WA N D E R L U S T
Day 1
True to its nature, Times Square was full of people walking in
all directions. Locals going about their business and tourists
commencing their site seeing, the two being distinguishable by
the latter’s bulky camera and stopping constantly to capture the
exuberance. Large flashy signs everywhere beckoned walkers to
visit their store, souvenir shops on every corner reminding you
to grab different ornaments with the phrase “I love NY” on them,
and enormous screens planted sweetly in the middle of buildings
and towers, playing snippets of different TV or fashion shows. The
M&M store is a definite visit and if you’re lucky you might get a
sweet treat on your way out!
Walking throughout Manhattan was a pleasure itself. The
architecture unique to New York is mesmerizing in its own way.
The red brick and iron clad buildings combined with newly renovated
ones, piercing high into the sky and standing with close proximity
to each other comprise almost all of NYC. After roaming around the
streets for a while, it was time for lunch. Just like street fashion,
street food holds its own place. You will see food carts at the end of
every street. Emerging from this phenomenon were “The Halal Guys”,
two brothers who opened a food cart selling halal gyro and chicken,
reigning massive fame allowed them to expand their business. They
are located on the south-east corner of 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue.
Naturally, I opted for that and needless to say, it was delicious. A
must try. A side note, their serving is quite big and can easily feed
two people, another plus if I may say so! For a quick caffeine fix,
I tried this extremely cute and eccentric coffee place called Bibble &
Sip. They had the best assortment of cookies and interesting coffee
combinations, definitely a place to go if you want a break from the
usual Starbucks.
The rest of the day was dedicated to the infamous Manhattan
skyline. The perfect view of that beautiful cluster of buildings can
be seen from the Dumbo area, short for Down Under The Manhattan
Bridge Overpass, in Brooklyn. Amidst it are the
Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges crisscrossed in
the sky, connecting both boroughs together across the
river. The Dumbo area is a huge one, with its cobbled
streets, converted warehouses, high-end restaurants,
and trendy cafes. I chose to spend more time on the
north side, breathing in the picturesque views of the
Manhattan skyline. Watching the sun descending and
the change in colors was breathtaking, magnifying
the grandeur of New York. If stamina allows, you can
even take a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge, witnessing
the actuality of the metal closer. Might I add, Dumbo
exudes another beauty at night when the florescent bulbs
everywhere are turned on, adding a whimsical touch.
Next food stop was a renowned local specialty in the same
area called Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. After hearing my sister
rave about the taste and witnessing the long line of people
waiting to be seated, I was not disappointed. The taste and
texture was scrumptious.