Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss a place until you return to it. That is exactly what happened to me when I returned to New York City for the first time in YEARS. I knew I missed things about the city, the food, the theater you know the things everyone loves about the city, right? What I didn't expect is that I missed all the things, the walking, the subway, swiping my metro card, the history, the culture, the people.
A change came over me the moment we stepped down into the subway station at JFK airport and to be honest the effects still haven't worn off. I loved the hustle and bustle of everything, the parks, the bagels, the pizza, the shopping, the art that can be found everywhere. I missed sitting in a theater as the lights dimmed and magic happened on stage.
This trip to New York was also my first adult girls' trip where it was just me and a friend as two grown ladies. This wasn't a trip for a bachelorette or for business, this trip was planned around Ghostbusters day something I've never done and had never dreamed of doing and as I stood on N. Moore street in front of the firehouse with hundreds of Ghostbusters fans taking pictures and yelling movie quotes I quickly realized what a dream come true that moment and the whole trip actually was.
How would it be possible not to miss New York City food? The bagels, and the pizza of course but what about eating an iconic Nathan's Hot Dog on the boardwalk at Coney Island? What about walking down the street with a gelato from Eataly or having an egg cream at Russ & Daughters.
I reconnected with one of my cousins while in town and she showed us such amazing things like salsa dancing socials in the basement of the Chelsea Market and the ferry that takes you to Dumbo with some of the best views of the city I've ever seen. I knew I missed my cousin Denise but being together in NYC definitely made me even more homesick for her.
It is wild to think that for years and years I spent every single day in the city and there is still adventure and magic to be found. It is wild to think that for years and years I've thought of New York fondly but was fine not going back and now I can't seem to stop thinking about the next time I get to go back. This city shaped so much of my early life, but I did think that chapter was closed, but having gone back... I think there are still lessons to be learned there, adventures to be had and more shaping to do.
I will forever be beyond grateful to my amazing travel buddy Christine for sharing her desire to head to New York for Ghostbusters day and I'm even more grateful she was on board when I said "I'll come with you" this trip of a lifetime was more than a trip full of memories made and dreams come true, it was a trip that re-opened a part of myself I had tucked away and didn't realize I desperately wanted at least a piece of back.
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