"So Good They Named it Twice" New York City by mightywease

New York City Travel Guide: 15,524 reviews and 30,894 photos

View from the Empire State Building - New York City

Dream, baby, dream

I am sure that people who live in New York, especially in Manhattan, are sick and tired of hearing visitors like me saying that it is just like stepping into a movie set. But when I first arrived that's how it felt. Everything, from the skyline to the yellow cabs to the steam coming out of the side walks was so familiar, so recognaizable from hundreds of movies and TV shows. Almost like one big wonderful cliche.
I know how that must sound. Calling anywhere, or anything, a cliche carries the sense that you are belittling or denegrating that which you descibe. And I would never, never, NEVER, denegrate or belittle New York. It is one of the most exciting places I have visited even though in the week we spent there we barely scratched the surface of this amazing city.
Seeing the Manhattan skyline or the Statue of Liberty for the first time is like standing in front of a famous painting that you have only ever seen as a postcard or a print. You somehow can't believe that you are really there, that this is the real place. It's a wonderful, exuberant feeling.
I suppose that is what I meant when I said that being in New York is like being in a cliche. Because the city seems so familiar it is almost like you have been there in your dreams and, once there, the fantasy you have in your head and the reality in front of you combine to create this amazing, exciting, wonderful experience.
New York is like the person you nod aquaintance to every day on the train and who, when you finally get intoduced to them, greets you like an old friend.

The Statue of Liberty

The Chrysler Building

Last visit to New York City: Dec 1999
Intro Updated Jan 19, 2004
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bliss7 Aug 31, 2005 at 9:05 AM

What an excellent description of your first time in NYC! Especially the part about the stranger you nod to in the morning - everyone has someone like that! It is especially interesting to read for me, as someone who has lived around NYC all his life.
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ettenaj Oct 29, 2004 at 5:04 AM

Hope you have a wonderful Birthday, best wishes from the UK
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dsantosh Oct 29, 2004 at 5:02 AM

Many many happy returns of the day. Wishing you a happy birthday, great time and exciting future travels. Greetings from India.