New York. I will always love you. Of course, I will.

Many famous people live there. There are lots of buildings we all know about and people always say this city never sleeps. Well, I think it’s absolutely true. There are flower shops, grocery stores, hairdressing and other beauty salons in every corner of the city. Times Square is glowing 24 hours a day. This place is a shamelessly big electricity eater! You can’t really describe New York with words. It’s just New York. It says it all. 

I don’t want to sound weird to you but if you think I am weird, it’s ok. : ) I am a person (and I’m sure I’m not alone with that kind of thing) who always loved New York. I love almost every movie, series, book about New York. For example I have seen the series Sex and the city 6 times so far. The whole series with every episode in it. I’m not kidding. Now I’m watching Suits which is also my huge favorite. One of my favorite books is Big girl by Danielle Steel. It’s based in New York and I love imagine every moment of this book.

I went to New York from Washington D.C. in 2011 November 24. When I got off the bus I felt so strange. You know that feeling when “your heart is beating in your throat”. That’s what I felt. A friend was waiting at the station. He is also Hungarian and has a bar in Manhattan. How cool is that! : ) He let me stay at his apartment while I was in NY. It was only 4 days but I was very grateful for his help because I didn’t have to spend money for a room in a motel and I didn’t have to feel so alone in the big city.

We had to walk about 3 minutes to Times Square from the station. It was a shocking sight. Neon lights, huge screens everywhere! In that very moment I have just realized I am in the United States of America. It’s funny because I moved to USA at the beginning of August and it was late November. 

I had lunch in a very special restaurant near Times Square where the waitresses sing during serving the meals. They are extremely talented. From time to time a few of them are lucky enough to be discovered and Bye-bye restaurant, Hello Broadway! I had fun eating my turkey meal. It was Thanksgiving!

 Later that day I was on the 86^th floor of the Empire State Building. It was already dark outside and I could see the whole Manhattan. It was beautiful. I know it’s silly because it’s just the sight of millions lamplights from buildings and cars but it really was a special view.

 

 

After that I had dinner at a Korean restaurant in Chinatown. It felt like I’m in another place. Not in New York but somewhere in Asia. Then Times Square again, of course. It was my favorite place in New York. It doesn’t matter if it’s night time, you almost have to wear sunglasses to see properly. It’s very-very bright. There was a guy who painted amazing pictures about New York for 20 dollars. I bought one and now it’s on our living room wall. I love it! 

  

There was another guy who was holding a paper board in his hands. It said: “Free Hug!” So I got a long and tight hug for free. It felt great. I was so far from all the people I love that it was a surprisingly good feeling to be hugged. That night I went “home” at 2 am. Thousands of people and yellow cabs were everywhere. I was very tired and also excited. I remember I kept repeating in my head: “I’m in New York. I can’t believe I’m in New York!!!”

On my second day I got up at 9 am. My plan was to see the famous Liberty Island! I took a ferry. (Before taking it I had to stand in live to buy my ticket then another two hours to get on the ferry.) It looked to me that no matter where you are in this city or which season, month, millions of people everywhere. Finally I arrived to the island and I spent an hour there. Wandering around, taking pictures, saying “Awwwwww” and things like that. The statue is much smaller in reality! After seeing it in movies you would think it’s very tall.  Well, it is not. It’s pretty though. I took the last ferry back to the city. The timing was just perfect because it was sunset. I felt like I’m in a fairy tale. The ferry swam slowly on cold water and I tried to memorize all the beauty I was seeing. It was amazing and absolutely breathtaking. I took a few pictures about the sunset but of course they can’t give the moment back. I’m very lucky I could see it myself. 

