New York, New York

New York is the all-around winner in my "world's best cities, so far" contest.  The combination of history and culture is unlike anything i've ever seen.  Everyday I drive on the brooklyn beltway, and if I turn my head to the right and twist my neck to an uncomfortable angle I can see the Statue of Liberty.  Still, every day that I get a chance to see it I hold that painful pose to get a glimpse and a moment of the history that the huge copper monument represents.  Millions and millions of people have sailed those waters which connect the rest of the world to the busiest part of it.  In my head, I can picture my great great great (insert lineage here) grandfather McHugh sailing from Ireland and setting his eyes on the same green Lady Liberty that I pass everyday, and thinking "this is it...".  

New York is busy. Very Busy.  I don't think people here are intentionally unfriendly, they just have somewhere they have to be...which happens to be more important than saying hi or thank you.  Don't worry New York, I get it.  It's kinda refreshing to know that you don't have to have etiquette to fit in.  Take note South.  But the fact is, you can't afford to have etiquette or be polite, because there are so many cultures here you would spend all day trying to figure out what is polite to whom?  People are OK with YOU here. There are crazy people, sane people, loud and quiet, overdressed and naked, long hair, short hair, no hair, fake hair, D&G purses, trash bags, and everything in between.  I really believe its the perfect place to carry out Jesus' most important command. Love One Another!  You see so many different people everyday that you can't afford to choose who you want to love, you just have to simply (yet so against our nature) love everyone.  

 I love it here.  It feels like I was meant to be here.  If you get a chance to come here, don't spend all your time trying to act like you're not a tourist.  Conversely, don't spend all your time taking pictures.  Just be who you are and take it all in...well as much of it as you can.