I have had a love affair with New York City my entire life. There is something about the vibe in that city that is unlike any other to me. I have been going there at least once a year since I was a tween and convinced my parents that my cousins and I were capable of riding the train in on our own. In all my adventures to the city, the list of hallmark traditional touristy things to see that I’ve completed include Grand Central Station, Central Park, Broadway, Chinatown, the Met and Times Square–no Empire State building, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, or Ground Zero, etc. I realize that the list I have acquired includes some key highlights, but considering how many day trips I’ve taken, you’d think I would have made it to the top two tourist attractions–the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.
My reasons for this are two-fold. First of all, I usually travel to the city with people who live there or have friends there and it is not a touristy adventure for them. Secondly, my favorite thing to do in a city is to wander around the streets, people watch, and practice my street photography skills, studying the way a city breathes by watching the locals go about their daily lives.
This latest trip was the first time I had been in the city by myself. I was staying with my cousins Laura and Kelly in Hoboken, New Jersey, which is a mere 15 minute train ride into the city. While they were working, I took the pathway into Manhattan and began my adventure. First I ate breakfast at a little outdoor cafe. The weather was beautiful and the atmosphere was perfect. I love all the little escapes you can find in such a huge, crowded city.
Breakfast of Champions
I was close to the Broadway, so I decided to head there first and snapped a few shots of the actors selling discounts.
NYC Cab
I was very tempted to go see a show, but opted to save money and spend more time taking photos instead.
Casual Cat
After my feet began to tire a bit, I decided to duck into H&M, where I promptly spent way too much money on clothes I decided I needed. When I emerged from my shopping spree, the clouds were rolling in. I grabbed a cab to Chinatown- always one of my favorite spots in the city. I wanted to buy my mom a scarf for her birthday. As soon as I got there, it began to pour. I found a scarf, protected it from the rain, and bought myself an umbrella. At first I was annoyed, but it ended up being a good thing, because it made for really beautiful pictures. New York is so romantic in the rain. It’s like the people all of a sudden pay more attention to everyone around them and share a common bond. I love the way the light reflects off the rain-soaked streets, the colorful umbrellas and the way a couple is instantly brought closer together in seek of shelter. The water may not be good for the camera, but it’s great for the images.
Red Light- This may be my favorite rain photo from the day. I love the way the light plays off the water and the way the red wall, red lights and pink umbrella work together. The photo has a nice contemplative mood to me.
After a challenging (my phone began to die because it was lighting up constantly when rain got in the bottom of it and I had to find my way to the nearest apple store to charge it, my clothes were soaked through and I could not get a cab to pick me up) but very beautiful day in the rain, I explored a few more shops in Soho (like Kid Robot) and then met up with my cousins and our friend Heather for dinner. It was a delicious Italian meal, at my request. The perfect end to a perfect day.
Everyday moments. Beautiful memories. 