I'm beginning to write this from my
seat on the airplane on my way back home, and I'm saying that truly with a
heavy heart. If a genie were to appear out of my coffee cup right now to grant
me one single wish, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind what it would be...
...to stay here forever.
After having made my "New York City Bucket List"
and achieving all the things on the list, you could say I'm probably the
happiest girl in the entire world right now. To describe what that felt like
honestly would take all day, but I'm going to try.
My last post gave details
about my very first night spent in the Lower East Side. I didn't post again
after that because I wanted to experience all of the city before explaining my
feelings toward it. So, now here's the rest of the story...
Day 2: We toured a
little around the 9/11 memorial and the One World Trade Center.
We had lunch at Hudson Eats in the
American Express Tower where I got an amazing Thai noodle bowl at Num Pang Sandwich
Shop.
We picked up a
cupcake at Sprinkles there too.
The cupcake was
amazing, but this view behind it is what made it 100% better.
Kellie and I
then went to find the Statue of Liberty. We found this wonderful, secluded
section of benches right beside the water directly in the sunshine where we
chilled out for about an hour.
It was
beautiful, warm, and peaceful.
Who knew you
could find a tiny spot in such an enormous place where not a single other person is
in sight?
I think we just
got lucky on that one.
We got a hotdog and hot chocolate
at a street cart, and shared it sitting on a bench on the corner of Wall
Street. Definitely not like anything I've ever done before, but so much fun. We
somehow navigated the subway train and found our way back to downtown Brooklyn
to the apartment.
We got ready and went to dinner at
New Topaz.
If it hadn't have been so late, I
would've begged to simply sit on the curb and stare, because there was so much
on that one street to see and feel. I could spend my whole life there, and be
completely content.
Day two was incredibly relaxing
and beautiful.
Day 3: I've heard when in rains in NYC, it pours, and that's exactly
what happened. However, I was completely determined not to let the rain ruin
the whole day. We had lunch at J. G. Melon on the Upper East Side. Best turkey
burger I've ever had.
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Phil and Derreck ate there the other
week and sat behind Tory Burch
(!!!!!)
Too bad she wasn't there this time. :-)
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Next stop, Grand Central Station
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Chills crawled up my arms as we
hopped off the subway and entered the famous place where all of Gossip Girl
began. I walked to the middle, twirled around in a circle, and wished
desperately that 'Lonely Boy' would've been watching me from the balcony...
A girl can
dream, am I right? (Lol)
It was just as glorious
as I had hoped it would be.
We called it a day, and went back
to the apartment and got ready for the big dinner party that night. Thankfully
it stopped raining a little, and we made our way to Manhattan for an incredible
Mediterranean dinner with a few of the most amazing people I've ever met.
All throughout the night, I attached myself to my
"Notes" app, and jotted down things they said and advice they gave
me. To be where they are is my dream, I soaked up every piece of that night in
an effort to never forget it.
We ended the night after spending a
little time on the 14th floor of the Library Hotel at Bookmarks on Madison
Ave (such a fun place!).
Day 4: We began the day with the most perfect stroll through Central
Park, which I have decided is beautiful behind belief no matter what the
season. I have also, just like Blair Waldorf, claimed it as my 'happy place'
(a.k.a. my favorite place in the world). Just like everything else, it was even
more spectacular in person.
Seeing the Empire
Hotel in itself felt like a dream come true. (Another Gossip Girl main
attraction.) What I would've given to have seen Chuck Bass walk out of it
while I was standing there...
We had lunch at
a wonderful Italian shop where I finally got the
New York style pizza, which was
amazingggg.
You just can't go to New York City
without shopping! The rest of the day was spent shop, shop, shopping in
SoHo, Manhattan where I was completely in my element. (also, where I pretended
to be Serena van der Woodsen the entire time. Lol)
We stopped for a photo op outside the
Rockefeller Center.
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Ladurée in SoHo had
the best Macarons
(or Macaroonies,
what I like to call
them) that I've
ever tasted.
Raspberry is my fav.
Once we finally made it home
in the freezing wind, we stayed in for
homemade enchiladas and all
the good Sunday night TV shows.
There's just something about
NYC that makes everything you do, so much more fun. Like simply watching
TV, turns into 'OMG. This is awesome.' just because you're watching with a view
that takes your breath away every time you glance at it.
Day 5: Originally,
there wasn't supposed to be a "Day 5" because we were supposed to just wake up, and go straight to the airport. But, before we went to
sleep the night before, we realized that we hadn't seen the Met Steps.
There's no way I could leave without seeing something so significant. (Only
Gossip Girl-er's would understand... I mean, it's the MET STEPS.)
We were needing to be at the airport at 8:30am, and the Metropolitan Museum is
all the way across town. This meant we got a 5:30am wake-up call. We packed up
still half asleep, braved the freezing cold (because the sun was barely even
out yet), caught the train, and walked for 20 minutes carrying all of our
luggage, just to cross this last thing off the bucket list. When we
finally made it, my first glance at the building washed away every ounce of the
second thoughts I started having about trudging all the way across the city just for this moment. I
forgot how early it was, how cold my fingers were, how utterly exhausted I was,
and everything in me became filled with joy. (Shout out to Kel for putting up
with my needy-ness. Lol) Needless to say, I couldn't have asked for a
more perfect ending to such a perfect trip than watching the sunrise from the
Met Steps.
Honestly, sitting in my bed back in my Georgia town and trying to sum up these past 5 days in
one simple blog post is almost equivalent to impossible. When picking up a
southern girl, and dropping her in the middle of New York City, you would
automatically assume disaster; however, for me, it was the complete opposite.
I
discovered something new to love with everything in me.
During the first few days leading up to this
trip, I started becoming scared. Of course, I was excited beyond belief, but I
also felt afraid. I was afraid that I would get there and hate it. Or become
frightened by the harsh noises, attitudes of “New Yorkers”, and all the hostility that the quick pace environment brings. But, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes,
this place is like constantly living in the fast lane. There’s no time to
pause, or hardly take a breath. People are constantly moving, rushing, and the
busy lifestyle consumes your every move. But, that is what is so beautiful
about it. As soon as I stepped foot off the plane, the continuous, obnoxious
honks and loud, fast zooms of cars and taxis became like music to my ears, I
didn’t meet or talk to one single “rude” person, and there is absolutely zero
hostility to be felt throughout the entire place. Like I had originally
thought, New York City is encapsulated by passion, love, and endurance to turn
dreams into reality. What New York City has to offer a person is truly unlike
anything in the world. You can’t get it anywhere else. I joked before I left that I was
going to come back completely changed, and in a sense, I do feel changed. Like
Mr. O’neil said, there's something about it that just makes you feel alive, and
whole. The part of me that longed so deeply for the city has been filled now
that I have experienced something so incredible. I met people who have inspired
me to not stop until I’ve reached my goals and fulfill the plan that has been
set for my life because it’s not impossible. I’m thrilled to have been chosen
as one to have this passion instilled in my heart, and I cannot wait to see
where it takes me. Now that all the fear, doubt, and negative feelings have been
deemed completely false, I’m even more ready to take this on headfirst
(or
heart first, whichever you prefer).
I know what I'm about to say is totally unoriginal and clichéd, but it’s never been as
true as it is right now…
I love NYC.
I already can't wait to get back.
Xoxo,
-M
Amazing! Loved hearing your stories and seeing your photos! Glad it was all you hoped it would be, friend.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a BLAST! I went for the first time a year ago this past December and I have never, ever had so much fun- it was incredible!!!!!
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