I never actually thought that I ever wanted to go to New York, you see it on movies and TV shows, read about it in books but it seemed (to me anyways) some far off dream place that existed but never really seen. But shit we were there! The things we could do!
So after what seemed like a very traumatizing night we put on our big girl/big boy panties and went off to venture the city. So the way we had planned out our week (and yes there was an itinerary) was to go out to the Bronx and do the Bronx Zoo. We really took the bull by the horns and jumped right in to New York culture. If you are ever going to New York City I strongly suggest taking the subway EVERYWHERE you go, that thing although does not sound very safe or secure is the most useful thing in New York. There were trains that went everywhere and there seemed to be a train stop everywhere we looked. Granted it takes awhile to get used to the train in the sense that it is confusing as hell the first time you get on and try to navigate your way around. The most useful invention is Google Maps, I am not sure what we would have done if it weren't for Google Maps because that beautiful, beautiful thing got us all around New York.
I hope you remember that this is my boyfriends first journey away from the dear old motherland of Canada so seeing his facial expressions as we were walking around the immense city was hilarious! He would always be pulling me back if I made him too uncomfortable by standing what he felt was too close to the edge of the platform, telling me about how many people die a year in New York by the subway alone. If it got to be a bit too noisy for him we would have to move further down the platform away from the crowd and noise which could get a little difficult at times but he would find a way. So by going to the Bronx the first thing on our adventure was something I knew could go one of two ways, him being sketched out the entire time or him enjoying himself.
There are components of the Bronx that is exactly stereotypical of what you hear, there were a lot of low income houses, the fanciness of the apartment buildings kept on gradually getting worse and worse. Not to fear though I imagine at night this would have been a different experience, I am not sure because I did not go down there at night but when we were there it was beautiful! Although it was the middle of February the parks were colorful and pretty, not a common occurrence here in Canada. On our journey Google Maps was not very specific in the walking directions so me and my boyfriend walked aimlessly for a little bit until one of us got the courage to ask for directions to the zoo. We must have honestly looked so foreign our entire trip there, looking awestruck and lost half the time.
The Bronx Zoo: I LOVED THE BRONX ZOO! If you are ever in New York and you do not go to the Bronx Zoo you are missing out! This place was honestly the nicest zoo I have ever been in, I know I sound like a tourist but man alive was it nice in there. Of all the exotic animals around the ones I found most interesting were actually the sea lions. Their little habitat was so cute, there were all these sea lions lounging in the sun loving life. You will soon learn that I am an avid Harry Potter fan so my other favourite animal was the snowy owl, I would be lying if I didn't run up to it and scream Hedwig!! The owl was so pretty and majestic. The saddest exhibit that made my heart hurt a little bit was the polar bear exhibit. What the zoo had done was close the bear of from the indoor exhibit my assumption was to make it so the bear was active and moving but it kept walking back and forth between the doors. Sad. 
Other than that the day seemed to go off without a hitch, we walked around the zoo, missed the lions which my boyfriend was most excited to see and we ventured back to the hotel. The second night was also the night that we ventured out to Times Square, it was quite late this night so I was really tired. I am not sure how we had wondered over to Times Square or whether or not it was intentional and we just followed the light. (Very heaven-esque) I got to experience first hand what they mean by the city that never sleeps. It was 10pm at night (in Edmonton the stores are well past closed) and here we are where even the restaurants are still open! Writing about it now it makes me miss the city, not just because Times Square because it is just a different culture. Here in Canada there is not that much excitement and we are fairly low key but there was a place where it was bright and each and every store provided some form of entertainment or another. We had taken pictures with a police man, tried to get someone to take some pictures of us but they turned out shitty. It still has this little Eskimo girl in awe that a place like that exists, the excitement and the life. 