I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of living in two of the most fantastic cities in the world: New York and Sydney. While the fast paced, cut throat NYC lifestyle contrasts sharply with the casual beach bum mantra of Sydney, I found myself drawn to certain things that both cities do super well: coffee (NYC / SYD), street art (NYC / SYD), and city views.
My first day back in Sydney this past December, about 8 years after leaving it, didn’t quite go as well as I’d imagined it would. Instead of spending it frolicking around the city and ogling Sydney Harbour, I was stuck on a diverted plane at Canberra Airport for 8 hours.
Behold, the Williamsburg Bridge: my favorite of all the bridges in NYC. It’s not the prettiest, most famous, or most traversed – but I love it fiercely.
Our love affair began innocently enough.
The Great Italy Trip of 2007 marked my first major solo travel experience. Sure, I’d traveled alone a bit the previous year while studying abroad in Australia, but certainly not for five weeks straight.
Along with an undying affinity for coffee, I have an inexplicable appreciation for bridges. If you’ve ever glimpsed my instagram feed, this should not be brand new information.
Unlike my love for coffee, which I can easily explain away by citing coffee’s deliciousness, I’m not really sure why I adore bridges.
With as many international travel adventures as I have under my belt, it is straight up STUPID how little domestic travel I’ve done in comparison. Apart from sporadic jaunts out west or around the northeast, I’ve hardly seen any of my own country – and that’s just unacceptable!
Not too long ago, I admitted to falling into a travel routine which finds me doing predictable Lindsay-esque things whenever I explore a city, whether new or my own: seeking out the good coffee, walking as much as possible, and being frugal with food and accommodation costs.
Last week I was in San Francisco, falling back in love with the city by the bay. We picked right back up from where we left off 5 years ago, and I reluctantly departed with a silent declaration that someday I’ll live there.
At 6 years and counting, my love affair with New York City is the longest commitment I’ve (willingly) made. We’ve been out of the honeymoon phase for awhile, but there’s still plenty to love about this city I call home.
I didn’t plan much beyond excessive coffee consumption and decompression from 5 months of backpacking in Asia for my 2.5 weeks in London en route home – but one thing I knew I wanted to do was take a boat trip on the Thames.