New York, New York! It’s been too long! When an opportunity like this arises, I grasp it. I would never miss the chance of going to New York City. Growing up, my parents used to take us there for “business” only. They would visit the embassy of the Russian federation to renew their documents. I would be so desperate to spend more time there but it was never a “play” trip. I chose to tag along even when it wasn’t convenient for me. It was always a breathtaking experience for me. I loved the busyness of the crowds and the honking cars. I dreamt that one day, I will be living in NYC, working as an editor at one of my favorite magazines. But life chose a different path for me.

Finally, when I got a little older, a group of my friends gathered and we spent the day exploring the city! I remember New York(especially Manhattan) as a whimsical city with a tight grip on me. It would take over my mind and my soul. It had something on me.

Going back this time was a whole different story! I came back with my husband who’s never been to the big Apple before. He’s traveled the world, but has never had a good reason to visit NYC. Ever since we got married, NYC has been on our travel list for the longest time now. I thought I would introduce him to a blissful land that can make your dreams come true.

So we show up and can’t stop grinning! We made a list of the things we would like to see and the foods we would like to eat. The more time we spent in the city, the more disappointed I would get. I was so determined to sense that spark again but it never happened. For some reason, it didn’t feel like my “dream” city anymore. Lol I’m not sure if it was the fact that I got older and my perspective changed or the fact that it’s COVID-19. Either way, NYC seemed so corrupt, polluted, and dangerous. I have officially changed my mind about living there one day. Once I’ve shared my thoughts regarding my disappointment with the city, I felt relieved. I began to enjoy my time being a tourist.

All sadness aside, it was the most fun we ever had. On the first day, it was just the two of us. My husband and I researched a few vegan restaurants that we found interesting enough to stop by. We had a lot of authentic French food that day. From vegan crepes to macarons, our regulars date nights wouldn’t stand a chance. Putting on 7 miles, we couldn’t walk normal anymore. The mopeds saved our lives and we miraculously found more energy to explore. We met up with the fam at Times Square when it got dark. Times Square was super empty and very awkward. The good news is that we got to take photos without strangers photobombing. The day ended with us enjoying the skyline view from our hotel room.

The next day, we had a party. We celebrated the beautiful bride-to-be, our sister Susana. It was a party of seven, hungry people. The first thing we did was discover a food joint and then a coffee shop. After fueling up, we biked in Central Park. I was love-struck. I always had strong feelings towards central park. I admire the scenic views and the local houses built around the park.

We’ve changed our mind about the bikes and rented the mopeds instead. That way we got to see two of the boroughs in one day. We were going 25 mph on the Brooklyn bridge causing a lot of traffic to slow down. We were laughing too much to even care. We took lots of photos to remind us of the awesome time we had. Being so active on our feet, we were constantly looking for places to eat. A lot of striking restaurants/cafes were closed due to COVID-19. The shops that were open required customers to wear masks at all times. Gucci almost checked our temperature before they let us shop.

Right before midnight we returned to Susana’s hotel room and changed into lounge wear. We ate ice cream in bed and talked about our day. This was a bigger number that included three beds and a bunk bed. We all got to enjoy our last night there being all together.

Until next time! So long, New York!