I only had four days there, in 2006, but it is still one of my favorite cities, mostly because of the people, who are really friendly and talkative, but in a very peculiar and almost hostile way! I would love to go back, especially if I could visit someone who live there, someone who could tell me where the best delis are :) Yum!
I was there for a FlashForward conference, but only had time for a little touristy things, like the Empire State building, the Staten Island Ferry (see image), the New York Public library, Guggenheim, etc, but what I like best is just walking around gawking at high buildings and walking into streetlights like an idiot. Some of my favorite momemts where getting caught in a sudden rainstorm in Chinatown, and taking refuge in a small fishstore with lots of other people, watching people wading through the ancle deep water and improvising umbrellas with soggy newspapers. I have never seen so much rainfall, it was simply stunning, and wonderful, everyone smiling and watching the havoc in the street outside, the garbage bags floating away like flotsam.
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Another moment was on the Staten Island ferry. I can’t remember if it was the same day, but the horison was dark, and as we where nearing shore on the return trip a wind started to blow, and this girl took a few steps out on the deck, out of the shelter, and played with the wind, beautiful, looking like a galleon figurehead, daring the wind to knock her over. I took a few pictures, and looked back at the people waiting for the ferry to dock, everyone smiling and watching her, not the statue of liberty.