Throwback to May & June 2024
I turned 33 last year, and we decided with my boyfriend to travel to New York. We both work in tech, so he combined his business travel with some leisure, and I was able to go to the office there also. It was quite literally the most magical trip of my life!
Lasting about two weeks, we split our time between fancy rooftops and more down-to-earth pizza places. When we weren’t working, we visited the New York Public Library, Central Park, and had the most outstanding bagels in Columbus Circle. The cherry on the cake was a helicopter tour for my birthday!
There is so much to do and see in New York, that’s a no brainer, but the summertime makes it triple the fun. I would highly recommend visiting around that time of the year. It does get really hot sometimes, but there’s really nothing like warm summer evening walks through the city of New York.
It’s a great souvenir or gift idea to buy a book from the New York Public Library gift shop and have it stamped with the official stamp!
At some point, I decided to take some time for myself alone and wander the city.
I had already arrived alone one week prior, stayed at the Wall Street Inn which is a fantastic and safe location for solo women. Even when traveling with my boyfriend, family or friends, I attach a deep importance to solo travel and it really helps me recenter on myself.
I decided to go to the iconic Met Museum, and had to cross Central Park first.
Central Park in the summertime is an absolutely blissful experience. Besides, my favorite singer, Kacey Musgraves, had recently released her Deeper Well album, which was a perfect spring musical addition to my experience. I had it on as I was strolling Central Park alone. It was warm and sunny, the leaves were gently balancing in the air, so many trees and flowers everywhere. Very few people. A perfect place for introspection and gratitude, in the middle of the chaos of the city. I felt super grateful to be there. I captured a few moments with my film camera, also a great addition to my trip, giving it this vintage feel!
The Met was actually a disappointing experience. Although I had selected a slot, it was so packed and so crowded that it was impossible to enjoy any piece of art. Since it was crowded, it was also loud, for me, it’s impossible to focus on anything in these conditions. Even with my AirPods on, I couldn’t find the peace I needed to focus on the artworks. It was also so big that it took some time to even get to one room, and each time, there was a line for the most important artworks.
The beautiful art made it worth it still
After a couple of days, it was already time to start packing. New York is such an amazing place for shopping, that’s a no brainer. So, before I packed, I definitely secured some essentials from Bloomingdale’s, some skincare from Chinatown, and my favorite peanut butter sweets. So yummy, but so high in calories!
As my journey came to an end, there was no doubt in my mind. New York is one of the best cities in the world. People might say it’s overrated, dirty, unsafe, or pretentious, but with the right attitude and the right weather, it can do wonders. I want to add with the right partner as well, but then I wouldn’t be so unbiased anymore 😀
My favorite places:
Hotels: The Dominic, The Wall Street Inn, NoMo Hotel SoHo
Leisure: Central Park, Columbus Circle restaurants and malls, SoHo, Broadway, Chinatown, Dumbo & Brooklyn Bridge, the Highline, do a helicopter tour, enjoy a marshmallow sundae at Rockefeller Center Plaza, go see a Broadway show, enjoy a drink on a Brooklyn rooftop overseeing Manhattan
Things I liked least:
Taking the metro when it’s really hot, the Met as it was too crowded!
Tell me, what is your best thing to do in New York? 🌟
nuage coeur by alexandra 
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