Picking up where I left off in my New York saga: The next day was peak “New York doesn’t care about your plans” energy. My dad, brother and I got caught in a massive downpour at Central Park, the kind where umbrellas are basically useless. After escorting the family back to our hotel for dry clothes, I was especially concerned about my brother. Since his illness the year before, he’d be prone to catching colds at the slightest provocation. My dad decided to stay back with him, wrapping himself around a warm cup of coffee to ward off any potential cold himself. I decided, despite the lingering drizzle, that I wasn’t done with New York for the day.
With just my slightly damp jacket and a renewed sense of adventure, I set out toward the Empire State Building. Walking through the still-glistening streets of Midtown, I couldn’t help but notice how the rain had cleared out most of the usual tourist crowds. Sometimes mother nature does you solids like that. The Empire State Building itself? Touristy as hell and absolutely worth it. There’s something humbling about standing at the base of a structure that was completed during the Great Depression in just over one year. The lines moved faster than expected (another post-rain bonus), and the elevator ride was exciting in that “am I about to be in a scene from a disaster movie?” way. But these aren’t just any elevators, these bad boys can zip you up more than 80 floors in under a minute.
And then, the view. Oh man, the view. The rain clouds had started to break apart, creating this dramatic lighting effect where some parts of the city were bathed in golden sunshine while others remained in shadow. I could see the Hudson and East Rivers and the iconic bridges stretching across them. I spent a good twenty minutes just trying to identify landmarks, the jagged top of the Chrysler Building, the sleek One World Trade Center, Lady Liberty in the distance.
After drinking in the skyline views from every possible angle (and taking an embarrassing number of photos), I made my way down and toward Madison Square Park. This little green oasis in the concrete jungle felt like a breath of fresh air after the towering heights of the Empire State Building. Madison Square Park is a green pocket surrounded by beautiful historic buildings including the iconic Flatiron Building, pretty much Central Park Lite. The park itself was dotted with art installations that I couldn’t quite figure out if they were profound or just weird, but that’s New York art for you, right?
My stomach eventually reminded me that sightseeing burns calories, so I ducked into this Chipotle near Madison Square Park, my feet finally admitting they needed a break. It wasn’t about the burrito bowl itself (though it was seriously delicious). It was about sitting by the window, people-watching, and having this sudden overwhelming realisation that I was truly happy in that moment.
As I savoured the last bites of my burrito bowl masterpiece, I noticed the sky outside had darkened again. New York weather had decided that one downpour per day wasn’t sufficient. I briefly considered waiting it out, but something about facing the rain felt appropriately New York. I tossed my empty container, took a deep breath, and stepped back outside just as the heavens opened up again. This time, though, I didn’t run or seek immediate shelter. There was something undeniably blissful about surrendering to the rain this time. I imagined these droplets had once been part of the Hudson or East River, now completing some cosmic circle as they fell back onto the city streets. Just as I had savoured every bite of that burrito bowl, I wanted to savour this moment too. By the time I made it back to the hotel, I was thoroughly soaked again, but wearing a smile that probably made me look slightly unhinged to the hotel staff.
I know it’s silly to fall in love with a place after just a few days, and maybe what I’m really in love with is the feeling of freedom I found there. But isn’t that what great cities do? They don’t just show you their streets and buildings, they show you different versions of yourself. I miss it immensely. I miss the afternoon light on the Brooklyn Bridge, the post-rain shimmer of the streets around the Empire State Building. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger said in The Terminator, I’d like to say to New York City: “I’ll be back.”