This month we recieved a gorgeous postcard from the Big Apple - that's right, New York, baby! nzgirl Amber shares her amazing experiences with us...
Dear nzgirl,
I'm sending you this postcard from... New York - arguably the greatest city on earth. I've spent the last three weeks here shopping, walking, listening, dancing and stuffing my tummy with delicious pizza.
My first thought when I stepped off the plane... We jumped straight into a taxi and headed towards Manhattan. Unfortunately the cabbie got grumpy when it turned out I had given him poor directions. But hey, an angry cab driver is all part of the NY experience! His accent made everything (even the mean bits) sound adorable.
My craziest night was… The evening I attended the CMJ New Zealand showcase. A bunch of crazy-talented Kiwi musicians (like Kids in Space, Die!Die!Die!, Kingston) performed for an enthusiastic crowd of locals and expats. After the show we went for drinks in a corner bar, and it seemed like every single person there was from New Zealand. There was definitely a few moments when I had to remind myself that I wasn’t in Ponsonby anymore!
The coolest thing I saw was... I lucky enough to be in New York for Halloween and it was a night I’ll never forget. The entire city was primped and preened for a night of spooky fun. I went with some friends to watch the annual Village Halloween Parade, a procession that snakes through the city, with ghouls, vampires, unicorns and Michael Jackson impersonators all marching for more than 20 blocks. The best costume of the night? A pug dressed as a pumpkin. Aww.
The hottest bargain I found was… A tarot card reading for five bucks. It was all good news!
It's so different from home because... All the food portions are so big. Forget small, it doesn’t exist. I have to admit, I really enjoyed the mega slices of pizza and buckets of coke – just once or twice… I also liked the national obsession with peanut butter flavoured foods!
I'd like to come back next time and... Stay, forever? The one thing I really wanted to do (but missed out on due to a hectic schedule) was visit the New York Public Library. It’s a magnificent old building guarded by two lion statues, Patience and Fortitude. I’d also love to come back at the height of summer, when Coney Island is bustling with hot dog scoffing crowds and the air is filled with the screams of rollercoaster riders.
I'd recommend this place to you... Because in New York City, anything can and will happen! It’s not just a fabulous holiday destination; it’s a place that will simultaneously invigorate, inspire and exhaust you.
