We flew in on Saturday September 13th and after what felt like the longest 8 hours of me entire life, I finally saw the Manhattan skyline come into view. As I made out the Empire State Building and Chrysler building, the tears started. I was so overwhelmed that I'd finally made it to the place I had literally dreamed about going to for years.
I don't deal well with jet lag so the rest of that afternoon was a sleepy blur and I was in bed by 7pm. The one thing we did manage to do before I passed out was wearily walk the 6 blocks down to Times Square. It was a very surreal moment for me. I don't think my already-asleep brain registered what was happening.
Luckily the next morning I woke up more that aware of where I was. We'd booked ourselves onto a bus tour of movie and TV film sights around the city and I was so excited. Behind-the-scenes stuff like that is such a guilty pleasure of mine and some of my favourite TV shows were filmed there so I knew this would be a great day for me.
We were up and ready too early for the bus so we went into Times Square again (this time as an awake and chirpy version of myself). Even at 8.30am it's bustling. One big thing I wanted to do was to sit on The Big Red Steps. Anyone who knows me will know I'm a sucker for Glee and ever since they filmed here I've wanted to stand where Lea Michele stood. Except I sat.Sitting there watching the world go by may sound like an odd way to spend a morning but it finally gave me a moment to take it all in. I got to see with my own eyes what I've seen in movies and on TV so many times before. I got to see Rupert Grint and Stockard Channing on the same billboard poster. I watched the neon lighted advertising screens change over and over again and it was perfect.
Every day we'd walk through Times Square it was packed. They were doing some kind of building/maintenance/who knows what work towards the south end which meant being almost shepherded into too-small spaces with what felt like 1000 other people.
I also don't know what happened to people when they got into Times Square but it's as if they lost all logic when it came to walking in public. I cannot tell you the number of times someone cut diagonally across me for no real reason. Sometimes for fun they'd go back again!
Admittedly, once we were on the bus for the tour, there were a lot of locations I didn't know. Our first official stop was at Washington Square Park. Whilst most people were posing for pictures in front of A DOOR (from I, Robot...I think?) I was mesmerised by the famous arch.
It's one of the iconic places in the city that really reminded me of where I was. It sounds weird but I did keep having to remind myself. I felt instantly at home and comfortable here.
Our guide gave us 5/10 minutes to enjoy the park and I stood and stared at the One World Trade Centre (which is just beyond the park) for a while but then everyone started taking photos in front of the arch.
And so here I am, being obnoxious as per.
After the arch we went to SoHo and I spent $80 in Old Navy whilst everyone else from the bus seemed to disappear into Dash. One thing I found really odd was that on our map for that area was the apartment Heath Ledger lived in before he died. Now, I loved him as much as the next guy but why would that be a Place To Go? I felt weird just being in the vicinity of it, let alone being outside. And what would you do when you got there? Take a photo of yourself smiling in front of it? It's surely disrespectful?
Then our bus broke down. Woo.
I wish I'd been more excited for the next part because it was a big deal for everyone else.
We went to the Ghostbuster's fire station. I didn't even know that was a thing.
One really touching part of this though was one of the plaques to the side of the door dedicated it to a fire fighter who lost his life saving others during 9/11.
So nothing could really prepare me for what was next. At the very start of the tour, we went past The Plaza and our guide casually dropped in that the building just down the street was where Chandler Bing worked. OH OK.
I could practically hear the interlude music.
Our guide (I've completely forgotten his name and it's driving me crazy) kept teasing about going to the FRIENDS area and kept saying it was coming up. To be honest it's all I really wanted out of this tour. Finally we pulled over and were told to follow him through the streets of Greenwich Village.
I cannot describe how happy I felt to come round the corner to see this.
I keep making references to New York feeling like "home" but this is probably where I felt it the most. This intersection was so familiar to me I felt like I'd been there many times before. Which I had. Through the magic of television.
I know I stood there. I know I pulled this stupid "ta-da!" pose. I know I then took a selfie and instagrammed it with the caption "off to hang out with some FRIENDS" but it just feels weird that this really happened to me.
Chances are none of the cast ever actually stood there but I've never felt connected to those 6 people who have been in my life constantly for the last 15+ years
For fear of getting too deep, ONTO THE NEXT PART!
That was pretty much the end of the tour so we started making our way back to Times Square. I don't know why but seeing Radio City Music Hall was one of the most surreal moments. It made me extremely excited to be outside it but I felt like I was on a film set next to just a replica.
After this we had to go pick up tickets for yet another tour, the pick-up point for this just so happened to be in the entrance for Madame Tussaudes....and we decided to go in. Might as well!! When in Rome! YOLO!!!! (I shuddered, I'm so sorry for that one)
I didn't anticipate this being so long and its nearly 1.30am so I'm going to cut this run-down of the best week of my life in half right here.
Part two will be up soon but for now I will leave you with this photo of me and waxwork Tyra Banks WERKIN' IT GURL.
Easy, Breezy, Beautiful. Dream come true.
**I realise this is no where near relevant anymore but I want to document it before my memories begin to fade and it feels like nothing but a dream. Also, who doesn't love a good reminisce?**
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