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its one of the dirtiest, most commercial places on the planet(apart from tokyo), so why do so many people love new york? does it measure up to its stereotype, or is it just another city distroyed by humans and dumped on by arcitecture and bright lights?
i asked these questions on my recent 4 day visit.

now, theres two different kinds of vacations; relax vacations, and explore vacations. my relax vacation is later this summer, so when i went to new york, i was wishing to go to florida. work on my tan, get new piercings, and check out people on the beach. instead i worked on my knowledge of random buildings, tried new foods, and didnt see a single attractive american(though most arent very close to atractive at all).
luckily the only mullet i saw was at the airport.

my view from the top level.

naturally, when i got to the big apple, i immediately started comparing it to what i know from tv shows, as i am an addict. seinfeld, sex and the city, and will and grace. though i dont for the life of me quite know whats happening in sex and the city.

new york really doesnt generally look much different from toronto. except for the massive, ugly billboards and such devouring the beauty in the arcitecture of the city. i honestly dont think a giant billboard for coke is going to make me want to put that much syrup in my body. however, it may work for the citizens of this country, judging by the noted health concerns and my passion for stereotyping.

though, USians(as i refer to them) cant be that bad if they can elect obama.

i rode on tour bus after tour bus. interesting facts, but few that can hold place in my memory. something that did stick out? the soup nazi. yes, i saw the place. it exists. i couldnt stop, though. i really wanted some soup.



speaking of food, the food there was great. i had the best veggie burger in my life there. and i had so much edamame. i did not get sick of it. though, portions were big. unfortunately, i had to eat breakfast one morning at mcdonalds. like we dont have enough of those at home. so, i ate a crapload of, well, crap. hopefully with no meat in it. but not in bigger portions. which is strange. almost frighteningly strange. so, i figure the big portion thing for mcdonalds US is supersizing, and they dont have that in canada. i have yet to meet a canadian who actually wants to eat a super crapload of crap. most canadians want to be able to live past 40. if you're suicidal, then go supersize. be my guest. but, for my fellow lovely canadians, i ask, can we supersize if we choose to do so? i dont have the heart to go to mcdonalds and ask to supersize, then say nevermind and leave.

this is the best pic i could take at night.

now for the thing i was most excited for, the main reason someone of my apreciation for the arts would set foot in new york. the shows. i waited till wednesday for this. we were going to watch either billy elliot(with elton john's music) or avenue q(which i wanted to see since i heard "if you were gay"). however, billy elliot was sold out and avenue q isnt on wednesdays. so, to my excitement, i get to hear the great music of dolly parton. hooray *sarcasm*. but, it was actually pretty good. plus, anything that involves middle aged women smoking pot cant be horrible. strangely, i can relate to the character who looks like dolly. i can assure you, i dont and never will look the part. anyways, so, i guess you cant go wrong with any show.



finally, the last thing, the park. central park. probably the only part my brother liked, seeing as though a whole section of the park is 'john lennon this, john lennon that'. really beautiful park, but like the rest of manhattan, its overrated and too many commercial and entertainment industries take advantage of it. there was the friends fountain and everything. i had to hold myself back from jumping in and dancing(though, its probably not legal).

and ofcourse, strawberry fields.

we saw the place john lennon lived and died and the memorial and such. the nice guy who took us around the park turned to ask my dad "do you remember what you were doing when he died?". my dad was excited to repeat the same thing he always says "i was at home watching monday night football, then all the chanels were cancelled to bring the news of his death. his death was way bigger than michael jacksons".
i find it disrespectful that someone would say someones death wasnt so important, but i dont want to argue with those lennon fans. they're violent people.