The Big Apple (My second bite)

From 2001 to 2006, I lived in New York city. I was 6 when we moved to the Big Apple. The city where I grew up, the city that still feels like home. In 2006, my family and I had to move back to Australia, where we are from, for my dads work. We've now lived in Sydney for close to 7 years. 

Up until December last year (2012), I'd never been back to that place that seemed to be a distant memory. These pictures are from my first trip back to New York since I moved away. Everything seemed smaller than how I remembered, probably because I'm twice as tall now, but it still felt the same. It still felt like the busiest, most magical place on Earth. 

And in that whirlwind week, I felt like I got a little piece of my heart back.

The Freedom Tower in construction, Ground Zero. I was very apprehensive visiting the 9/11 memorial site. The last time I visited (2001) the site was still on fire and burning. Although as soon as I stepped into the memorial garden, I was overcome with a sense of quiet peace, and hope for the future.

"May the lives remembered, the deeds recognized, and the spirit reawakened be eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance and intolerance." 

North Reflection Pool, in the footprint of the old North tower. 

Names of those who passed in the 9/11 tragedy are engraved around both Reflection Pools.

Battery Park squirrel 

The Brooklyn Bridge

The view from our hotel The Beacon

Strawberry Fields

Central Park busker

Central Park

The Plaza Hotel from Central Park

Central Park

Horse and Carriage outside The Plaza Hotel

The Plaza Hotel

Even though I'm taller now, the buildings in this city still feel like giants.

I remember going to Yankees games, although I only liked to go to eat cotton candy and popcorn. I had no idea how baseball actually worked.

Dylan's Candy Bar. I had my 10th birthday in one of the private rooms, and it's a birthday I'll never forget. This is still one of my favourite places in the entire world. Stepping through the huge doors felt like a dream.

Dylan's Candy Bar staircase

Seen on a walk downtown searching for lunch.

Iconic.

Downtown East side

Sunset from Central Park

Central Park at dusk

Wollman rink in Central Park. I did ice skating lessons here for 2 years when I was younger. My sister and I went ice skating here one afternoon on this trip. Deva-Vu!

Central Park