Contradictory feelings

Visiting New York gave me two completely contradictory feelings. Everything was totally new and at the same time absolutely familiar. A city of that size and architecture was totally different from the Greek capital that I was raised but on the other hand, I have seen New York in so many movies and tv series that it felt like home! The skyscrapers, the yellow cabs, the steam coming out of the streets or the endless screens on Times square, every single image was already in my mind before I see it!

That trip was exactly 12 years ago. My partner and I were there a couple of days before the end of 2009 and celebrated the coming of 2010 in the Big Apple! And boy how much walking we did. We literally walked our way to the new year!

The pictures that I am sharing today are from a route from Times Square to Brooklyn Bridge and eventually to Brooklyn Heights. The first picture is actually the last one taken from the Brooklyn side of the East River so that I manage to illustrate the iconic cityscape I had in mind! That was the only time that we left Manhattan during our 3 weeks long, stay. And my feeling was that even if we had stayed for 3 years we wouldn't have bored a bit!

Times Square

I never understood how New Yorkers pass from this temple of consumerism without stopping every two steps to look around and gaze all those seducing screens! I guess that if you live there you eventually get used to it and you don't pay any attention but for me it was almost like Disneyland :)

New York New York

I couldn't get over the feeling that I am walking in a movie set. In every corner I was thinking that Woody Allen will pop up, shouting CUT, because I entered his scene without permission!
We were probably lucky to have a sunshine in the end of December and the way the light was illuminating and reflected on the huge buildings was just brilliant. And the yellow cabs brilliant too. There was always at least one to complete the composition of my picture!

Brooklyn Bridge

Did you know?
On May 17, 1884, P. T. Barnum led 21 elephants over the Brooklyn Bridge to prove that it was stable.
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What can I say about this astonishing, 19th century engineering miracle other that it is just beautiful. And that I am glad that when I was there I hadn't read how many people suffered and died during its construction so I fully enjoyed the fresh air from the sea and the amazing view!

Brooklyn Heights

I was never too interested to expensive residential neighborhoods but I have to admit that it was a scenery of calmness and security, beautiful in its every detail.