May 25th, 2023

I arrived early in the evening in New York City at Penn Station, where I immediately hopped on the C line to my hostel. The hostel was situated in Chelsea, so I got off at 23rd Street and walked a few blocks to its location. Once checked in, I got myself situated in the private room I booked and immediately went to bed since I knew I would have a full day in the city the next day. 

And a full day I had! I started in the morning with a bagel sandwich for breakfast, which I took to the High Line. I arrived at the beginning of the old elevated railway in the Chelsea area. I expected a quiet path, but this converted trail was much more popular than Chicago's 606 trail. The number of school and tourist groups of more than thirty people attempting to traverse this narrow path was insane! I get that trips like this are good for learning and a fun experience, but how can anyone think that people would enjoy sharing this small nature space with that many people? At least take them in small groups at different times. Anyways, most of them were walking and not stopping, so I could grab a bench fairly quickly to eat my breakfast. I then completed the rest of the trail, zipping past these slow tourists with my speedy New York-like pace. I am a naturally fast walker and get rather annoyed when people walk slowly in front of me, especially when they spread themselves out side by side. I forgot how busy New York was, especially in Manhattan, and feeling the need to do everything faster contributed to my anxiety because I tend to get caught up in the pace of my surroundings. 

Once I reached the end of the High Line at Hudson Yards, I hopped on the subway to the TKTS booth at Lincoln Center to secure a seat for a Broadway show. I wanted to get a ticket to the Book of Mormon since I had been enjoying that soundtrack for a while and missed the tour when it came to Chicago. I lucked out and got a seat directly in front and center in the Orchestra section. Once I had the ticket, I continued my journey by taking the subway to the brand-new LEGO store on 5th Avenue. I couldn't reserve a spot for the custom minifigure printing station, so I hoped my charm (and employee status) would get me an in. Surprisingly, they took walk-ins, and I made a commemorative minifigure for this trip. I then walked around and observed the rest of the store. The layout was amazing, and the experience of just the store's look was incredible. It was much larger than Chicago's, and the decor made much more sense for a LEGO store, complete with a New York flair. I then decided it was time for lunch, and this is when I got overwhelmed by all the people in Midtown Manhattan. The sidewalks were packed with pedestrians. I was craving a salad, and every Sweetgreen I stopped into had a line to the door. Even the parks had no open space to sit at. I found a cool-looking salad spot in the Financial District and took the subway there instead. After I was finally refreshed and less anxious, I again hopped on the subway across the river to Brooklyn, where I took a short walk along the water's edge with a view of Manhattan across the river. Brooklyn was so much calmer than Manhattan, and I needed the pace change. I hopped back on the subway to the hostel to prepare for the Book of Mormon, with a quick stop to take in the sights of the World Trade Center and transfer to the 1 line.

After a nap and a shower, I headed out for the evening. I arrived in the Times Square area and had a quick dollar pizza before going to the Eugene O'Neill Theater. I couldn't believe how close to the stage the tickets I got were. I was about seven rows back, right in the center. The show, as expected, was incredible. It was hilarious and full of offensive jokes, and the actors did a fantastic job pulling them off. Every time I see a musical, it reignites my dream of being a performer and makes me miss the days when I would star in a musical back in high school. I admire Broadway performers and would love to know what it feels like to be in a show this big on Broadway. When the show was over, I naturally entered the center of Times Square to take in the bright lights and city crowds. I then returned to the hostel to prepare for my train to Boston which would leave the next morning.

The train left at 9:50 this morning, and I am en route to Boston. It will be nice to be in a familiar city again, and I am meeting some long-time friends there tomorrow. The New England views on this train make me miss this area so much; perhaps I will someday find myself on the East Coast again. 

More Pictures