They say it is the ‘City That Never Sleeps’, and after my last week in The Big Apple I can totally concur. I have visited Manhattan a couple of times before but this was my first time being over 21 and free of the pressures to visit the many tourist attractions that can quickly fill up an itinerary. A large group of us headed stateside for a friend’s wedding and it turned out to be a jam packed week of fun, sun, margaritas and a LOT of dancing. Don’t expect things to come in small packages in the States. Everything is bigger and bolder in the land of dreams and I for one love it.
Staying across the Hudson River in Jersey City has never really appealed to me before, but it is cheaper, quieter and has a great view of the city skyline. Just a five minute hop on the Path train and you are at the World Trade Centre. We stayed in an apartment at 70 Greene Street, rented out by a company called Sky City. The apartment was on the 39th floor with fabulous views, floor to ceiling windows and modern decor. The rooftop pool also came in handy for the hot and sticky summer days. It is definitely a place I would return to.
As we arrived a few days before the main event we were able to get involved in the festivities leading up to the big day. This included a HUGE night out in Manhattan. Starting at a bar called The Frying Pan on the Hudson which is an old boat and pier that has been turned into a great venue to watch the sun go down, eat incredible food and drink buckets full of Corona. The night moved on all around the city, from a swanky rooftop bar, to a grungy underground club, including a limo ride and the obligatory street vendor hot dog.
We were lucky enough to be invited to the rehearsal dinner (which is a much bigger part of an American wedding). The venue was the Chart House on the Jersey side of the Hudson. We tucked into a delicious five course meal while enjoying panoramic views of the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and many more. It was extremely impressive and a great evening. The wedding itself took place in Newark Cathedral which is the fifth biggest church in the States. The reception was at Maritime Park which is located in Liberty Park, at the south end of Jersey City. It was a beautiful place for a wedding and another venue renowned for its views, this time you could see Downtown Manhattan and the newly built One World Trade Centre on one side, and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on the other – fantastic photo opportunities!
With the Margaritas flowing at cocktail hour, everyone was ready to hit the dance floor and the wedding went off with a bang!
On the last day we ventured into Times Square to do some souvenir shopping and see a show. We managed to get tickets for the Phantom of the Opera and it was truly spectacular. While I love the olde worldy charm of London’s West End, I am always impressed by the vastness of Broadway theatres and the quality of the shows there.
We also went to visit the new memorial at Ground Zero which commemorates the people who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre on September 11th 2001. The memorial includes two massive pools which have been placed where the original twin towers stood and the names of almost 3,000 people who were killed are inscribed on the surrounding parapets. The site is peaceful and understated. I found it extremely moving and it brought the whole thing back to life. We stopped for a quick beer in a pub called O’Haras which is on the corner of where the World Trade Centre stood and was damaged in the attacks. Strangely, later that evening while we waited for the last Path train back to Jersey City, we met a man called Fergus. He told us that his father used to run O’Haras and had been buried under debris from the pub on the day of the terrorist attacks. It was an emotional moment to speak to someone who had experienced those horrific events first hand and gave us only a small idea of what the residents of New York had gone through. The spirit of determination is still very much alive there and I felt glad to have met him.
Anyone who has never been to New York should go. It is like being in a huge movie set with a great atmosphere and charming, friendly inhabitants. The Subway is baffling to a newcomer but who doesn’t love a bit of an adventure. The city is abundant with shops, bars, restaurants, parks, theatres and world famous sky scrapers and at night time the streets come alive with lights and music. The Big Apple is my favourite city and I look forward to returning again soon.
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