The city that never sleeps

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I’ve visited and enjoyed many times my staying in the city that never sleeps. For me, NYC is a metropolis that fascinates me for its cosmopolitanism, its great variety of ethnic restaurants, its numerous museums and art galleries, its dramas and Broadway musicals, and its luscious parks. It is a city for anyone willing to explore.

My husband and I arrived at rush hour and luckily there was little traffic because it was Labor Day. Many of its inhabitants had abandoned the city.

We stayed at a hotel on Broadway to experience the craziness of this neighborhood. Ahead of time, we had reservations at a Mexican restaurant. After a delicious dinner, we couldn’t miss a musical, so we decided to see “Mama Mia.” The show was distinguished for its music and actors.

The next day, we took a boat around Manhattan. From within the boat, we could see the Statue of Liberty. On the same day, the statue became open again to visitors for the first time since 9/11. We also could catch a glimpse of Ellis Island, the first entrance for European immigrants at the beginning of the last century. From afar, we could see the innumerable skyscrapers and the hustle of pedestrians.

We couldn’t miss a long walk on Fifth Avenue. On this occasion, we witnessed a Brazilian festival. I hadn’t noticed that there was such a large Brazilian community. I knew of the concentration of other ethnic groups, like Puerto Ricans, Central Americans, Russians and Mexicans.

In the parade, we mixed with hundreds of people dancing samba with the brilliant costumes as colorful as macaws. We listened to the classic song “La chica de Ipanema.”

In these celebrations, the food vendors couldn’t be missed, so I tried the delicious chicken empanadas.

Our weekend was almost over. We decided to take a walk in Central Park. This park is perfect for lovers, runners, philosophers, painters, writers, children, and above all,

parades of purebred dogs and their loyal masters.

In sum, New York is a city that inspires any visitor or inhabitant for the variety of attractions it offers.

23 thoughts on “The city that never sleeps

  1. I went to New York City with my spanish club during high school and it was one on the best trips I have ever been on. I loved how there was always something to do and or a new person to meet. Broadway and Central Square were amazing places because there were so many different people there representing different cultures. It was also like that at the Statue of Liberty. But the best part of my trip was when we went to a Mexican restaurant and after a delicios dinner there we had salsa dance lessons.

  2. He estado en Nueva York un por la primera vez que fui a la ciudad de Nueva York, fui con mis padres. Nos quedamos el fin de semana y fuimos a un partido de los Yankees. Al dia siguiente, solo caminamos alrededor de la ciudad. Fuimos a Time Square. Tambien mi papa y yo fuimos a la cima del Empire State Builing. Mi mama no fue porque tiene miedo a las alturas.
    La ultima vez que fui a Nueva York fue mi ultimo ano en la escuela secundaria. Fui con mi clase de Espanol. Fuimos a algunos museos espanoles y resaurantes. Fuimos a la limpia Isla Ellis, que estaba muy aseado. Hemos aprendido a bailar salsa en un restaurante mexicano que fue muy divertido. Hemos tenido tiempo para ir de compras en algunas de las tiendas de Time Square.
    Mi Familia y yo estamos esperando para hacer un viaje a Nueva York el ano proximo!

  3. I have been to New York City once, and I got forced into a tour a led by my FATHER (a Manhattan-bred New Yorker for twenty years). So instead of seeing anything exciting (perhaps TOURIST HOT-SPOTS!) we saw the worst things… Chinatown! Sure, tourist attractions seem boring to him, BUT HE ISN’T A TOURIST! Needless to say, my trip consisted of congested crowds, smelly subways, traffic-jams with pollution, and a city of smog and smells. But the food wasn’t bad 🙂

  4. Nueva York sinceramente es la ciudad que nunca duerme.Por eso es que me encanta vivir en Nueva York. Los festivales son muy divertidos y la comida es riquísima. Mis restaurantes favoritos son los restaurantes puertorriqueños y dominicanos. Cada vez que regreso a Oswego la comida es lo más que extraño despues de mi familia. Mi comida favorita es el arroz blanco con habichuelas rojas y chicharrón de pollo sin hueso empanado con aguacate. Durante el invierno me gusta ver el musical “A Christmas Carol” en Broadway. Solo he ido a las desfiles puertorriqueños y dominicanos. En el verano, Central Park tiene noche de películas y todo el mundo trae sábanas y comida y se sientan en el piso a verlas. Creo que siempre me encantara Nueva York y espero seguir viviendo ahí.

