Hallo ihr Lieben,

nachdem heute der letzte Novembertag ist, möchte ich unbedingt eine November-Erinnerung mit euch teilen. In diesem Monat vor drei Jahren habe ich Leila in New York City auf einer Exkursion kennengelernt. Sie studiert aktuell in Dublin. Und von dort hat sie mir ihren Gastbeitrag zu unserem Trip geschickt, den ich mit Fotos von mir (& Photocredits von Leila, wenn ich vor der Linse bin) versehen hab. Vielen lieben Dank an Leila für den Artikel & vor allem für unsere Freundschaft, die auch über so viele Kilometer Distanz besteht.
Mein persönliches New York Highlight war unter anderem die Fotoausstellung im International Center of Photography (ICP) mit Bildern von Lewis Hine. Er war ein New Yorker Soziologe, Fotojournalist und Aktivist, der sich für die Abschaffung von Kinderarbeit in den USA Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts einsetzte und dafür seine Kamera benutzte. Er verkleidete sich z.B. als Feuerwehrmann, um in Fabriken (bei denen sonst der Zutritt verboten war) zu gelangen und fotografierte dort. Er zeigte, wie gezeichnet vom Leben sie waren. Doch er fotografierte auch auf den Straßen New Yorks, Kinder beim Rauchen und Alkohol trinken, Immigranten, und dokumentierte einfachste Wohnverhältnisse von Arbeiterfamilien.

Love,
Luisa

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New York, New York

I want to wake up in that city – that never sleeps

Guest Contribution by Leila Vaziri

How does it feel to wake up in one of the most incredible cities on earth? After spending one week in New York, I can tell you exactly how it feels: amazing! I just couldn’t believe how beautiful and big this city is and it certainly has some kind of magic.

But first things first: We (my friends Luisa, Lydia, Alisa and I) arrived in Newark at 9:30 pm and got in our cosy hotel room. After a short period of being puzzled – two of us had to sleep in queen sized beds while we hardly knew each other, just having met at the airport the first time – we all felt asleep, tired from the flight and at the same time excited. The next morning, we headed off to New York City. I think I will never forget the feeling I had when I set my first step to Manhattan ground. It was awesome! I just couldn’t believe it!

We went to museums almost every day – first to the Guggenheim Museum (which has one of my all-time favourite paintings, Picasso’s Woman Ironing), then the Museum of Modern Art (which was the greatest museum I have ever visited! Luisa and I stayed there until it closed), the Metropolitan Museum and finally the Natural History Museum (that’s the museum they shoot the film Night at the Museum with Ben Stiller).

One of the highlights was a diem tour with Professor Carol H. Krinsky from the New York University. Professor Krinsky is a seventy years old history of architecture professor and the most stunning and agile woman I know. She showed us around in a terrific speed and explained why New York is special in so many ways. Of course we saw all the famous buildings and places like the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Centre, Central Park and the New York train station, Broadway and Little Italy. We went to Macy’s, Forever 21 and all the other great shops and brands on and off Broadway. Shopping in New York is simply brilliant! And we had the best and most peculiar dinner at Little Italy (Luisa had Pasta with Vodka) and the best cupcake in a little pink bakery called “Little Bake Shop”.

One must do in the big apple is the Broadway. The first show we saw was Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, which was brilliant! The second show we visited was The Betrayal with Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz. It was a modern play about love and life and both actors were terrific! Afterwards we got the possibility to stand in line for an autograph and I was one of the lucky people he gave on to! It was my first autograph ever and it felt magically! Definitive my personal number one highlight of the trip.

On the fourth day of our trip we went to Ellis- and Liberty Island. It was such a great feeling to finally see the real stature of liberty! The museum at Ellis Island was also very interesting and informing. Did you know that it was called Gibbet Island in the early 18^th century after a group of pirates were hung from gibbets there? The only annoying thing was the cold weather. It was freezing! But at least at our last day the sun came out and New York showed that it can be nice and warm after all. The last thing we did was driving home in a yellow cap. I guess that’s a must do – otherwise you missed something! And it felt … amazing again! J

After one great week, many stunning pictures, heaps of spectacular impressions and with our suitcase full of new clothes, we had to head back home. But knowing this won’t be my last trip to New York made it a little bit easier to leave this unique city.

… New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There’s nothing you can’t do
Now you’re in New York

These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York
New York, New York

One hand in the air for the big city
Street lights, big dreams, all looking pretty
No place in the world that can compare …

Empire State of Mind (part II) – Alicia Keys, Jay Z

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