I just returned from a very quick trip to New York. I left Las Vegas on a Monday morning, arrived in New York later that evening and left to fly back home on Wednesday afternoon. Needless to say, that was not enough time to spend in the Big Apple.

It isn’t my first time in New York, but I still don’t think I have ever stayed long enough to truly been able to capture all that I want to see and do. I love New York. There is so much culture, art and diversity in the city. I think you can sit on a park bench and draw so much creative inspiration from even just the people that walk by.

I actually felt this way walking through the Grand Central Terminal. It was my first time walking through the terminal which sees approximately 750,000 people daily for travel, dining and shopping. As I watched the crowds of people walking through the Main Concourse of Grand Central, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of tales each of these people had to tell. But the terminal is beautiful! Here are some quick facts:
1. An American flag was hung in the terminal a few days after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center
2. The four-faced brass clock is one of the most popular tourist must-see items at the terminal.
3. This is located on top of the main information booth at the center of the concourse and was designed by Henry Edward Bedford.
4. There is an astronomical ceiling that is elaborately decorated but is said to be incorrect with some zodiac constellations reversed left-to-right.
5. Some popular movies filmed scenes in the terminal such as Friends with Benefits, Carlito’s Way and the City. Here are more movies filmed there.

Directly across from my hotel was the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in Lower Manhattan. The hub replaced the PATH train station that was destroyed during the 9/11 attacks. In the center is the Oculus which was designed by a Spanish architect named Santiago Calatrava. It was designed to look like a dove in flight. I don’t know about that. They look like ribs to me. Here is a picture, what do you think?

This unique building opened its doors back in 2016 and serves 250,000 daily commuters and millions of annual visitors from around the world. There are probably even more interesting stories to hear from the people walking through the Oculus which is actually located immediately east of the original Twin Towers. More facts:
1. A walkway links the Oculus to many buildings: Brookfield Place (a retail and office complex), One World Trade, Towers 2, 3 & 4,and the Fulton Street transit center.
2. There are 110 “steel ribs” each weighing around 56 tons.
3. The World Trade Center Transportation Hub is the third largest transportation hub in New York City.

There are a million and one things I want to share about my short trip to New York but I think I could write a novel about it all! So, this short blog is my postcard for you. Well, a few postcards. No one ever sends those anymore. It’s all shared on social media now. Postcards are awesome.

And finally, I leave you with this video because what is a trip to New York without a subway ride? Here I am on the subway headed to Grand Central terminal.

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“I spent my childhood in New York, riding on subways and buses. And you know what you learn if you’re a New Yorker? The world doesn’t owe you a damn thing.” – Lauren Bacall

20 Replies to “Postcards from New York”

  1. I’ve been planning to visit and to explore in new york. When I’m going there, I’m going to go all the places you visit.

  2. I grew up in the country and have always been attracted to the big city like NY. I never had the chance to explore it though. I always just pass it when I travel and only see it from the place 😦 Hope to stay there for at least a few days one day

    Jane @ http://www.thismamablogs.com
    I blog about my journey to financial freedom and into meaningful living

  3. How cute, a little postcard! I miss those:) I never got to go to Grand Central all 3 times I’ve been to NYC…was super impressed with the Oculus though, such a curious structure! Thanks for sharing:)

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