    • Remedios:

      A mí también me fascina la ciudad de Nueva York por todas las cosas que mencionas. Sin embargo, no estoy muy segura de que me guste vivir allá por ser tan caro todo y porque siempre hace ruido. Prefiero vivir donde vivo y visitar la “Gran Manzana” cada vez que tenga la oportunidad. De todas maneras, eres suertuda de vivir en la ciudad que nunca duerme.

  5. Sólo he estado en Nueva York en dos ocasiones, tanto para viajes de la banda de marcha. La primera vez que llegamos a hacer estallar los balones para la convención republicana nacional de 2004, que era para recaudar dinero para la banda. El segundo tuvimos una competencia. La ciudad es realmente la ciudad que nunca duerme en mi opinión. Yo no soy un fan de las grandes multitudes, pero todavía se encuentra el lugar bastante impresionante, especialmente en Times Square con todas las luces. Quiero volver porque yo no era capaz de ver todas las cosas que hizo. Me gustaría ver la estatua de la Libertad, Central Park, un desfile, y el edificio Empire State.

  6. He visitado muchos de los mismos lugares que tú. Me encanta Nueva York. Es uno de mis lugares favoritos para visitar. Questo es porque hay muchas cosas divertidas que hacer. El desfile en la 5th Avenida parece maravilloso! Me encantan todas las tiendas en la calle. Después de leer esto, tengo muchas ganas de viajar a Nueva York otra vez!

  7. I was lucky enough to visit New York City twice last year; once on a field trip in the summer with mi prima, Noel, and her school to see Times Square and “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway and the second time was last semester we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a class trip for History of the Medieval Mediterranean. Both trips were fun and during lunch at the Met, we were able to see Central Park from the large window. NYC is a great place to visit but I don’t think I could ever live there. It’s too busy and fast for a small town girl like me!

    -Michelle De Jesus

  8. Senora Salcedo-Strumpf,

    This article I found very interesting personally. I have been to New York City countless times and I have never not been amazed by the excessive blend of people within such a small area. Though with everyone being assimilated with eachother for hundreds of years, I still found one think similar in all groups. They all have managed to hold onto not just one or two traditions, but tens upon hundreds of every day, weekly, monthly, and annual traditions that each individual ethnic group, like you said; Russians, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Italians, etc. Not only are the people great but the city itself as a whole is awesome. There is always something new to discover/visit every time you are there. From the Empire State Building to the small alleys of Little Italy, New York City is a great place to visit.

    -Austin Berube

  9. Yo vivo muy cerca de nueva york. Sin embargo, no me gusta mucho la ciudad. Encuentro naturaleza y poniendo lejos del bullicio y ajetreo de la ciudad mejor. La playa es el lugar donde me gusta pasar la mayor parte de mi tiempo.

  10. He estado en Nueva York un par de veces antes. El viaje no está completa sin un paseo por la calle 5 y un viaje a Chinatown lol! Hay tantas cosas que explorar y muchos de cultivo para ver. Me encanta comer la comida de los vendedores ambulantes y sin fin vagan por la ciudad sin ningún límite.

  11. Estoy totalmente de acuerdo! NYC es una explosión cultural! Me encanta ir allí, pero por desgracia, no he sido desde abril de 2010. Me encanta probar los restaurantes diferentes y ver las obras de teatro! Mi favorito que he visto en Broadway fue Wicked!

