Magical New York
Ed Chadwick finds a bite of the Big Apple leaves him wanting more.
A yellow cab trundles in front of one of New York’s most famous buildings as the brusque chatter of office workers fills the air.
Bang on cue, a column of steam rises from a grid and a hotdog vendor bellows to advertise his wares.
It could be a street scene from any movie set in the Big Apple but I quickly pinch myself to confirm that I’m actually in the world’s most spectacular city.
Stunning inner-city vistas loom as far as the eye can see in every direction, rivalling anything the plains of the Serengeti or the most dramatic mountain ranges have to offer.
Jaw dropping sights are never more than a couple of blocks away and the urge to stare up at every skyscraper could leave you with a crick in your neck.
A first trip to New York is a truly memorable experience and mine was no different.
Arriving at dusk by a train travelling partway underground from Newark Airport, I had to wait for my first glimpse of the Manhattan’s awe-inspiring skyline in the day.
But this being The City That Never Sleeps, some things are best seen at night.
The view from the top of the Rockerfeller Centre at night gave me some impression of the sheer scale of what lay below. The Empire State Building is another height worth hitting. My mid-morning trip up proved the 102-storey monument to New York’s most ambitious forefathers provides amazing views over and beyond the five boroughs that make up the vast metropolis.
It’s worth shelling out an extra $8 for the audio guide which, for all its cheesy clichés, provides a fascinating insight to accompany the treat for the eyes.
Taking in the city from hundreds of feet up is a great way to marvel at its best-known landmarks but for a real taste of New York, nothing beats pounding the streets.
