I ❤ New York : Taking A Bite of the Big Apple (Part 1)

This trip is something that I did not see coming. I definitely want to visit the United States someday but not this soon. I think everything just fell into place. Call it perfect timing, I call it fate.

I am suddenly reminded of Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist." There's a line in the book that says, "When you want to achieve something, the whole universe conspires to help you achieve it." The universe finally heard my plea and I can't be more grateful. 

I don't know exactly when my fascination for New York City started. I just noticed that every time I watch a film set in NYC, I am immediately drawn to it. Every corner, every street, every avenue seem to be calling me on.

I never wavered in my desire to see New York at least once in my lifetime. The compulsion was way too hard to resist. I went on doing my usual routine but in my heart and soul, I knew New York City is waiting for me, beckoning me to pack my bags and leave my tedious existence.

So when the opportunity finally came, I left everything behind and embarked on this journey.

My NYC Bucket List

1. Gaze at the most famous lady in New York

You've never been to New York if you've never seen Lady Liberty. Since we still had enough time before our flight to San Francisco, Dan and I opted to take a ferry tour to Ellis Island. Sadly, the queue was a mile long. The only way we could see Lady Liberty was to take the free ferry ride to Staten Island. The ferry sailed from Manhattan to Staten. Midway, we had a breathtaking view of the statue. Again, this is such a "movie moment" to me. The whole experience was surreal. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

                                                 
                                       


2. Cross an iconic bridge

There is something romantic about taking a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The sight can be overwhelming. Imagine the cold breeze as it brushes across your cheeks, the sound of the busy traffic down below, people rushing about, the sight of the American flag hoisted high overhead, the breathtaking Manhattan skyline in the background --- these never fail to stir even the hardest of hearts.

This is one of the surreal moments of our trip. I felt like I was caught up in a dream only to realize that I was in fact living the dream...

Dan and I are plain lucky to have the best NYC tour guides --- our cousin Jordan and our friend Maricar. We couldn't ask for a better company. They made sure we experience New York the way a local would.

3. Have a close encounter with someone famous

CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER, April 23, 2017, SoHo, New York City. Allow me to share this short narrative about my John Legend encounter. Dan and I arrived in NYC on April 23. We were welcomed at the airport by my cousin Jordan and my dear friend Maricar. To fight off the jetlag, I was told to immediately adjust my body clock to the time of NYC. We arrived noon time, which means it was past midnight in the Philippines. The last thing I wanted to do was roam around the city half-asleep half-awake. But the energy of New York was way too hard to resist so I tried to stay awake even if my eyes were ready to doze off. 

My friend who had a prior engagement said she will meet us after two hours. We spent the time walking from Greenwich Village to SoHo with my cousin. All too suddenly, Dan noticed that there were paparazzi taking shots at our direction. He figured that there might be a celebrity behind us. When my cousin turned around, he saw an attractive woman wearing a tight fitting white shirt over a black blazer and sporting knee-high heeled boots. She was pushing a baby stroller. Then he gazed at the man walking beside her. That's when he realized it was John Legend! We were right in front of them. Just as I was getting my camera phone ready for a selfie shot, they turned left and headed to their apartment.

 I have no photo to prove that John Legend was only a few feet away! It would have been cool to have him as a photobomber. That, my friends, was an epic encounter! Oh, John...

 4. Pose for art's sake

We were supposed to have a museum day. But due to time constraints, we only got to visit one, the Museum of Modern Art or MoMA. 

Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night

The main attraction in MoMA is the gallery where the works of the great art masters are displayed. It has Monet, Picasso, Dali, Matisse. However, the artist who really owned the stage was Van Gogh. I saw how a small crowd gathered around his famous painting, Starry Night.

Admittedly, I cannot call myself an art enthusiast because growing up, I hardly received excellent grades in my art classes. But that does not mean I cannot appreciate good art.

Appreciation of art is not about aesthetics, it is a matter of perspective.

5. Party with a New York icon

Inarguably, the most recognized structure in NYC is the Empire State Building. It gives more life and energy to the lovely Manhattan skyline. Personally, every time we had an NYC nightout, I would search for the Empire in the horizon because it reminds me that dreams really do come true. 

Sadly, we didn't get the chance to go up the building. our schedule is always packed and we were always on the go. By God's grace, if I get another chance to visit NYC, I would have this at the top of my list. 

Dan was more insistent on experiencing the Empire on a totally different level. He saw online posts about a bar/club that has a magnificent view of the Empire State Building.

Clad in our very casual and laid back attire, we joined the NYC party scene at 230 Fifth Club along Fifth Avenue. The entire place was filled to the brim by partygoers who wanted to have a great time. This, I must say, is one of the highlights of our trip.

NOTE:  Entrance is free. We didn't spend much. We only had two glasses of beer!

6. Get romantic at Serendipity

We walked all the way from MoMa (53rd Street) to 60th Street (that alone is quite a feat for someone who doesn't like taking long walks) just to try Serendipity's famed frozen hot chocolate. 

When we got there, I immediately asked if we can be seated right where John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale had their date in the movie. Sadly, the spot was already taken. We ended up being seated right next to it. The long walk was certainly worth it!