NYC
Posted on: 23 November 2010
I've decided to break my 20-day lull with a double-post. The posts are related, yet contradictory (I will explain). The first post for tonight will explain my absence. Or rather, the following photo will. I am proud to say I have now visited the place I consider to be the city of all cities; the big daddy of them all, New York City. In the second post I cover the topic of tourism, or rather, being a tourist in the big city.
I've been in awe of New York for as long as I've been a fan of cities, but it really has to be seen to be appreciated. All of the hundreds of classic films and television shows that have been shot in city do not do it justice. Its immensity really has to be experienced first-hand.
The photo above was actually the first photo I ever took in New York. Taken on a warm autumn evening, just as the sun was disappearing. I love the contrast of colours between the warm sun and the cool night sky descending on the city. And the preciseness of the reflections in their water made this photo an instant favourite for me. Experiencing this scene was my first taste of the diversity that New York has to offer. Here I was, standing in the picturesque gardens of Central Park, a serene lake in front of me, and beyond that; towering sky scrapers. It really is something.
The thing I love about New York is you can't help but take everything in around you. There's something happening in every direction all the time, and just being there, really makes you feel like you're somewhere special. And the interesting this, it really doesn't hit you till you leave. In my situation, I returned to Brighton - a place I've always considered to be fairly bustling and a happening place. Somehow in the five days I'd spent there, New York had managed to render it a quiet seaside town. I'll quite happily admit, England really does pale in comparison. Looking up and just seeing sky seemed, for the first time in my life, just a little dull.
30 years ago, New York City could almost be described as one of the crime capitals of the US, but due to the huge amount of tourism and Government initiative, New York has been transformed into a modern metropolis - and one of the safest in America. But even with the lighting fast pace that New York transforms itself (Lower Manhattan - the target of the 9/11 terrorist attacks - being a prime example of its growth), it still manages to preserve its classic kooky vibe that made New York such a city of culture back in the 20th century.
It wouldn't be right not to mention the amazing indie-rock music scene that has emerged from New York. Some of my favourite bands in fact - Interpol, The Walkmen, The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsystem, TV on the Radio, The National - the list goes on.
It's truly an inspiring city for music, not to mention architecture, history, and the performing arts. If you haven't been, I urge you to book a flight. From London, England, you're 7 hours away from the metropolitan experience of a lifetime.