CONCRETE JUNGLE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE OF

 

Simone de beauvoir has rightly said, “There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless.”

I still remember the first time I ever visited NYC. It was the 29^th of April 2015 and an excited eight grader who had dreamt of visiting the city for as long as she can remember was finally flying to the city of her dreams. I have vivid memories of the car ride from the JFK airport to our house in New Jersey. My uncle and aunt welcomed us to land of cheeseburgers and were avidly telling us about all the places we would visit during the course of the next month and all the different types of pizza that we will try, but the only thing on my mind was NEW YORK CITY.

                                                     

                                                                ( back alleys of Manhattan )

 After pulling through the jet-lag phase, our entire family drove to New York and as our car pulled up on George Washington bridge (the bridge that connects New Jersey to New York) I could see the New york skyline. One can distinctly see the three sections of Manhattan; Uptown, Midtown and Downtown. In order to go to Times square, our car rode past the famous Broadway where we parked our car and walked down to Times square. It was everything I had imagined and more! It felt surreal and unreal to be standing there surronded by huge digital banners, street performers, thousands of tourists and bright lights. It is one of the those moments where all you want to do is sit and stare at everything that is in front of you. It was only the second time in my life that I had felt that way, the first being when I had visited Taj Mahal. The beauty and the grandeur of the monument is unmatched. Strutting down the streets of NYC I received my first compliment from a complete stranger. And this other time a person offered me their tickets to Madame Tussauds Wax Musuem when reservations were full and we were short of one ticket. The people of the city very amiable. 

                                                  

                                                                      ( times square )

                                                          ( the famous brooklyn bridge )

 Another favourite attraction of mine is Central Park. Located in the heart of the city, Central park spreads over 840 acres. The park is the biggest one in Manhattan houses it's own zoo, a conservatory garden, a castle, lake, boathouse and even a memorial. It provides a breath of fresh air to all the locals as well as the tourists.

 

                                                              ( in the central park zoo )

 

                                                              ( the central park contrast )

 I have travelled to The United States three times now but everytime I visit New York it feels like my first time. All I want to do is walk down the city and pretend to be in a sitcom like Gossip Girl or FRIENDS or Suits or the innumerable shows and movies that have been shot in the city. The city embraces you with open arms, you feel like you belong here. Someone said. “ I love New York, eventhough it isn’t mine. the way something has to be, a tree or a street or a house, something, anyway, New York belongs to me because I belong to it.”

 

                                                          ( me staring at the I <3 NY sign )

 

 

                                                            ( the famous regal cinema )