On our first night in New York we visited The Empire State Building. The view from the top was amazing. The city was spread out beneath us as far as you could see. I had never before seen anything like New York City.

Bring on the balloons!

I need only two words to characterize my first impression of New York City, "well worn." Roadways dotted with numerous potholes that have been filled only to be cracking again, buildings that look lived in and worn out, brick walkways that have obviously been trampled by millions of pedestrians, even the disposition of the locals gives me the feeling of wear and tear. New Yorkers have squeezed and squeezed this town until there is room for nothing else, and now it is sitting and aging.

As we meandered through the city on the way to the hotel we were greeted with a mix of Christmas music accompanied by a chorus of honking horns. I watched as the owner of a dry cleaning shop hung shirts outside the store where more space was readily at hand. I saw my first ever double decker bridge. Stores were stacked on top of shops that were stacked on top of offices that were stacked below apartment housing. The buildings never end. New Yorkers are masters in the art of utilizing space.

Don’t get me wrong. I love this place. I have loved the thought of this place before I came here, and for all the reasons listed above, I love this place even more now that I am here.