New York City is unlike any place I’ve ever been. Leading up to the trip, Joe kept telling me how surreal it would be to see it in person after seeing it in movies and on t.v. my whole life and I didn’t really get what he meant until I was there. Sure, I’ve been to Paris several times and I get that heart-stopping feeling every time I see the Eiffel Tower, but that feels like a part of me and I definitely feel separate from New York. I’m glad I went and it was amazing to see certain things: the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 memorial, Times Square ( TRL signs!), and Little Italy; and I snuck in as many French things that the two days we were there would allow (Sezane, Laduree, Albertine), but my take-away is how do people live here? And how do they physically breathe? It is packedpackedpacked with buildings and people and trash and noise and none of it ever stops or goes away. Thanks, New York City, but no thanks.