New York, New York!

Have you ever visited somewhere and immediately thought, ‘I could live here’? For me, that was New York. As a city girl, born and bred in London, I wasn’t new to New York’s hustle and bustle. The constant sirens, the overpriced coffee, and the very busy businessmen walking and talking at 100 mph were all familiar. Yet the Big Apple seemed to have a certain flair, a razz-ma-tazz, if you will. Maybe it’s the steaming grates, the towering skyscrapers, or the fact that no matter where you go, you really feel like you could bump into Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda at any moment.

I spent a weekend in the city that never sleeps. That’s all it took for me to start doing the calculations in my head: how I could move there permanently? Perhaps it was the spring weather or the diverse architecture that had me convinced.

I based myself in a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, enjoying the view of the Empire State Building towering over the many skyscrapers from the window. My visit started that afternoon with a stroll around town, admiring the New York Public Library, Grand Central Station, the Chrysler Building, and of course Times Square. One of my favourite ways to soak up a city is by walking the streets. One thing I love about New York is that the roads are in blocks; you can never really get lost! I headed South to Flatiron to grab a quick bite and joined some friends at SPIN, the ping-pong bar.

The following day, I headed to Brooklyn to meet friends for brunch. I do wish I had spent more time in the historic brownstone neighbourhood; however, I had the tourist hotspots to tick off my list! My friends very kindly drove us down to the Brooklyn Bridge and had an obligatory photoshoot.

I continued my adventures through the afternoon to Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown, past New York City Hall, and all the way South until I landed in Battery Park to see Lady Liberty.

After getting my steps in, I was starving! I had read about the ‘best dosas in New York’ on Facebook, I had to confirm it was true. I found the food truck in Washington Square Park. A bustling place with buskers, university students and tourists alike, enjoying the fountain and live music coming from all directions. The dosa was fresh, hot, delicious - the best in New York City! By then, it was after 5pm, so, naturally, I deserved some wine. I headed to DiVin Wine Bar in the East Village, grabbed a seat overlooking the street, a perfect place to people watch and soak in the fast paced atmosphere.