i <3 NYC

Posted on | August 13, 2010 | 28 Comments

i had been to new york before. i was 14 years old and spent one day there. i believe we went to the hard rock and central park. i saw jay mohr in the park walking his dogs before he was really famous. to say “i’ve been to new york” before last thursday would have been a true statement, except not at all. but after this trip? i can say i’ve been, i’ve seen, i’ve fallen in love.

my plan to stay a few extra days with my cousin after BlogHer was over was pure genius on my part. had i not, i would have seen a cab, the hilton, and another cab. i would have been IN the most amazing city ever, but not SEEN any of it. instead, i saw more, experienced more, did more than my feet will ever forgive me for. my cousin Sammy is the worlds best ever tour guide and she took me to every corner of Manhattan.  i saw Rockefeller Center, Union Square, South Street Seaport, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, 5th Avenue. i spent hours in Times Square until my ooh and ahh meters were topped out. i learned the perfect stance for the subway so you don’t fall over when it starts and look like a total newb. i ate amazing food, took amazing photos and literally drank in every moment.

i loved the buzz of the city. everyone walked purposefully. no one was rude (except the tourists). the people were beautiful, in every way. i often felt i was staring, but the people? the people just amazed me. i’d never have the balls to just bust out in song on a crowded subway for spare change. i could never wear heels and walk that much. i could never effortlessly pull off denim shorts, a v-neck tee and gladiator sandals the way these people did. it was everything i had hoped the city would be, and more.

my hair? it frizzed to the point of no return. my back and my boobs sweated. my feet are now the proud owners of blisters so deep they may forever be my NYC souvenirs. but with each passing minute, each new experience, i fell in love. i fell in love with a city i didn’t even realize i would like, let alone adore. i find myself missing that buzz, that constant light, lingering sweat (even though it was disgusting), the smell of food somewhere. Scot’s only request before i left was to “find the Cash Cab guy”. since i’m all kinds of magic and awesome, i totally did.

i don’t know what the chances of that are, but i can assure you it means that NYC? loves me back.

so thank you New York. i’m super sorry you have to deal with all those people wearing their i heart nyc gear all over the globe. but as i purchased my mug and obligatory t-shirt for the kiddo, i thought “can’t blame ‘em”.

if you’d like to see all my photos from my trip, the first day is here and the following day and half is here.

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