Arshiya Fakih Eappen
Arshiya Fakih Eappen

I’m going to keep this short and crisp, and hope I don’t end up sounding like the Big Apple Bus Tour guide. All aboard ;)!

I enjoyed revisiting every spot in every Hollywood film, from the Empire State Building in When Harry met Sally, to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where I could just visualise the super-suave Matt Damon jumping into the East River in a perfect Bourne Identity moment. There is so much culture and history in Manhattan’s 33 sq miles of grid, that even my 3-week fix couldn’t do it full justice.

Always bustling with people … 42nd Street
Always bustling with people … 42nd Street

The best way to see this city is to walk. I lazily strolled and revisited every landmark, from Union Square to 42nd Street, which is always crowded, to Central Park, which has something different to offer in every part. I loved the Flatiron Building (23rd Street and Fifth Avenue), downtown, and Grace Church (10th Street and Broadway).

Grace Church
Grace Church

The quirky and mammoth art installations in the streets give each area a creative and unique feel.

One cannot go to NY and not see at least one Broadway show!
I saw a rather interesting one, called Sleep No More, an off-Broadway production. They had converted a humongous warehouse into a 100-room hotel, in which you could follow the characters you choose, and each person has a different experience. Rij and I went our separate ways. We both had rather unusual and unique experiences.

How interesting is this striped statue in the Meatpacking District!
How interesting is this striped statue in the Meatpacking District!

It was all the visual stimulation I could take once I finished watching Zarkana, a Cirque du Soleil show. I sat in the front row at Radio City Music Hall, and I can undoubtedly proclaim that it was not just one of the best productions I have seen, but also one of the best set designs and costumes! An experience you will not forget if you have any kind of love for any kind of art form!

Last but not the least, to follow in Part 3, my most favourite part … Fashion!

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