New York, New York //

New York. Concrete jungle where dreams are made, the city that never sleeps, the Big Apple. It's been a full 8 years since I visited New York and while I no longer lust after the newest nike trainers, Abercrombie sweatshirt or Tiffany heart necklace (cringe!) , I was so excited to visit this city and see what it has to offer..

Things have changed. Big time. The exchange rate is awful meaning that Europeans pay so much more. You get little for your buck here! 
But thankfully, we were avoiding the main shopping areas and doing some serious sightseeing instead! It made me realise how much Ireland has changed- where once American brands were only available in America, now we can pretty much get our hands on anything we want via online shopping and much cheaper too! Brands such as JCrew, Banana Republic and Club Monaco have all come to the UK high street meaning us Irish can purchase them easily online. 

 

If I lived in New York, it could only be West Village, I just loved the vibe of the neighbourhood, dotted with boutiques and organic cafés that are just so chilled , you want to stay and people watch all day. 

The Butchers Daughter

Magnolia Bakery, West Village

A must visit is the One World Trade Centre in Lower Manhattan, hop in the lift and arrive on the 102nd floor in less than 60 seconds. The lift provides a virtual time-lapse experience so you can see how New York City has changed over the centuries. 
We were blown away by the One World Observatory's vantage point, which on a clear day, provides a sight line of about 50 miles . We were so lucky with the amazing blue skies!

Tip : Upgrade your experience to priority admission and have your own VIP expedited entry to bypass the general admission lines. 

One World Observatory

Central Park

A stroll around the Brooklyn Botanical gardens , so beautiful, especially in cherry blossom season!

Love this city!