NYC trip
If you told me a year ago that we would be in NYC for an engagement photoshoot, I honestly, wouldn't believe you!!! But it happened, IT TOTALLY HAPPENED (the pictures from hat shoot will be in a separate blog because there;s just too much goodness!!! We are so thankful for such an amazing privilege. We got to meet so many great people, connect with one of our bride & grooms, & Jerico got to reconnect with someone he served in the marines with. All of that, in 3 short days! We loved every second of it.
My amazing & talented husband put together an awesome video of our NYC trip. He's got skills. =) The video is at the bottom, Enjoy!
There's something about walking down the streets of new york city that makes you feel unstoppable. the city that never sleeps. where dreams come true and where the sky is the limit.
Last time we were in new york city was 2 years ago for 4th of July. It was EXTREMELY hot & we did all the tourist-y things (walked roughly 10 miles a day, stayed in a hotel in times square, empire state building, central park, wall street, ground zero, museums, took the ferry to the statue of liberty).
But this time, it was totally the opposite! It was rainy, cold & windy. We stayed with locals, we rode around town with locals & had no plan rather than just to enjoy our time in new york city. We loved it! It was a jammed packed 3 days but we was also very chill. we actually got to take everything in because we weren't constantly worrying about time, finding the subway stations, and always looking for where to eat, what to do, where to go.
So here's our trip in a nutshell. We went on the brooklyn bridge, walked through central park, rode the subway, ate lots of delicious local food, went to coney island/brighton beach and went to top of the rock.
New York welcomed us with flash floods that literally flooded New Jersey to Manhattan (theres a video below). It was nuts! Some roads & tunnels were completely blocked off because they were flooded so badly. Some cars were even stuck in the water, in the middle of the intersection. Clearly, traffic was going to be an issue.
It took us FOUR hours to drive 40 miles!!!!
Our first meal in the Big Apple was tacos in honor of Cinco de Mayo. We ate at Los Tacos located at Chelsea Market. I'm so upset that I didn't take any pictures ( but their website has some- click with caution because you will get hungry), I was taking the experience in.. the parking a few blocks away, the walking in the rain, crossing intersections with cars coming right at you, the urban indoor "food court", the herds of people, the food, the fact there's no tables (you have to stand and eat quickly). Anyways, these tacos were absolutely DELICIOUS!! I ordered the pollo Asado (grilled chicken) Taco and they were nothing like any tacos I have eaten before.. how different can a taco be, right?!? WRONG- first of all it was on a corn tortilla and it wasn't in the taco shape, it was more of a cone shape. I also ordered a quesadilla... it wasn't the typical quesadilla either, it was a single tortilla. If you're in NYC, check them out, you wont regret it!
The following pictures are us being semi-tourists. we went to the Brooklyn bridge in the morning and then rode the subway to central park. Of course, we got lost on the subway... Well, we got on the correct train, just went in the wrong direction (it only took us about 3 stops to realize it). Oh well, it wouldn't be a trip to NYC if you didn't hop on the wrong train, right?!
by the way, its still amazes me how theres a perfect rectangular park in the middle of a "concrete jungle" check out the pics at the bottom from top of the rock.
So our friends told us we had to check out this specific subway station.. we were like.. "umm what's so special about this station, its just the subway, right?!? Turns out this station is BRAND SPANKING NEW!!! There were barely any people there, it was so clean, and had artwork on the walls (check out the tiles)! i was definitely impressed!!
Oh and that funny face is our friend, hokti. we asked her to take a pic of us and this happened instead.. so right back at ya hokti! =)
We stayed at our friends' house and these were taken in her super cool building! Love the new york living.. well at least for the time we were there. To be honest, i don't know if i could live there. It would be a MAJOR lifestyle change for me. Anyways, cute nyc building + camera + photographer = quick mini photoshoot session for me.
can we take a moment to admire this following picture.. so that pad is to protect the car during parallel parking. i have never seen anything like this before. i would totally need one though if i lived in a city where parallel parking was a thing. thank goodness, its not!
And this was her super cute street. i just love the allies and the fire escapes. Definitely not something you see here in Jacksonville. She has an awesome coffee shop right across the street from her, a russian store and plenty of places to eat, including a delicious Peruvian restaurant we ate at! perfect location. Everything you need right there in walking distance.
Oh you know if i go to NYC i gotta make a stop in Brighton Beach, its like my russian roots come right out!!! I had to get my bulochka c mako (pastry with poppy seeds)!! it was sooooooo delicious! i even brought some home with me! i didn't even know jerico was taking pictures of me in the stores. they had all of the candies i ate as a kid. i know we have russian stores here, but its not the same. its not as fresh. i love all the colors too.
a little side note: i got a quick reality check in the russian store.. aka lack of customer service. OMG- the cashier yelled at me because apparently i was taking too long putting my money away after she threw it on the counter instead of handing it to me. insert eye roll emoji. it's ok. the pastry was totally worth it!
These are pictures from Top of the Rock, at Rockefeller Center. Last NYC trip we went to Empire State Building, don't get me wrong, Im glad we did. But Top of the Rock gives you an amazing view and isn't blocked by bars/railing. Top of the rock has a glass shield that allows you to see the breathtaking view & take pictures of it!
PS. we did a photoshoot up there of our couple- sorry, you'll have to wait for that blog to see them. Im gonna be honest, i was a little jealous of their pictures up there!
we are extremely grateful for this amazing opportunity, the continued love and support from everyone because without you all this would not be possible. Thank you!
Hokti- thank you for dealing with the flash floods and picking us up and letting us stay with you. You have a wonderful family and you guys are totally welcome if you're ever in Florida!!
Daniella- We are so happy we got to meet you and your beautiful family. Im sorry you have to leave the city but you will love SD!! can't wait to visit!
Dima & Beatriz- We are soooo very thankful to have gotten to meet you and spend the day with you. Thank you for introducing us to that delicious avocado salad ( we are hooked) and taking us to the tea house! Wish we could hang out with you guys more often. Cant wait for August to come!