Here not There - Christmas in New York City

I have a love/hate relationship with New York City.  

I love that there is so much to do, so much to see, so many great restaurants to eat at and bars to drink at.   But I hate all the people, the insane crowds, and long lines to do just about anything anywhere.  

Grand Central decorated for the Holidays 

Last month's trip to New York City was my perfect type of city visit.  It was mid-week on a dreary rainy day which meant the city was practically empty.  Even then, as we woke up and threw on our rain coats and walked down the block to the coffee shop, waiting in a (relatively) short coffee line, he turned to me and said "Welcome to the waiting in line capital of the world".  He lived in the city and was certainly burnt out of city and it's crowds.  But for me this was a fun adventure, a spontaneous mid- week trip.  I sort of giggled and thought to myself, this isn't so bad.

Visiting the American Museum of Natural History

Front of the American Museum of Natural History

New York has been trying hard to win me over.  

You probably know by now that I was never a city person.  But oh, those winds of change.  Every time I hop on Metro North to New York, my opinions shift from "This city just smells like garbage" to "There are so many options for ramen".  New York City is a destination with so much to see, do, and of course, eat- it just took me a little longer than most to figure that out.  This year I made several trips to the city from playing tourist with Amanda to visiting the World's Best Bar, and sipping "Frosé" on a roof top bar on a hot summer day.  Iv'e seen the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, walked through Chelsea Market and along the Highline, stood in Times Square, saw the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, visited the 9/11 memorial, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, and strolled through Central Park, and lots more.   But let me be honest.... I had never been to any of NYC's museums.  

Girls Trip to NYC Day 2: Brooklyn Bridge, 9/11 Memorial & Central Park

Day 2 of our Girls Trip to NYC proved to be drier than the first.  While the sun never really came out for too long, it finally stopped raining.  Second day I had planned for us to take the subway down to Brooklyn, find these rainbow bagels Amanda spoke about, head to the Brooklyn area/Park right by the bridge to get this picture below (my favorite view of the city!) and then walk the Brooklyn bridge back over to Manhattan (you can read my entire post about walking the Brooklyn Bridge here).  

View of Manhattan from Brooklyn

After the bridge, we would head to the 9/11 Memorial and than catch the subway or a cab up to Central Park.  In Central Park we had a few sculptures to stop and see (Amanda's request) and the boathouse and the bridge (KW request). After ALL that, we would head back to Connecticut and then eventually to Point Judith, Rhode Island to catch a ferry to Block Island.  Planes, trains, automobiles and ferries was the name of the game today. 

Brooklyn Bridge - New York City

Let me start by saying I have never been a New York City fan, and I know I have said this time and time again. 

 It's too busy, too dirty, too much traffic, and the people can just be downright rude.  Oh, and of course everything is so insanely expensive.  But in January, I spent the day in Brooklyn (instead of the chaos of Manhattan) and that visit really changed my perspective on NYC.  

Over in Brooklyn, there are so many beautiful old brick buildings, so much less garbage, and a lot less people.  The harbor is beautiful with all the parks, kids playing basketball, babies in strollers, and everyone running with their head sets on with a big smile.  And then there are the insanely beautiful views of the Manhattan city skyline.  
Brooklyn, who knew?