- So, can I go and take any boat until 4:35pm?
- Yes, you can.
- But do I have to ch...
- You can do anything.
- But can I use the sam...
- Listen to me: you can do ANYTHING.
- You're right. I'm in NYC and I can do anything.
(Brief exchange with the boat tour guide, Brooklyn, NYC. July 17, 2015)
I'm a dreamer. I've been a dreamer ever since I can remember, but one difference from that little girl I once was and the woman I am today is that I actually believe my dreams can come true. Visitting London was my childhood dream (proud potterhead here, thanks) and I cried when I arrived at the airport - and I hadn't even seen the Big Ben from the plane, mind you - but NYC was one of my biggest adulthood dreams. I wasn't sure what to expect from the Big Apple; I knew what I would find, yet I had no idea how it would be. Confusing, I know, but I believe that regardless of your expectations, NYC will always, always surprise you.
Traveling to me isn't only about going to places, it's about testing your own limits, finding a new piece of yourself wherever you go, and leaving one as well - be it with someone you met or at a place you fell in love with. And it's about going face to face with the unexpected. I expected to feel good in New York, because that's just my type of city - bustling, classic, iconic, chaotic - but I didn't think I'd feel so comfortable, carefree and powerful . NYC is chaotic, but on its own functioning way (hello, Grand Central Terminal!); it is busy, but you come across areas filled with peace and quiet when you least expect (hi there, Bryant Park!), and I know exactly how I felt when I was on a boat, heading back to Manhattan, wind against my face and salty water all over me: infinite.
I knew those for days wouldn't last forever, but I also knew, even before they were over, that I would keep coming back for more. And I will.
