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Whenever I think of our trip to the States, it never seems real. For such a long time New York existed only as a dream place to me. I almost had a feeling that it would somehow feel familiar as the city that never sleeps has become such an iconic staple of modern-day culture even in places all over Europe. The fashion, food and art scenes around the world have been influenced by New York for decades and I couldn't believe that I was finally standing where I had never even dreamed to be.

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This remarkable American state was nothing short of incredible. Everywhere we went seemed like a shot from a movie; the pictures of the buildings we took resembled postcards; the galleries we visited felt like a mirage.

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We started each day with a coffee and what an adventure that was in its own right as the city has an endless supply of independent coffee shops to pick from - each one cool and stylish with clean interior and sleek menu. We went to La Cabra Bakery where the pastries were to die for, we stopped by Drip Coffee and tried our first black sesame latte (definitely too sweet for me, but Mike liked the unusual taste).

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​We walked everywhere, which gave us an opportunity to connect with the city and explore it with more depth. The buildings oh so familiar from all the Hollywood movies I had grown up watching, were just as mesmerising in real life as I was used to seeing them on screen. The Flatiron Building, The Rockefeller Centre, the Old City Hall Station - all symbols of the city that we couldn't miss. A visit to the Public Library was a must and from there we ventured to Grand Central Station where we quickly stopped by the Oyster Bar to try the delicious seafood delicacy.

 

The second day was packed with adventures and we booked the free ferry to Staten Island. The ride on the water was pleasant as we were lucky to have sunny weather and the view of The Statue of Liberty in the distance was breathtaking. We enjoyed an afternoon at Battery Park and took a stroll down the High Line Gardens where the sunset bathed the city in gorgeous nuances of pink and orange. Underneath the pathways, Hell's Kitchen was hustling and bustling with energy and we picked delicious tacos to share. We ended the evening with dinner at Cantina Rooftop where the colourful plates filled with tacos and burritos were just what we needed.

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On the way to see the notorious neighborhoods that bring so much charm to the city, we made our way to Chinatown and Little Italy where the locals were slowly starting their day by opening up the markets and family-owned shops. We had to try the $1.50 pizzas and the hotdogs, although we wouldn't recommend getting food from Times Square as a lot of the food vendors in that area rely on travellers' poor research about the prices of seemingly cheap food. We had to try the famous New York bagels so we chose to grab one from the iconic Russ & Daughters - without a doubt one of the best bagels we had ever had, ordered the old-fashioned way with a little ticked number, made fresh to order and picked up by waiting in a queue alongside dozen of locals and tourists. John's Diner was the spot we were recommended by family to visit and naturally we made sure it was our first breakfast stop when in the city - hands down the best hash browns in town. 

 

The city was gorgeous during the evening when we took our time to blend in with the crowds and try out several low-key dive bars. The atmosphere was iconic. Many places we went to seemed as though they had been frozen in time - old photographs on the original owners and newspaper cutouts of articles dedicated to the bars were hung on the wall; men in traditional bartender uniforms with white aprons fastened around their waists were skillfully pouring beer to an undying queue of people; photos of celebrities and old-time movie stars were decorating the walls and even ceilings.

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The art scene had a big pull on us so we visited the Museum of Modern Art, saw The Metropolitan Museum of Art and dedicated half a day to the American Museum of Natural History. At night we had tickets to see a favourite band of ours at Rooftop at Pier 1 from where the view of the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance and the outline of the Statue of Liberty behind us made the experience almost unreal.

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On our last day, we scheduled a day in Brooklyn, which we explored on foot. We walked over the bridge that was crowded with travellers, everyone in a hurry to make it to Brooklyn. We ate at a gorgeous spacious spot just off the center and wandered around the flea market. We went to Powerhouse Books to browse their selection of stories and went to Time Out Market for food.  Naturally, a stop by Dumbo was a must so we slowly made our way to the parks where we sat down to enjoy a crab sandwich, which, like everything else we ate in the city, was simply perfect. New York was everything I hoped it would be and more.

 

There was a very nostalgic feeling of a time that once was and a clash of what is everywhere we went in the city. It is what I loved most about the place, its ability to transform, adapt to changes, welcome the new and celebrate well-established traditions. The diversity of people from different backgrounds, locals and travellers, cultures and art, food and music - it was all entangled in a beautiful masterpiece that seemed like the blueprint for what New York is known to be.

 

Cliché or not, I love New York. The city stole my heart and I cannot wait to be back again.

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