  12. ¡Me encanta la ciudad de Nueva York! He visitado NYC unas pocas veces en mi vida. La primera vez que fui que vi a Tarzán en Broadway. La segunda vez que fui a la ciudad de Nueva York vi el Rey León en Broadway. La última vez que fui que vi a Bella y la Bestia en Broadway. Cada vez que he visitado NYC fui con mi madre y mi abuela. Fuimos a Bubba Gump Shrimp cada vez demasiado. Quiero ir a Nueva York en algún momento pronto. Probablemente voy a ir este verano cuando visito algunos amigos por estado..

  13. Eso es muy interesante. Yo iré a este ciudad por mi visa en una mes y despues de leer este articulo estoy emocionado por mi viaje!!

  14. He visitado Nueva York solamente una vez, pero mi visito fue increíble. Fui en enero, después de la nueva ano, entonces no había mucho actividad cultural cerca de Times Square o el barrio de mi amigo en Isla Larga. Mis clases de historia por los anos me dijeron que todo la ciudad esta una olla de mezclas culturales, y por su cuenta veo que es cierto hoy también!

  15. I love New York City I am only a 30 minute train ride. I enjoy it every time I go there is always something new and fun to experience. Now that I am 21 I will be going into the city a lot more to experience the night life.

  16. Me encanta ir a la ciudad de nueva york! La primera vez que fui que me sentía como que estaba en algún lugar donde podría vivir. Han iniciado en busca de puestos de trabajo allí y ojala encuentre uno pronto después de graduarme. La ciudad está tan llena de cultura y la vida. Una de mis cosas favoritas es los artistas callejeros y los espectáculos de Broadway. Yo no he llegado a ver a Mama Mia, pero he oído que era fabuloso. He visto el Rey León, el fantasma de la ópera y Wicked un par de veces. Eso esta bien que hubo en el día que la estatua de la libertad fue abierta al público otra vez! Me encantaría venir a través de un festival como ese. Me encanta experimentar nuevas personas y culturas. Este fue mi post favorito hasta ahora. La ciudad me inspira demasiado.

  17. I’m from New York City, and it brings me great pride to know that you enjoyed your stay and found the beauty in the “concrete jungle.”

  18. I am from Long Island, so New York City is rather close to the former place I used to call home. On a weekend off, me and a few friends would travel into the city and spend the entire day their. You can walk around central park for a week and still find new hidden spots. Not to mention, the variety of food is so amazing, its impossible to not spend all of your money on food. I also love the diversity and the culture that New York City brings, it is really such a melting pot. The only negative I would say is the air and the cleanliness of the city. I find myself wanting to take 4 showers when I get home from a trip there!

  19. Sounds like you really got to experience the City in its whole. I have been there multiple times but have not been back in about 3 years. I always enjoyed going during the holiday season to see the tree and all the ice skaters. I do not think I have ever been during Labor Day. I did not know that there were Russian and Mexican communities there. I knew of Little Italy and China town but that is about it. This was very interesting to read and made me want to visit the city during a different time of year than Christmas.

  20. Professor,
    I have visited NYC more times than I can count. My aunt lives an hour outside of the city, so it’s very accessible. I love visiting but it 1 goes by so fast 2 is so much to do in such a short time! My best friend all through out high school chased her dreams and is now living in NYC and attending a college there. I’m so proud of her and can’t wait until she lives there in a nice little apartment and I can go visit for a long weekend. The food in hidden restaurants are usually the best, she’s got all the hook ups. Your post made me want to go take a trip really soon!! I haven’t seen a broadway show in a few years so maybe I’ll book a trip to do that. 🙂

    Kenzie.

  21. I love going in the city becasue of all the adventures out their but the food is really good and a lot of site seeing

  22. I love the city as well, and i am suprised me and my friends do not visit as much as we can because i live on long island and am a very short trip away. There is always something going on there and so much different things to do or places to see. I never get tired of the city

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