New York is the Caoutchouc City. They have the furor rubberendi ? O.Henry
I love short trips to New York; to me it is the finest three-day town on earth. - James Cameron
INTRODUCTION
New York is a fascinating city. It is a city that never sleeps and is full of ever glowing charm. It can be touted as the financial capital of the world. A Complex city with beautiful emotions, NYC is unique in every sense. Nothing compares to NYC be its charm, its attitude, cost of living or the mix of ethnicity. People of this city are rather too individualistic but they take everything in stride and have a short memory. No other city in the world could come over the greatest atrocity as fast as NYC did. This city is so vibrant that you ought to stay for a month to fully enjoy every piece of exceptional thing this offers. Being a New Yorker is a status symbol and every one of them has earned it. This city is so electrifying (Amount of static electricity it generates is an example!). NYC is also a place of ''Rich and homeless''.
You also see a lot of New Yorkers enjoying their privacy to the core and every one of them enjoys their space. Just like most of the members think they own their space in MS, all New Yorkers are so proud to own their space. They are right indeed. Sometimes the poor travelers are at a loss, due to the might and attitude of the city dwellers.
NYC is all about money. If you have lots of it, you can think of living in the Upper East Side and have a royal lifestyle. If not, stay in the neighborhoods and enjoy the effervescent subway. If you are claustrophobic find yourselves another place. If you are xenophobic, get a life first yourselves, stick to your dungeons.
NYC is one complex puzzle in this complex world. It is so inducing, thrilling, enthralling, exciting and electrifying.
If you give up its shortcomings, NYC is the greatest metro in the world. If you just a casual traveler, you are in for the treat of a life time. Let me take you through a tour of the big-apple.
My Experiences
I have been to NYC many times during my stay in the US, both as a tourist as well as a transit passenger. I had the chance of taking a grand tour of NYC with my best buddy who was doing his masters at Rutgers that time. I went to NYC first in 1998, then in 99 and again in 2002. In the meantime I traveled through JFK/LGA many times. I was surprised to see my soft-spoken friend drive like crazy through NYC streets. Later I found out that he was the sanest of all the drivers out on the street. His drive through the Holland Tunnel was spooky and I freaked out when I learnt that it was under the Hudson River, for the first time.
I would cover all the parts I have been to and the important points. Before that, you need to plan what you want to see the most, as you have many choices. If you are a nature lover, you can see the riverfront, cruises, central park et al. If you are a museum lover you need to stay for weeks to cover all. If you want to see best monuments, you need few days. Whatever you do, you need a heavy wallet to support your activities.
Museums
There are so many in NYC. If you want to see nice museums, you can go to ?Guggenheim, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Modern Art, Intrepid, Amer. Museum of Natural History, Madame Tussaud?s, City of New York, Holography, Historical Society, Children?s, Fire Department? to name a few. You can get a city pass and go to all the places at once. I do not know the current price for the pass. It used to be in the rate of $40 US. Make sure you go to Guggenheim, Intrepid and Modern Art Museum. They are my favorites and are awesome.
Landmarks
Most of the famous ones are in the great Manhattan, the costliest Island in the world (it was bought for a meager 16 dollars is another story!) I have been to the following
STATUE OF LIBERTY
You need to take a ferry from the southern tip of Manhattan. Take a subway and you can get off here. When I visited the SOL, I was able to go to the top of the head. The view from the top is simply awesome. They stopped entrance to SOL for a while but have restarted it. I feel that I was privileged to see the city from top. Do not forget to visit the Staten Island and take the Staten Island ferry.
WTC/Ground Zero
I was fortunate to be at the top of WTC and also to have dined at Windows of the World. It was quite an experience that I can never repeat again. The ground zero is simply awesome site to recollect the memories of the gruesome incident. I have been told it is quite a remarkable site.
Empire State Building
ESB is a building with great heritage and monumental value. This is the place from which you can enjoy the skyline of NYC and surrounding places. A must see.
Chrysler Building
This is the building with greatest architectural aestheticism, according to me. You can visit this and enjoy the beauty
UN Building
UN is a symbol of Global unity. While some critics may find it ironic to see the broken gun symbol in front of it, being in US, awesome place to be.
Rockefeller Center
If you want to appear on National TV, be at the NBC filming location early morning. This is quite an awesome place. I heard a lot about it but couldn?t make it as it would have taken quite a journey at the wee hours of the morning to be there. If you get a chance, do it.
Manhattan Stroll
Do this and you will love it. The American Experience and might will set on you soon.
Times Square
No visitor misses this place. It is a truly nice experience to see the glitterati and the colorfully vivid place. While at TS, you can try to visit one of the broadway shows. There are half price tickets available at TKTS for shows that are not sold out.
Grand Central Station
The biggest and probably busiest in the world. You need to go to Grand Central Station and take a subway train to you destination. You will love it. I still relish my memories, as I am writing this review.
NYSE & Wall Street
WS determines the world economy. You can visit and see the mighty buildings in a rather small street
NY Public Library
NYPL is quite an awesome site to see. You will be flattered to see the voluminous books arranged, as you enter the building. A great place to see
Central Park
A name so synonymous with NYC, Central park is a great place to visit. Do not forget to take the horsehide while in the park. There are a lot of activities to do in Central Park
Hudson River Cruise
You will enjoy it to the core, though it is a bit expensive
Bridges
It will be quite awesome to see the bridges from a far off place and much more enthralling to be walking/driving on it. Do not miss Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Manhattan bridge. If you get a chance, travel through Holland Tunnel as well
Other Attractions
# Chinatown
# A stroll through upper east side
# Greenwich village
# Fifth Avenue
# Lincoln Center
# South Street Seaport
# Trump Tower
# St. Patrick?s Cathedral
# Van Cortladnt Park and Mantion
# Prospect Park
# Bronx Botanical Garden & Zoo
Conclusion
NYC is a great place to visit. Just like it is difficult to cover the city in a week, it is much difficult to contain it in 8K. Do not forget to have a lunch buffet at the ?Dawat Restaurant? in downtown.
NYC ? A City that never sleeps. A tourist paradise
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