New York City—a place of boundless energy, alive at every hour, a city that never sleeps.
Reflections on The City
Standing in the heart of Times Square, in a place we had dreamed of for so long, was unlike anything I had imagined. You try to picture it before you arrive, but nothing truly prepares you. The sheer scale of the city, the crowds that seemed to stretch endlessly, the subtle cultural differences—all of it was both overwhelming and exhilarating. Yet, amidst the chaos, we discovered a surprising calm, pockets of quiet within the rhythm of the city, something we came to deeply appreciate.We thought that with so much packed into a relatively small area, we’d have no trouble seeing everything—even with Hurricane Sandy making an uninvited appearance prior to our arrival. But looking back, I definitely overestimated what was realistic for a first trip abroad. That said, when plans shifted, it led to unexpected moments—ones that may never have happened otherwise.
A couple of defining moments stand out. Walking out of our hotel and stepping straight into the sensory overload that is Times Square—the sights, sounds, and smells merging into a vivid, unforgettable first impression. But if I had to choose just one memory that will stay with me forever, it would be standing atop the observation deck at Top of the Rock with Jane my wife, looking out over the city. In that instant, everything felt surreal. The skyline stretched before us, glittering in the night, and it was as if the entire adventure had been leading to that magical moment.
I may have taken far too many photographs—an understatement, really—but in the end, they proved invaluable when piecing together this journal. With so much happening each day, note-taking took a backseat, and I hadn’t even considered creating a blog before the trip. But as I sorted through those photos, revisiting each memory, I realised something: this journey didn’t just give me experiences, it sparked something bigger. It inspired me to start documenting our travels in a more intentional way, to create something lasting, something that would allow these moments to live on beyond fading recollections.
So that was our seven days in the Big Apple. Time seemed to slip through our fingers, disappearing faster than we expected. But it wasn’t just a trip—it was the start of something new. A shared dream that became reality. And with that, we found ourselves planning again, already setting sights on the next adventure, armed with everything this one had taught us.
"Some journeys change where you’ve been, but the best ones change who you are."
Jane & Con