(Previous countdown posts: 70 days, 60 days)
With just a little over 7 weeks to our much-awaited trip to New York, the anticipation is almost killing me, I kid you not. In our 12 days there, I’m really looking forward to wander as much as possible and get a taste of all the iconic neighbourhoods that make up Manhattan.
(This is the first of three posts dedicated to the various neighbourhoods in Manhattan.)
Upper Manhattan
Let’s start off with the Upper East Side; home to the wealthy, Barneys, and Gossip Girl, among other things. Me? I’m more interested in the museums found here, namely the Guggenheim and the Frick Collection. Alas, time is not on our side, so we’ll just have to take photos of their exteriors and leave the actual viewings for the next time (yes, I can already foresee a second trip to NYC). But I definitely won’t be missing… the Apple store on Fifth. Heh.
We’ll likely spend more time on the Upper West Side, with the American Museum of Natural History (aka where Ross works!) ranking quite high on our list of things to do. I’d also like to drop by the Time Warner Centre, as well as Columbia University and perhaps buy a souvenir or two. Who cares if I’m not an alumna? Ivy League universities are very much brands in their own right, and I certainly wouldn’t mind donning a shirt with COLUMBIA emblazoned across my chest. ;) Although something tells me I’d probably just end up wearing it at home…
I definitely can’t wait to visit Harlem, the heart of African-American culture. With its wealth of history, I picture Harlem to have plenty of soul. I’d love to attend a service and listen to a gospel choir, enjoy live jazz music while having a meal, sit on the steps of an elegant brownstone and watch people go by. Other reasons to drop by: cupcakes and Soul Food.
Finally, there’s Central Park, which is unfortunately too massive for us to cover in detail. Undoubtedly, it’ll be one huge photo-taking bonanza for us: Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, Strawberry Fields, Friedsman Carousel, Belvedere Castle, The Lake… And we’ll also need to have the obligatory picnic on the Great Lawn (unless it’s way too cold for us to bear). Then, of course, there’s the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
I’m seriously beginning to believe that 12 days isn’t enough. :(
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Song of the Day
Quelqu’un m’a dit, by Carla Bruni
