New York City: Day 1

August 25, 2025

First Impressions & A Full Afternoon In The City

Welcome to my new series, Life in Pictures: New York. In this four-part series, I’ll be sharing the city through photos and short reflections. Day 1 took us from Times Square to Central Park—a first taste of New York’s energy, surprises, and unforgettable characters.

Arrival in New York

We landed in New York at 11 AM, checked into our hotel by noon, and by 1 PM we were ready to hit the town. With only four days to explore, there wasn’t a minute to lose.

Selfie of Lisa and Cora on the plane, smiling as they land in New York City — Travel buddies—ready to take on New York.

"View of Times Square from hotel room window in New York City, with lights and billboards visible — Our window into the city that never sleeps.

Large "Big Apple" sculpture displayed in the lobby of our New York City hotel — Welcome to the Big Apple—literally.

Characters in Times Square

With no time to waste, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and set out to explore. Our first stop: Times Square—loud, crowded, colorful, and alive with energy. And of course, we couldn’t miss meeting a few of its famous characters, including the legendary Naked Cowboy, a one-man show who has been strumming his guitar here for decades.

Selfie of Lisa with the Naked Cowboy street performer in Times Square, New York City — Only in New York—my first celebrity encounter.

Street performer dressed as the Statue of Liberty wearing sunglasses in Times Square, New York City — Even Lady Liberty was hanging out in Times Square.

Lisa and Cora posing with street performers dressed as Bumblebee and Mario in Times Square, New York City. — In Times Square, you never know who you’ll bump into.

Exploring Toward Central Park

As we explored Times Square, we noticed how close we were to Central Park. It felt like one of those must-see places, so we began walking that way. Along the route, the city kept surprising us with a mix of iconic landmarks and unexpected art.

Louis Vuitton flagship on Fifth Avenue in New York City, designed to look like a giant trunk — A skyscraper disguised as a giant suitcase—only in New York

Atlas statue outside Rockefeller Center in New York City, holding the celestial sphere — Atlas holding up the world in the middle of Manhattan.

Graffiti-covered staircase in New York City, filled with stickers and street art — Layers of voices on the walls—New York’s underground art.

Central Park

When we finally stepped into Central Park, it felt like entering a different world. Horse-drawn carriages lined the edge, bridges arched over shaded paths, and families rode by on bikes. But what stood out most to me wasn’t the scenery—it was the music.

In the middle of a walkway, we came across an older man performing Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind.” I only caught the last 48 seconds on video, but that short moment was enough to stop me in my tracks. For me, it was the soundtrack to our first day in New York.

This post is part of my Here and There series, where I’ll be sharing the places I visit through photos, reflections, and the lessons I take away from each stop

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