I’m not someone who travels often, though I would very much like to be. So I was ecstatic when I learned my family was visiting New York. After a month of anticipation, a five-hour plane ride, and my first time on a subway, we arrived in the Big Apple. Upon seeing the surface for the first time after a long commute on the subway, my initial thought was “Oh, this isn't too different from Vancouver. That building, and the architecture, they look just like something you’d see downtown- oh.” Then I looked up. The streets were lined with overwhelmingly large skyscrapers. They loom over you, like giant fences preventing you from seeing the sky. Seeing them for the first time made me feel very small and dizzy. But, the excitement didn’t stop there, because our hotel just happened to be in Times Square.
Prior to my trip, I had heard people complain about how some people visit times square “just to watch the advertisements.” But I don’t think that’s really it. When I first headed out to explore for the first time, it was dark out. As we left the hotel, it was as if the street ahead of me was being lit up by fireworks of every colour, a contrast from the night sky. A million different shades danced across the screens. And even though, yes, they are just commercials, I found myself mesmerized, and struggled to pull my eyes away.
Everywhere you looked there was some famous theatre or landmark or museum. Something new to explore.
I guess I expected a bit more calm in a more wide open space like Central Park, but even there it was crawling with people. It was a warm and sunny day, which everyone was enjoying. Horses pulling carriages whinnied and trotted past us, and there were various performers set up playing many different instruments. We strolled through the park while eating street food.
Not everything was nice though. It seemed nearly impossible to leave your hotel room without someone waving a pamphlet in your face or hustling you into giving them money. This was something that caused me a bit of stress, especially considering, that when it comes to strangers, I can be a bit nervous or awkward (double when I’m in a far off unfamiliar city). And the fact that sometimes I’m mistaken by people as older than I am did not help. Whenever someone tried to sell me something, I started to miss quiet Vancouver more and more.
But despite all that, I have to give credit where it’s due. New York was as amazing as I imagined it, if not more. Everyone we spoke to or asked directions from was extremely kind, which was funny because when we mentioned that to anyone who was local they couldn’t believe us. It’s like they believed the “grumpy New Yorker” stereotype. I’m still pinching myself from this wondrous experience, and I hope I’ll be lucky enough to see it again in my lifetime.
