New York, New York | 105 | a homecoming
 

Growing up in a small town in The Netherlands I had a poster on my wall of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline, with the WTC towering over everything. Visiting New York seemed like a distant dream.

New York has always played a big part in my life through television, movies, literature, art and music. On my wall and everywhere.

Therefore, stepping off the subway last October in Brooklyn, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time, staring at that skyline that was there with me during my teenage years when I woke up the morning and went to sleep at night, I was expecting exhilaration, euphoria even, because, there it was - finally I had made it to New York!

But it wasn’t euphoria I was feeling with every step taking me closer to the island. It felt strangely familiar, like I belonged there. New York felt like a homecoming. It really felt like coming home.

Well, sort of. :)

And here’s what I caught on camera. And here is something to listen to while you're watching.

1.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4657/...8aecbea5_b.jpg
2.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4481/...e320560a_b.jpg
3.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/962/4...5e670cb4_b.jpg
4.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4558/...8b371bb4_b.jpg
5.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4597/...d56eca82_b.jpg
6.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4777/...9fcf8074_b.jpg
7.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4561/...b6aacea3_b.jpg
8.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4501/...acba96ed_b.jpg
9.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4482/...5647824a_b.jpg
10.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4562/...dd2a6277_b.jpg
11.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4544/...470ebc6c_b.jpg
12.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4618/...09c2fa71_b.jpg
13.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4528/...12677310_b.jpg
14.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/806/4...181c9069_b.jpg
15.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4485/...9bd9f924_b.jpg
16.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4552/...2d2d770d_b.jpg
17.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4539/...6042209d_b.jpg
18.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4547/...35d50f79_b.jpg
19.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/898/2...529a8d49_b.jpg
20.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4534/...3b6d1793_b.jpg
21.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4538/...dd91549b_b.jpg
22.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4571/...40b76687_b.jpg
23.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4528/...0125d5e0_b.jpg
25.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4543/...2db7dd05_b.jpg
26.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4526/...3d4ca62d_b.jpg
27.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4528/...c2ed1dbc_b.jpg
28.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4639/...d3c80897_b.jpg
29.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4693/...741370a4_b.jpg
30.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4599/...2509b8bc_b.jpg
31.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4525/...3870271d_b.jpg
32.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4634/...7f08094a_b.jpg
33.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4688/...5f459ca0_b.jpg
34.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4589/...39f70373_b.jpg
35.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4685/...8fe79fcd_b.jpg
36.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4684/...d76f19f6_b.jpg
37.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4650/...ffd083d1_b.jpg
38.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4510/...4e9b9d89_b.jpg
39.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4614/...36fb95bc_b.jpg
40.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4479/...494d20b3_b.jpg
41.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4553/...f519f0fa_b.jpg
42.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4688/...a72d292c_b.jpg
43.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4700/...cc8bdd8b_b.jpg
44.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4447/...30822062_b.jpg
45.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4696/...07fd6bdb_b.jpg
46.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4554/...0b2270a2_b.jpg
47.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4697/...090621f2_b.jpg
48.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4656/...82c54d07_b.jpg
49.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/785/3...a9b1ca85_b.jpg
50.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4651/...fb9f4833_b.jpg
51.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4618/...51957877_b.jpg
52.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4707/...a138c587_b.jpg
53.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4749/...7aebd967_b.jpg
54.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4602/...74e2cd9c_b.jpg
55.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4720/...c07fb50c_b.jpg
56.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4715/...ddf1b514_b.jpg
57.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/820/3...45611885_b.jpg
58.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4603/...369afa81_b.jpg
59.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4766/...ba41fd55_b.jpg
60.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4663/...fb2cbd3f_b.jpg
61.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4658/...e9ef99f6_b.jpg
62.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4712/...2f007a78_b.jpg
63.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4666/...b9676c01_b.jpg
64.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4659/...9e543f05_b.jpg
65.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/801/3...c4a9eb37_b.jpg
66.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4648/...21a0e624_b.jpg
67.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4668/...b0825485_b.jpg
68.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/832/2...13ec8c6e_b.jpg
69.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4778/...5096d7e0_b.jpg
70.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/974/3...1a86ab42_b.jpg
71.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4665/...c390aa9e_b.jpg
72.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4785/...7b675e77_b.jpg
73.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4774/...283e875b_b.jpg
74.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4780/...9d5238ac_b.jpg
75.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/804/2...9acb357d_b.jpg
76.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4779/...8333e5ac_b.jpg
77.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4788/...3d4e8c75_b.jpg
78.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4519/...2e9d1279_b.jpg
79.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/800/4...5deccdf3_b.jpg
80.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4775/...b6a9294c_b.jpg
81.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/795/2...9b7239fc_b.jpg
82.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/821/4...0a372c6c_b.jpg
83.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/820/3...31d203b8_b.jpg
84.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/815/4...a2a6c231_b.jpg
85.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/791/4...451cd3e2_b.jpg
86.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/814/4...2ce19391_b.jpg
87.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/880/4...73fe1132_b.jpg
88.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/869/4...ffb397fc_b.jpg
89.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/866/4...f0ef23eb_b.jpg
90.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/806/4...d5bca914_b.jpg
91.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/800/4...bf3d948e_b.jpg
92.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/887/3...5880d59f_b.jpg
93.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/801/4...467deffb_b.jpg
94.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/905/4...3c5c2d2c_b.jpg
95.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/819/4...fb3304b6_b.jpg
96.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/967/4...4d29b1d0_b.jpg
97.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/826/4...5c7e5a3b_b.jpg
98.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/791/4...509c15c2_b.jpg
99.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/912/3...fe0a92c1_b.jpg
100.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/2...f4507a6d_b.jpg
101.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/907/4...e093da57_b.jpg
102.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/829/3...3432275b_b.jpg
103.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/957/4...7dc50818_b.jpg
104.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/831/4...32733609_b.jpg