 

After my feet touched the ground I went shopping! It was Black Friday and in every shop everything was on 60-70 % sale. It was crazy. Really! Hundreds of people everywhere and they were serious about one thing: shopping! I tried to take it easy so I only bought a pair of converse, three sweaters, a hat and I had dinner in a McDonnald’s. Where a homeless man locked himself in the toilette and no one could get in. At least 20 men were standing in a long line wanting to pee. A chubby and strong looking cleaning woman had a key and went inside. The homeless started to shout angrily something like that: “Hey, I’m trying to take a shit here!” But the cleaning lady was stronger just like I imagined and the poor man was out in the street in less than a minute. The cleaning lady appeared soon after that and everybody started clapping and wooo-ing. Except me. Ok, the old man caused some trouble but I don’t think they all should have considered that lady a hero, after throwing that poor man out. Anyway, I ate my cheeseburger watching this scene then went home to take a shower and wash my hair and in an hour I was ready to party! I went to my friend’s bar and had a really great time. I had a few yummy but not too strong coctails, I danced on the table and laughed till my tears came down on my face. I met a lot of interesting people. I met fashion models, a few Hungarians without green card or visa and they were very proud to live in the big apple even if it’s illegal and they can’t go to doctor, no matter what! Very clever and safe. I have to say… I even met the designer of the series Sex and the city! It was an honor to tell that man how great job he did with all the clothes and dresses on the show.

After midnight I needed to get some fresh air. (I mean, air. In a big city like New York or Budapest you hardly can find any fresh air.) I remember I was sitting in front of the bar and suddenly I started to cry. Not just sobbing, crying like an “angry, hungry” baby. What happened that night inside me was very complex. First of all, I had a few, maybe three drinks. I always got emotional after a little alcohol. Second of all, I was madly in love with a man who lived in Budapest, Hungary. (We never met in person but I knew he is the one for me! : )) Third of all, New York sucked me in completely. I felt so weird. I didn’t know what to do. What’s wrong, what’s right. I didn’t know if I should stay in the States and have fun, have crazy adventures or I should go because it was just too hard for me to have a whole Atlantic ocean between me and the man I loved. I felt so depressed that night. When I was calm enough I went back to the bar, drank some water and the owner started to play Hungarian Koncz Zsuzsa songs. Well, it didn’t help. I started to cry again, of course. What can I say? I am a girl. My head hit the pillow at 6 o’clock in the morning and I was up at 10 am.

After a shower and some breakfast I went to see the Brooklyn Bridge. I got off the subway too early and I had to walk about an hour to get to the bridge. I loved getting lost in Manhattan! It was so exciting. I ate a delicious burger on the way then my long bridge walk began. It was a very shiny and warm day and I walked across the bridge then back to the city. The view was just dazzling from there. 

It was getting dark when I arrived to Central park. In New York everything looks so nice during sunset. Not everywhere though. There are many high buildings and the sun has a difficult job to sneak in between them. If you look up, you feel dizzy because you can hardly see the top of the skyscrapers.

In Central park I was a witness of a wedding. It was really touching to see the young couple to get married in front of me and other strangers. It smelled a little like eloping to me but it was cute anyway. I started to feel that crying randomly is getting to be my new life style.

I was on that sweet, little bridge. You know which one is that! We always see it in movies as a romantic place. The air was warm and balmy. I was in love with this city. I saw chariots with beautiful white horses on Park Avenue. I was wandering on Fifth Avenue. All in all, New York is much cooler than I thought.

 

Seeing this city in movies makes us think it’s the best place in the whole world. Well, yes, New York is really something. But there are other things as well and we shouldn’t forget them either. For example on my way home I saw a young girl and boy sleeping on the street. They were not older than me. They were lying on a dirty blanket in a dark and not so busy street. I still think of them sometimes. I will never know what their story is. Or all those people who live in the US illegally. They are really proud of living in that country and feel very lucky but they never know when will they need to go to hospital or need other help. They all have to live hiding. I imagine it’s very stressful.

I spent 4 days in New York and I had an absolutely unforgettable time there. It was a very instructive experience to me. On my first day I felt I never want to leave Manhattan. I want to stay and live there because it’s so interesting and special.  But three days later I felt differently.

Since my 4 days in New York 5 years passed by. I was 23 years old. I was a child, really! I’m not saying that I’m so adult at the age of 28 but now I know that New York couldn’t trick me again with all its magic. When someone is young, doesn’t have a family and children and doesn’t want to sleep at night, New York is one of the best places to be! But if you want to live a normal life, get some quality sleep and live in a healthy environment with your family, well… New York might not be a good place to do that.  You don’t have to take my advice, you can try to raise your children there but it won’t be as fun as you think.

My last words on this post: “New York. I will always love you. Of course, I will.”