Showing posts with label Manhattan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manhattan. Show all posts

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Central Park - A Park Like No Other!



There are so many things one can do in New York City but one my favorite is to wander around and get lost in Central Park. You don't need to spend a dime for entrance fees like other tourist spots in the city but you get to see a lot of interesting sights and characters! Central Park is one of those places that make New York City such a great place to live. The huge park, 341 hectare large (843 acres), is located in the center of Manhattan. Its design has served as an example for city parks around the world. 



The park boasts several lakes, theaters, ice rinks, fountains, tennis courts, baseball fields, many playgrounds, zoo and other facilities. And when you go hungry, there are many food stalls and kiosks within the park that sell all kinds of street foods from humongous pretzels to sandwiches, burgers, even my favorite waffles with fresh strawberries. There are also restaurants within the park that you can go to if you have the budget and ready to splurge.



Arguably one of the most famous parks in the world, Central Park is a man made wonder. Not only is it the first public park built in America, but it is also one of the most frequently visited, with over 25 million guests per year. 



Set in the middle of bustling Manhattan, its grounds serve as a safe haven, not only for athletes, daydreamers, musicians, and strollers, but also for teems of migratory birds each year.  One can spend an entire peaceful day roaming its grounds, gazing upon nearly 50 fountains, monuments, and sculptures or admiring its 36 bridges and arches.



The foliage during Autumn in the park is amazing to watch out for and the flowers that bloom during Spring is mesmerizing. Ice Skating at Wollman Rink during winter is also fantastic. But no matter what the season is, Central Park is a great place to go around. 










Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Empire State of Mind


The lines of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys 2009 Grammy nominated hit song "Empire State of Mind" best capsulizes what New York City is truly all about.

"Concrete jungle where dreams are made of 
There's nothing you can't do 
Now you're in New York! 
These streets will make you feel brand new 
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New Yooork!

On the avenue, there ain't never a curfew, ladies work so hard 
Such a melting pot, on the corner selling rock, preachers pray to God 
Hail a gypsy cab, takes me down from Harlem to the Brooklyn Bridge 
Some will sleep tonight with a hunger for more than an empty fridge."

The tip of the Empire State Building

The first time I set foot in New York City was on December 2010 and it was a dream come true for me! I thought I would only see New York City in the movies. So when I landed at the airport, I was overwhelmed with so much joy and excitement! 


Flags Rockefeller Center 

"I love New York" was the visible signage that warmly welcomed me upon my arrival at JFK airport. Soon enough, in just a few days of exploring around the streets of New York, the more i fell in love with the city. It's just so vibrant and has a very unique character. And those could possibly be the very reason why it attracts approximately 55 million visitors per year. 




New York is the most populous city in the United States and a global power city. New York exerts a significant impact upon commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. The home of the United Nations Headquarters, New York is an important center for international diplomacy and has been described as the cultural and financial capital of the world.



On one of the world's largest natural harbors, New York City consists of five boroughs, each of which is a county of New York State. The five boroughs includes the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island—These boroughs have a combined population of 8.5 million distributed over a land area of just 305 square miles. New York is the most densely populated major city in the United States. As many as 800 languages are spoken in New York, making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world.







I will be featuring a series of blogs about the famous tourist spots in New York! You watch out for it:-)