See also:
Groningen | The Netherlands
London | Mind the gap
Spain; weekend break at the Costa del Sol (Málaga, Puerto Banus)

Wow! Great set

Nice shots!

Nice collection! That new transport hub is pretty photogenic!

NYC felt familiar to you because it remains a Dutch city at its heart and soul.

New Amsterdam was different than its New England counterparts. It all had to do with its attitude...less exclusive, less rigid, more open, more capitalistic, more ambitious, more opportunity.

Once American, the city never abandoned its Dutch spirit...and many people (from all over the world) felt like this place was special...like they belonged!

Excellent mood! Great captures!

Nice job. I really like the sunset skyline pics and Calatrava station pics.

You know what, for most Americans, visiting NYC might not be as difficult as foreigners are, but working and living and integrating into NYC for decent life is also a dream hardly come true.

As not so many native Manhattaners living there and have nowhere else to go, most people they just come and leave, only a matter of period long or short.

its astounding how many dutch visitors nyc gets. its really a thing for them to make a visit. they seem to treat it with some touristic amazement as anyone, but additionally also like home, as well they should.

Great set!

I can relate to what you said about arriving via subway on your first visit. On my first visit, I arrived in Manhattan via subway, but my real entry -- that first real sense of arrival into the city -- is when I climbed the subway steps at my stop in Chelsea and I was instantly in the middle of it all. A massive, buzzing city all around me. And that feeling of, Holy Sh**, I've arrived!

Cyborgs.

Great intro, matched by the pictures. Fantastic. :cheers:

Very impressive set of photos.

Fantabulous. Thank you.

Very nice!

Damn
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4519/...2e9d1279_b.jpg

Bravo! Sounds like a great trip for you...

Thank you for sharing your photos. they are magnificent.

https://greatskyscrapersoftheworld.blogspot.com.es/

Thanks for all the kind words everyone! :)

Actually, about the second person we spoke to - asking for directions (*blush*) - turned out to be Dutch. Not only Dutch but born and raised in Groningen too, our hometown. :D

I could browse through threads like this forever. Great stuff.