NYC I: UPPER WEST SIDE & UPPER EAST SIDE

NEW YORK CITY had always been on my travel wish-list, but with years of being preoccupied with various European cities I'd never really made any firm plans to go there in the foreseeable future. Instead I admired it from afar, watching endless movies set in the city: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Home Alone 2, Rear Window - which doesn't really count since it was filmed on a set, but hey ho - to name but a few (the list is endless*).

It was coming up to my 30th and I was all ready to 'just have a quiet one' but ended up being 'persuaded' into spending it in the Big Apple. From the get go my eyes were sparkling and there was a a New York soundtrack whirring away in my mind**. Everything was big and bold: the skyscrapers, the store fronts, the thick New Ywork accents and the portions of food.

JUST BACK FROM... NEW YORK

I still can't get over this view...

New York city guide coming to Travel Notes soon!

NEW YEAR, NEW YORK...

I'm off to the Big Apple in February and I couldn't be more excited! I'm just about finished my pre-trip research, and a snapshot of my to-do list is:

Ice skating in Central Park, cocktails at a rooftop bar, top of the Rock/Empire State Building, lazy brunches and see the twinkling lights of Manhattan from the Staten Island Ferry.

  

I've been going pin crazy - here's my inspiration board:

Follow Cath's board New Year, New York - 2015 on Pinterest.

I've been reading lots of books about New York, and these are my favourites:

Select New York - Insight Guides

This is New York, Miroslav Sasek

City Secrets: New York - Edited by Robert Kahn

I'm hoping these maps will come in handy:

(l-r)

How to find old New York - Herb Lester

New York Burger map - All-You-Can-Eat Press

A Manhattan bar for all reasons - Herb Lester


What do you recommend for a classic NY experience?