Long Post Part 2

Welcome back to the second installment of my ramblings about New York! It probably took you the whole week that I haven't blogged just to finish that last post, so without further adeu (or any pictures) here is a continued list of my adventures:

-I visited Time's Square. We actually went there several times, and it is essentially a giant tourist trap but, hey! We were tourists. There are two Starbucks there. I went to both of them. Also, ya know the ball that drops for New Years? The giant one that is illuminated with glitter and lights? Well, spoiler alert! It's like the size of my thumb, it is so flippin' small. I was looking everywhere for it, and our friend had to point to the wee lil' ball so I could see it. If I got close I'm sure it's way bigger, but compared to all of the massive screens, advertisements, and other musings in the square, the ball is quite miniscule.
- I ate a hot dog from a hot dog vendor. Check double check and yum.
-I found out what "Little Italy" was all about, and walked through "Chinatown". We walked through Chinatown pretty late so, although we saw it, we didn't get to experience it like I would have preferred. Evidently, Little Italy is all about the food! We ate at a delicious restaurant, where they served the biggest shrimp! Seriously, I need to post a picture; these things were almost the size of my fist. I think we might have been the server's first table ever--this guy didn't know his head from a hole in the ground, but it was fun nonetheless.
-See the Brooklyn Bridge: I cannot say for certain. I know this sounds dumb, but I don't know whether or not I saw this. I am fairly certain I did because I spent time equally between Manhattan and Brooklyn and I know that there were several bridges, one seemed more prominent than the others, but I still don't know if that was it. If you look up pictures online they all look the same.
-I took time out to remember the tenth anniversary of 9/11. We actually went to ground zero twice; once when we first got to New York and again on 9/11. It was insane to walk the grounds where thousands died--to know that my feet were touching the same area that bodies lied after they jumped from 80 stories up. I imagined all the dust and debris and cleaning... it was very emotional and overwhelming. On 9/11 we woke up and tuned in to the ceremony that took place for the families, including the unveiling of the fountain. At night we went down to ground zero and walked around the area. They had two beams lighting up the sky where the towers were, that could be seen for miles I'm sure (even when we went back to Brooklyn that night they were bright as ever). The lights were thick and looked like the towers, but they were slightly see-through, reminiscent of ghosts. I feel like I am the youngest age that truly knew what was going on that day, and I can remember it in full vivid detail. Even my friends who are a year or two younger than me recall not being able to watch the events unfold on tv in class. I remember not doing any schoolwork-- we just watched the television in every class. I am very grateful that I am old enough to really remember.
-I absorbed the awesomeness that is the New York Public Library. But I only got to absorb it from the outside! Go figure, this was the only place in all of New York that closes at five, and I got there at 5:15. I wish so badly that I was able to go inside-- it looked so cool! The outside is positively the most beautiful thing in New York.
- I visited with friends that have been missed. I cannot thank our friends enough for letting us stay with them! We spent part of our time in Brooklyn and part of our time in Manhattan. Both sets of friends were so hospitable, such great tourists, and so fun to hang out with! We really had the best time, and we wouldn't have been able to afford to make this trip if it weren't for our awesome friends.
Other cool things we did:
- We saw Grand central station. So many movies have been filmed there, it was rad to see it in person. It really is gorgeous.
-We ate a TON of the most delicious pizza. Evidence of this can still be found on my forehead. Breakouts ensued.
-We walked down 5th Avenue. This is supposed to be really famous and cool, but honestly I didn't give rip. The only reason we walked down it was because we were passing it, and it was the route we were taking. It's just a bunch of high end retail stores. Like an outdoor South Coast Plaza.
-We went to an AWESOME exhibit that the New York Times headquarters had for 9/11 of photos, videos and memorabilia. That was so cool to see all the pulitzer prize winning photos that were so moving.
-We ate at a Sri Lankan restaurant. There aren't any in Orange County (or anywhere that I know of), so I was excited to find one in Manhattan! Unfortunately, it was over priced and not nearly as tasty as I expected. It was authentic, but it was just like being served by a Sri Lankan who is a bad cook as opposed to a Sri Lankan who is a good cook.
-We got lost. A lot. When we first arrived, we went so far the wrong way that the subway system ended, and not in a good area. Pretty sure there was blood on the side of the train. Fortunately we encountered two super nice guys who were around our age, and they showed us how to properly navigate back. The stereotype of New Yorkers being rude is completely false as far as I experienced. I encountered some of the most friendly, kind people while I was there.
-We went to hipsterville USA aka Williamsberg. The whole state was hipster, don't get me wrong, but this place was out of control. I don't even remember much about the city (although it was quite pretty) except the buns, giant glasses, off the shoulder baggy shirts, boots with undone laces, and leggings galore.

Fun fact: I had the song "Marching Bands of Manhattan" by Death Cab for Cutie stuck in my head the whole time.


I really cannot wait to go back!