New York again and again, New York

by MadSuh review

► added on 26th of September, 2006

Continuing my visit in New York, I tried to cover as much ground as possible walking instead of taking the Subway. I walked close to 100 Blocks one day starting out at the Southern tip of Manhatten walking all the way up to 45th Street. I met up with an accountant on 5th Ave and fortunately got another great view of the city's skyline without climbing up Empire State Building or any other large skyscraper. I enjoyed my meeting which took close to 2 hours so I had plenty of time to get warm again and relax my blistered feet ahead of the long walk that made me lose half of my shoe's sole. The way back was gorgeous. I stayed on 5th Ave mostly.

The city's shapes were again amazing reflecting the changing lights of the sunset. You see all types of colors, as the buildings act like large mirrors. On the way South one also realizes again the different city parts. From rich shopping areas with grand buildings and big wallets down to Soho, a boutique place with little coffee shops, restaurants and little stores that all seem to run their own clocks.

As you walk further down you're again hitting Canal Street's 'no rule' street life. This area of town must be among the most productive as every square inch is used to push some sales whether legal or illegal, you can find it all. Walking further South I walk by the city hall and Tribeca and within minutes I am again in an upscale area surrounding Wall Street. The same day I went to visit one of my friends over at his office which also gets a beautiful view from the 14th floor located in Tribeca. We went for drinks over at 'Down the Hatch', our company turned out to be as bizar as the city itself.

One lost emancipated woman desperately looking for her inner self and a very kind and funny 100% gay guy. My friend has known them for a while and we certainly had a blast, always getting not just 'straight' answers but also the 'gay' point of view. It continues to surprise me how natural the whole gay scene turns out to be. I would never recognize that someone is gay unless it's very very obvious. In fact everyone was laughing at me when I couldn't make out the gay guys at the table next to us. After a bunch of drinks at 'Down the Hatch' we moved on to have some Italian food, which was easily one of the best Italian snacks I had tried in New York.

Our final stop was 'Off the Waggon' which was just some busy bar, nothing too special but worth a look. All in all I didn't see too much of New York's night life, but as I continue to enjoy New York more and more, I will have a few chances to come back and visit again. I slept over in Tribeca at my friend's apartment. He naturally had to work the next day (Sunday), but I enjoyed my sleep and got up just in time not to miss breakfast. I spent my Sunday in the city walking and walking more again. I saw young kids skate boarding down marble stairs, the Statue of Liberty from across the river and a live turkey walking around on the parking lot.