From ground zero to seventh heaven.
Cortlandt Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City is where sad face & happy face come face to face.
Your mood will depend on which side of the street you face
Cortlandt Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City is where sad face & happy face come face to face.
Your mood will depend on which side of the street you face
Making the most out of the time left in the Big Apple, I strolled around from one attraction to another, absorbing the sights and imprinting on memory what the camera can’t catch with the lens. Time for the first visit in this US state was not entirely on my side, but I am still grateful that I made it (read: visited) to New York City.
Truth be told, I wanted to spend a longer time in this city. It was the most exciting stop by far, with so much to experience. But the winter weather was not too kind. The cold was quite unwelcoming, in fact, most especially to a tourist who has lived his life in the tropics, by the beach, baking under the tropical sun. If the locals were grumbling about the cold, it's freezing levels to me.
It was one of those battles against the icy gusts of outdoor Manhattan. Walking briskly got us to the next warm place. At some point along the stretch of Cortlandt Street, we froze in our tracks. There seemed to be a void in the city skyline, quite unusual in the New York City landscape, where, except for Central Park, precious space is utilized to its full market potential. Until it was pointed out to me, this NYC first-timer wouldn’t have realized that I was where the tallest skyscraper stood proudly before that tragic day.
Ground Zero.
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| September 11. The whole world was watching real time. |
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| Where New York City's tallest skyscaper once stood, a memorial will rise |
The World Trade Center episode was and is still vivid in my mind from watching the news and the incident’s million reruns on television. It was a distressing sight, not only for NYC or the USA, but for the entire planet as well. September 11th was the day the world stood still. All eyes were stuck on the boob tube, with millions shedding tears. Countless lives were lost. Countless lives were changed.
Life went on for New York City's financial district. Men and women in dark-colored suits toting suitcases darted across the streets. A few glanced over the hollowed crevice, a reminder of the tragic past. Like the bustling scene, construction workers were busy in the setting up of a memorial.
It was a depressing sight, and the cold of winter made the moment even more so.
But when my friend said, “Look behind you,” my mood changed.
Before me was another New York City figure, at least for the fashionistas— Century 21. The iconic department store in Lower Manhattan is said to be NYC’s best-kept secret. That's the store claims it to be. With the amount of shoppers it welcomes on a daily basis, there must be some truth to the claim. When the vogue-ish set from across the globe sets foot in the Big Apple, expect Century 21 to be a stop.
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| Designer pieces at discounted prices. |
Century 21 is where one finds luxury label goods at a fraction of their original prices. With fifty years in the business, the retail giant has turned designer clothes not as sinful to own.
I was in seventh heaven.
Just as fast as I got into a state of gloom, diving into the pool of designer creations instantly perked me up. It was so refreshing!
With the grin back on my face, I braved the cold outdoors once more, this time with a new friend, Emilio Pucci.
What a beautiful day in the Big Apple.
CONVERSATION