New York State of Mind

"That ain't funny." 06.05

It is true that you either love New York or you hate it.

I find there is nothing to dislike about the city, its history, its personality or its people.

This is the city of Greenwich Village, East Village, Chelsea, Soho, Tribeca, Fifth Avenue, Central Park...of scenes and images you've see in so many movies and TV shows that even if you've never been here, you feel like you know the place.

New Yorkers are known to be loud, rude, arrogant. In that case, maybe the nice, friendly folks I meet everywhere who have no problem telling me which way to go and which train to take ("You wanna go downtown on 4, honey.") and who do it with a smile and a "Good luck and have a great day." aren't New Yorkers.

The city is also said to be dangerous and crime-ridden but I felt safe walking back to the apartment off Times Square at midnight. But then again, this is not a city for the weak-hearted.

This is a city for the jazz lover, the book lover, the coffee lover, the museum lover, the art lover, the flea market lover...this is heaven.

And heaven is about warm, long summer days, free concerts and plays in the parks, and free entries to museums, and picnics.

It's about walking miles and miles without feeling it and discovering a little something in every other corner in every neighbourhood.

Everyone comes out in summer coz...if you don't now, when will you?

A winter visit, anyone?