New York - So good they named it twice??

We arrived in New York, via the ageing JFK Airport, for a seven-day stay, including a weekend visit to see Colin and his family - a great friend since Martin's childhood. It was my second visit to New York and Jacqui's first.

Yes, we did the usual things. We visited the Statue of Liberty, and nearby Ellis Island, famed for its role as the main immigration processing point for the millions who went to the USA seeking a better life. We explored Central Park and visited the Museum of Modern Art, the Natural History Museum, the 9/11 memorial, and the High Line. We climbed Brooklyn Bridge, ate in China Town, drank in Little Italy, shopped in Macy's, and walked Time Square. We spent time at the famed Public Libary, watched a Yankee's Baseball Game (tickets courtesy of kind work colleagues), saw 'Phantom' on Broadway, walked through Grand Central Station, relaxed in Bryant Park, ate Pizza, drank Coffee and travelled either by foot or subway. See! we did the usual things, but what was our impression?

Oversold and Overpriced came first to mind. Everything was so expensive, and where was that famous USA customer service, or the 24/7 shops and restaurants? The subway was cramped, shopping erratic, and so high-end. A cultural mix with no older adults? Sky-scrapers looming oppressively with no deep history and noisy cars everpresent.

It had finer qualities, like its pockets of peace; Bryant Park, sitting just behind the public libary and near plenty of coffee shops, particularly struck us. The museums were full of extraordinary treasures, the varied people, choice was everywhere, and architecture exhumed aspiration.

The welcome wasn't warm initially, but the city warmed to us. There were layers to it we saw and layers to it that we never peeled.

We found ourselves benchmarking it with London, with London winning.

Our weekend trip to our friend was a welcome pause. Now American citizens living in New Jersey, the charms of the USA and NY had captivated them, particularly the opportunities. Summit, the town they lived in, was beautiful, and they had managed, through hard work, to find a beautiful home amongst the mature treelined landscape. Their lovely kids, with American accents, clearly enjoyed life's opportunities.

New York was the last stop on our first leg. After returning from Summit, we spent the last few days experiencing more of the city before returning, by overnight flight, to the UK for a few weeks of catching up.

M & J