New York
This time, I was planning to get to know New York better. But that didn't happen! I guess I'm just not one of those people who get lucky if they don't make concrete plans. I'm convinced once again: I need to have everything under control! Otherwise, I end up spending several hours in the Russian district, running around with huge suitcases looking for the right street, with blocked SIM cards, not knowing the exact address of the apartment owner, and having no clue where to go next. Even calling a taxi turned out to be a huge challenge! Honestly, I wouldn't want to end up near Brighton Beach again, if only because now this place is associated for me exclusively with suitcases, rushing, buses, and elderly immigrant ladies.
Having no other alternatives, we headed to the motel where we stayed last time, after having gobbled up a "sub" at Subway. We ate almost in silence, not fully realizing that we could finally leave our suitcases and, perhaps, see the real New York.
Actually, on that very day, we managed to have a great walk, pop into the Guitar Center, watch a street magic show, and get to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building! And now we were looking down from the heights at a completely different, magical New York. Skyscrapers, shopping centers, big avenues, and small streets - everything was on fire. This New York was teeming with life. It's breathtaking! I think you understand that I completely forgot about the not-so-successful start of the day.
If you remember, for the last five days spent in America, we almost didn't manage to sleep. So getting up the next morning was really difficult. But it was our last day in the USA, so, gathering all our willpower, we set off. We needed to solve the issue with the suitcases, and there was nothing better than leaving them in the luggage storage at the Greyhound bus station, paying $10 for each bag/suitcase, after which we were going to get to the Statue of Liberty. But, alas, we only managed to see it from afar. The queues for the boat that takes tourists to the Statue were huge, it was unbearably hot outside, and instead, we decided to "bathe" in a fountain with a view of the Statue of Liberty. In my opinion, a pretty good option.
Then we walked a little in Central Park, went into the most famous Apple Store, and finally, ran to look for souvenirs. And then suddenly, a downpour started in New York! Honestly, huge clouds, gray streets, and a real downpour in Times Square! Crowds of people, clothes soaked through, running for figurines across a dozen blocks - there was little pleasant in that. And when we realized that there was very little time left before the plane, we ran to the bus station to manage to pick up our things and not miss the plane. I won't be able to convey my feelings when we were running headlong, not knowing if we were running in the right direction at all, when we got on a subway line that suddenly changed direction and didn't take us to the Air Train, or when we couldn't catch a taxi and thought we would miss the plane.
But the story ends well, as always! Not for the first time, ordinary people on the street who saw us panicking while looking for a taxi helped us find one, load our suitcases, and send us in the right direction. And in the end, we arrived at the airport an hour before boarding started and even managed to have a snack before departure.
Instagram: 1. Time Warner Center. 2. It's about to rain in NY. 3. Magical view from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building. 4. 50 flags surrounding the base of The Washington Monument, which, of course, is not in NY, but in Washington. But even at the moment of shooting, I thought that this photo would be a kind of denouement to my American diary.
I don't know how best to summarize my story about this trip. It was an amazing experience: new acquaintances, two dream summer jobs at once, immersion in an English-speaking environment, a test of independence, and non-stop adventures!
I have so many impressions left, emotions are overwhelming me, but I cannot put into words what I felt throughout this summer. For example, how great it was to fall from a height of a mind-blowing 126 meters, stuff myself with cream donuts at Dunkin' Donuts, catch ocean waves at sunset, look at New York shimmering with lights, ride a scooter through a huge shopping center, not get enough sleep, rejoice, and never stop being surprised!
The whole world is yours, and nothing is impossible. Be that as it may, all the most incredible adventures are still ahead!
xo,
METALLIC CANDY
USA Diary
06/25 - 08/31
