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge you can see the Statue of Liberty.



I love this picture of the Manhattan Bridge because you can see the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building in the background! Obviously, that's the Empire State Building there in the center. Off to the right you'll see the Chrysler Building. The Manhattan is also a beautiful bridge in her own right.



On my my favorite pictures from the weekend. This is the Brooklyn Bridge at night as seen from the South Street Seaport. Absolutely stunning!



You gotta get some pizza at Grimaldi's in Brooklyn! Pies are baked in a coal-fired brick oven. They were chosen as one of the five best pizzerias in the US by the Food Network. Long, long lines to get in but worth the wait!



As you can tell, Danny enjoyed it!



Ah Central Park! I wish we had devoted an entire day to the park. It was absolutely beautiful. We took a pedi-cab tour of the park and learned a lot. The above picture is the twin towers of the San Remo building on Central Park West as seen from Central Park.


This is The Boathouse on Central Park Lake. Sex and the City fans might recognize this as the place where Carrie met Big for lunch......and an unintentional swim!



Obviously a stop at Strawberry Fields is a must for all Beatles fans. The Imagine memorial is quite moving.



Another important site for Beatles fans is the Dakota Building on 72nd Street and Central Park West. Built between 1880 and 1884, it is believed to have been given it's name because the upper west side of Manhattan seemed, at that time, to be as remote as the Dakota Territory.



The Dakota is most famous for being the site of John Lennon's murder on December 8, 1980. The Lennon's had spent several hours at The Recording Plant before returning home to the Dakota around 10:50pm. He was shot by Mark David Chapman, a "fan" to whom Lennon had given an autograph to earlier in the day. Lennon staggered up five steps just inside the doorway of the Dakota and collapsed. John Lennon was pronounced dead on arrival at Roosevelt Hospital emergency room at 11:15pm.



One of many open markets in Chinatown.



Well, I hope you've enjoyed the pictures. These are just a few. I took hundreds and could have taken hundreds more! If you ever get the chance to visit New York City I highly, highly recommend it! In fact, if you paid my way, I'd be more than willing to tag along with you! ;-)

I LOVE NEW YORK!!!!!!

Cheers!
Shayla