"MY MEMORIES OF NEW YORK-" a New York City Travel Page by lynnehamman

"There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size and its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter — the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is the New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something.
...Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness; natives give it solidity and continuity; but the settlers give it passion. "
— E.B. White (Here is New York)

Our last visit to New York was a month before 9/11. We left one week before that tragic day. I have been struggling to make a page for this city.The memories for me, that should be so wonderful, are so tangled up with emotions that I am not finding the right words.Maybe writing them down will help.
We loved New York. Having had two visits there, we saw many of the usual attractions. We also were determined to do a sort of "pilgrimage" to places that had special meaning to us. And we did just that.

I am not going to even attempt to write any history. Everyone on the planet knows about New York. It has been written about, sung about, filmed. It has become home to millions of immigrants seeking a better life.
It has given opportunity to those who work hard- and so many have succeeded. Take one look at the Guggenheim Museum. There is just one example of an immigrant family who "made it" in New York. And the Guggenheim family made it BIG TIME. They were just one of the many families who proved that it could be done.
New York also has those that fell through the cracks. So many people have dreams that stay just that- dreams.
New York is more than a city. It really is a feeling. The first time I stood on a corner of 5th Avenue I was totally overwhelmed. Despite all the familier (from movies and docos) buildings and landmarks, it felt like I was on another planet. It was fantastic. Yellow cabs at rush hour. The masses of people trudging along the pavements, the sirens. That is the most "New York sound" that I recall. That, and the sound of steam hissing from the manholes in the streets.

The architecture is special. The brownstones and the sky-scrapers.I looked up so much that I ended up with pain in the neck. One has to look up. So much to see, and all at such great height. Walking the streets is about the best way to see the real city. And everything is BIG. Even food portions are big.

What we especially loved in New York -
The magnificent buildings- Chrysler, Empire State, FlatIron and of course, the Twin Towers. They stood so proudly. We had lunch in the forecourt.
Central Park was magical- green clean wide open spaces and shady trees.
5th Avenue Shopping
Greenwich Village
The Brooklyn Bridge
The Underground, travelling underneath a huge city was never this exciting!