We decided to experience the city from up high, explore the Rockefeller Centre and after dark took the ride up. From high up you get such a different perspective. The densely packed buildings lined up perfectly along the long avenues. The void created by Central Park, an oasis in this mad city. The haphazard downtown area, where the financial district evolved well before the gridded streetscapes were planned below Wall Street. You can see from here where the Manhattan Schist has been used to full effect, the taller the building, the better the bedrock. We stand and stare in amazement. Out in the open all you can hear is the wind in your ears. It’s cool, but not cold. From time to time a distant siren makes its way up here, but it is as if we are watching with the sound turned down as the city goes about its business below us. The red taillights of traffic travelling uptown and the glow of the yellow headlight as traffic flowed downtown. The shimmer of Times Square, a few blocks from our vantage point. The majestic Empire State Building looms in front of us, seven blocks away, you can almost touch it. The Chrysler Building, its conical adorned spire pointing skyward.

What you read about comes to life as you stand atop this edifice to capitalism. The city never sleeps, there is activity all around us and the eight million people who call it home are existing in some state: some working, some travelling, some gathering, some relaxing, some recreating. The one thing they all share is they are part of this eternal city and for the past few days we are progressively being mesmorised by its lure. “Big city, bright lights” is certainly affecting this humble couple from way down under, from the little bush capital.

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