Welcome to New York, It's Been Waiting For You

I got to take a break from my busy new job (as executive assistant of enrollment services at BYU) and traveled to NYC with my mom. It was nice to have a girls trip and do whatever we wanted together. We walked all over the city and did so many things during the 4.5 days we were there. My mom had been in the city for work a couple days before I arrived, so I took a taxi from JFK airport and met her at our hotel in midtown. The first thing we did after I arrived was go to the rooftop lounge next door to our hotel where there just happened to be unobstructed views of the Empire State Building! What a way to kick off the trip! 

That evening we walked to the theatre district and got tickets to a new broadway musical: Come From Away. I am so glad this was the show we decided to see because it was amazing! Come From Away is based on the true story of the 38 planes and 7,000+ passengers who were re-routed to a small town in Newfoundland on September 11, 2001. It told the experience of the stranded passengers, some who were stuck on planes for 28 hours, and the townspeople who cared for them for several days until the airlines were open again. I felt so many emotions during this musical - it was funny, it was heart-wrenching, it was heart-warming. It was also kind of cathartic -- everyone who lived through 9/11 was impacted by those terrible events in some way, and I think we all still carry around some form of baggage because of it. Sitting there in a New York theater not far from where the events took place, with strangers from all over the world, and experiencing all of those emotions was really impactful to me. The story touched on the worst and the best of humanity and showed how much good can be done when people come together and show kindness to one another. The standing ovation at the end of the play lasted so long and it felt, at least to me, like everyone in that theater had the same cathartic experience. I left the theater with a renewed desire to "love my neighbor". This was a great way to start the trip off because for the rest of the week I looked at the city, with all its crowds, and noise, and hustle a little differently. If you ever have the chance to see the play, don't hesitate. It was truly amazing. And the music was great too!

The next day we walked to a Hertz rental rental shop, got a car, and drove out of the city headed for the Hamptons. We drove the full length of Long Island to reach Montauk lighthouse at the most eastern tip of the state. We drove through the Hamptons stopping here and there to get a feel for the famous beach-side towns. We toured Montauk lighthouse and took in the amazing views from the top tower. The water was so blue!

We also had some authentic east coast lobster rolls and crab cakes at the popular Clam Bar in Amagansette. I don't love seafood but I actually thought this was pretty good. Of course getting back into the city that evening was just as you might imagine - a nightmarish traffic jam. The drive on the highway actually wasn't too slow-moving, but once we reached midtown things came to a full stop. It took us 30 minutes to get passed one particularly jammed block. So crazy! I will say this - we got the true new york experience by driving ourselves in the city lol. There were cars honking, bikers lifting their bikes overhead just to traverse the car crowded street, and pedestrians yelling as they tried to cross the jam packed crosswalks. My mom kept exclaiming, "I love this!".

On Friday we took the subway to the Financial District on the southern tip of Manhattan where we walked all over and saw many famous historical sites. These included the 9/11 memorial, Trinity Church (where Alexander and Eliza Hamilton are buried), Wall Street, Federal Hall (where George Washington was sworn in as president), Fraunces Tavern (where the sons of liberty planned the revolutionary war and where George Washington gave his famous farewell speech at the end of the war), and Battery Park (with views of the statue of liberty). 

After lunch we took the subway into Brooklyn where we walked around the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, which is full of gorgeous brownstones and green parks, and walked along the Brooklyn Promenade which offers awesome views of the Manhattan skyline. 

We then took the Brooklyn Bridge by foot back into the city. Making our way back to our hotel which was in midtown, we traversed through Tribeca. SOHO, and Greenwich Village where we passed under the famous Washington Square Park Arch. One of the things I love about New York City is all of the amazing architecture. I also love that there are so many trees and parks throughout the city.

The next day we headed to the upper west side, stopping in the New York Public library with its grand statues and marble staircases, then walked around Rockefeller Center, and then rode the tram to Roosevelt Island. The tram ride was entertaining in itself, and so fast! 

After returning from this small strip of land in the middle of the east river, we took the subway to the upper east side where we found the restaurant that is featured in Seinfeld (and had lunch there), and the mansion from the tv show White Collar. 

We then walked across the northernmost part of Central Park to return to the upper west side and the MET. This museum is amazing and full of so many treasures from every century and all parts of the globe. My favorite thing in the museum was the giant painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware. So moving! Also, the MET has a rooftop exhibit which changes frequently but most notably visitors can take in amazing views of central park from here. 

On our final day in the city we had a lovely brunch at Tavern on the Green and then strolled through Central Park before taking a cab to the airport. I can't believe how much we did in less than a week there! I had a great time and came home feeling energized. Love you, NYC!