DAILY PROMPT
Tourist Trap
What’s your dream tourist destination — either a place you’ve been and loved, or a place you’d love to visit? What about it speaks to you?
Photographs all my own unless otherwise stated.
“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.” ~~Tom Wolfe
“If London is a watercolor, New York is an oil painting.” ~~Peter Shaffer
I love New York City, Manhattan the place where dreams are made off. Walk down the gridded streets and avenues and watch the world pass before you. The hustle and bustle, everybody rushing around except the tourists who linger and gaze in wonder at the spectacle before their eyes. The noise, which is on times deafening, the continual sound of car horns and taxi cab madness. The vibe that unique NYC vibe. The culture. The vibrant buzz of a life you have never lived or witnessed before.
New York, what can I say? from the first time I looked out of my Continental Airlines 747 window as we approached Newark Airport I fell in love. It was September on that occasion and a lovely if chilly sunny day. I walked with my eldest daughter into the airport and practically died from excitement when we passed the ”Welcome to the United States of America” sign.
Image https://atero.wordpress.com
My first encounter with a living breathing New Yorker was the hot guy called ‘Derek’ who was on passport control at Newark Airport and who flirted delightfully with the two British blondes in front of him. A great welcome indeed.
We travelled by car the first time from New Jersey into Manhattan and the sight as we arrived took my breath away, for there in my eye’s view was the Empire State Building in the distance and I thought I was in heaven, then finally we turned onto 8th Avenue & 34th Street and I remember looking out of the cab window and gazing up at the New Yorker Hotel to the right of us thinking ”Wow! that’s iconic” that moment has always stayed in my mind.
Times Square I admit is best avoided after you have done the first visit, it’s a typical tourist trap but actually at night-time its mind blowing..I love to sit alone at the top of the red steps and watch the world go by. It fascinates me. But in the daytime Times Square as I say is best avoided. New Yorker’s do not go there..they just pass through quickly on the commute to work.
My daughter loves Greenwich Village and yes there is something fabulous about it. Even John Lennon wished he had been born there,get me an apartment with a stoop outside so I can pretend to be Carrie Bradshaw!
I personally adore Little Italy, Heaven on earth for me is fresh Cannoli in Little Italy surrounded by the mafia ‘Tony Soprano’ types…I love that vibe.( but then I was always a bit odd!)
If you have not eaten Cannoli you have not lived. Come with me to Ferrara Bakery and Cafe between Mott and Mulberry and join me with a plate of their famous, irresistible to die for Cannoli, filled with ricotta cream and chocolate chip or maybe indulge in Chocolate Dipped Cannoli, (choccy dipped crispy tube , with ricotta cream and chocolate chips) accompanied by one of their flavoured cappuccino of the day or if its past lunchtime live wildly and try their Italian ‘Black Tie’ which is a double espresso, with black Sambucu and whipped cream.
I often wonder if I am the only woman on the planet to find the New Jersey Transit train exciting? To be thrilled at trundling through Penn Station with the masses and literally finding that amazing? Am I also the only women who loves the New York subway in general? Very probably.
I love Central Park so much I think I should be allowed to pitch a tent permanently there so I can sit and happily live my days in a world of wonder,in fact my tent should be by Alice in Wonderland don’t you think? But am I Alice or the Mad Hatter is the question? When I die I want a bench in my name, it shall be written in my will.
Walk with me to Magnolia Bakery on 6th Ave for cupcakes.
Lets go for lunch to The City Bakery on West 18th Street moments from 5th Avenue ( grilled cheese to die for!)
There is one neighbourhood I have yet to have a good adventure in and that’s Brooklyn…but the day shall dawn..countdown to my next visit!
In New York City nobody knows me or knows my history, my failings, my insecurities, my over thinking, my extremly sensitive bursts into tears over anything self. In New York I am one of many, walking through the streets, looking up at the skyscrapers, sitting in Bryant Park or passing by the Met, I am one of the dreamers gazing into the Windows of Tiffany’s on 5th or hoping Donald Trump will walk out of Trump Towers and see I am the future of his empire!
In New York City I am one of thousands lost in the City of Dreams.
New York I miss you, Native New Yorkers I adore you and I will return to you soon.
Love from the Welsh Tourist who longs to be a citizen of the greatest city on this planet.
New York New York..so good they named it twice.
For what its worth 