If you're a stranger in The City that Never Sleeps (and believe me, trust Sinatra when he sings NY like that) there are not just things you can do: above all there are things you HAVE TO do. I won't tell you about the well known places nor the common things about NY, I wont tell you about something which you're not gonna find in guidebooks, everyday's things that you will never know if you don't look away from your books and all the damn theoretical stuff.So, when you're finally in the center of the world you must:
- breath the city: while you're still in your car turn down your windows and let the city get into you, let the atmosphere caress your skin; you'll soon realize there's the best thing of your all life. Then forget your car and start walking; do it for all the time you'll stay in the city. You must live NY with its streets and full-of-lives side-walks, on your foot, to feel every precious pulse of the most living place of the universe. There's nothing better, trust me, NY fills up your heart and that's all, words are meaningless trying describe its force.
- see a musical: I suggest The Lion King, on stage at Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway, midtown Manhattan). I saw it this year, TLK is my favourite Disney's film at all and I think it's one of the most beautiful movie ever too. It's something great, for real, huge, simply amazing. The performances, the soundtrack (signed by Elton John's music and Tim Rice's lyrics), the worming, vibrant set with its magnificent colors that remind right of African lands: everything seems a landscape, a painting; everything is quite perfect, ads invite audience to "descover the pride of New York", The New York Times describes the musical writing that "there is simply nothing else like it". I was there on my B'day and surely it has been an unforgettable day. "Can you feel the love tonight"? If you're at Minskoff Theatre you can even feel the soul of this great art product, all its strength; I swear I'm really not able to explain it with words, you must see it, if you're in NY and you miss TLK you're gonna have regrets issues!
- have both breakfast and lunch at street stands: every corner of the city is full of the funny and typical NY stands selling you coffee and donuts in the morning, hot dogs and pretzels all day long. With a few bucks you'll enjoy the best food and drink break of the world.
- take a cab: the excitement of being on a street side, lean out and draw a taxi driver's attention with your arm is something you must try along with the enjoyment of the ride. Ok, that's a lil' bit silly but NY cabs are historic as much as the big green lady in the water!
- do at least one unusual thing: I must admit this is quite silly as the cab thing, but last time I was there, on February, my grampa needed a dentist and that's when our adventure has become.After days of terrible ache of which I won't tell you about, we finally find a doctor ready to see us (it was Saturday, grampa was in pain and yes, I do speak English but I'm always a not-American...I'd rather say like this that my nationality) after getting informationn about from Sheraton's concierge and talking with doc himself on the phone. It has been surreal: I mean, when your on holiday and abroad you don't certainly think you'll be in pain (or at least you hope it) needing a doctor or a hospital. Mchandsome visit my grampa as I was filling in a sort of case history with his data, speaking with doc and translate at the same time. I must confess, I was having a lot of fun. But he best part is yet to come: after the examination we go to the pharmacy to get meds...that's when I felt like dr House: the girl of CVS gave us the orange bottles with pills that an Italian can only imagine and see in movies. They're on my desk now (empty of course, no meds addiction issues!). It has been hilarious and nice: I was obviously sorry for my grampa, but this experience had made me feel as I belong to them, as a truly New Yorker and I also believe this is the best way to actually get in touched with the deepest and most real part of a city, with its everyday's life and sincere reality.
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