Vancouver to New York 2

I’ve been to New York twice before but each time has been for no longer than 3 days. Months ago I booked a trip with Keira who has been planning her visit to the Big Apple since I met her, and even long before that. She had studied the MTA subway maps, memorized streets and neighbourhoods, and I knew we would hit the ground running.

In six days we hit SOHO, the West Village, the Meat Packing District, the Lower Eastside, Chinatown, Little Italy, Staten Island, Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown, TriBeCa, Central Park, the Financial District, the Upper East and Upper West sides (some documented in Part One of this post series).

On our last day alone we went for brunch in the West Village, then walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, got ice cream in DUMBO, and took the subway back to the Upper West Side. Here are just a few more photos taken to document our experience.

Staten Island Ferry

Little Italy

Lower East Side

Stop off for a vegan cookie sandwich at Babycakes

World Trade Centre site

Brunch on a West Village garden patio (Bee Desserts) & saying goodbye to friends

Photo by: Keira

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge

Photo by: Keira

Walking around DUMBO

Heading for home through Queens to JFK Airport

Reflecting on the week I jotted down a few notes on my iPhone while we cruised along on the E train. Here are some of the best decisions we made, thanks to Keira’s suggestions:

• MetroCard: A $27 transit pass for the entire week
• Staten Island Ferry: An amazing view of the city and a neat experience that is totally free
• Top of the Rock: Beautiful architecture and being 70-floors up it’s one of the best views of the entire city. $21 and we booked our ticket for the evening earlier in the day.
• Yelp: We used Yelp to find nearby restaurants and watering holes and browsed their reviews
• Brooklyn Bridge: Another amazing view of the city for free. Walk over one way then use your Metrocard to take the subway back into town

Years ago I called the East Coast of America my home and it almost feels like it every time I visit the country, whether it be Seattle or Kansas City. I’m grateful for the history and culture of our neighbours to the South, and even more appreciative of the fact that it let me keep one of their Iowan sons.

New York itself cannot be compared to any other place on earth. There are no perfect words to describe its style, grit, and stature. When I return, I know my experience will be different and I’ll see many other things. However, over the last week Keira and I reveled in everything from the thrill of designer bargains to the rumble of the subway. We covered a lot of ground, we made new friends, and I feel we truly made the best of our time in the legendary city.

You can view the rest of my photos in my Flickr set, and Keira’s are in her Flickr set. You may also look back at Part One of this series.