Controlled Chaos a.k.a. Times Square NYC

Where did I want to spend the last few hours left in 2012?? In Times Square, New York City. Why?? Ummm..well, I was perhaps out of my mind. Did I last?? Umm..no! Disappointed?? Read on.

So, there I was at 4 in the afternoon at 47^th & 7^th. I was already bushed from all the walking and the sightseeing. My bright idea was to get there as early as my worn out limbs would permit and occupy one of the front rows which have a direct view of the Ball Drop. I got there to see that there was this sea of people already geared up and an army of cops with Tommy guns who were busy cordoning off sections of 47^th street and those around it. Talk about riot control!!

Apparently there were a million people in front of me right there and that the crowd was going to get bigger and rougher as the evening progressed. A cop was kind enough to warn me that if I wanted to get out, I needed to do so in about a couple of hours from then before all the streets and subways are shut off. Did I mention it was 0° C outside?? So, now the question was, was I going to stay put standing for another 8 hours in 0° C amidst a crowd of a million people with no water or loo breaks to watch a shiny disco ball drop from a height?? No sir. Not me. True, Train and JB were going to be performing. But I didn’t have any tickets to lose! I’ve mentioned in my earlier blogs that I am a bit of a comfort person. I grew up in place where it is hot for ten months and hotter for the other two. So this to me was inhumanely cold (My bad. I had not been to the Grand Canyon yet). All the restaurants at Times Square were either closed for a private party or were closed. Finally found one open with HEAT and so I sat down to ponder on my status over a steaming cup of coffee. I gracefully admitted defeat and silently saluted the million who were passionate enough to brave it all for the disco ball. I spent New year’s at a bash with a few friends, and watched Times square in the comfort of warmth.

Would I try this again?? Yes. I want to be at 47^th & 7^th for the ball drop. New York is a beautiful place to be in at any time. It was all about the people, the unimaginably tall sky scrappers, the street art, the lights, the colors, the subways!! Everything had a character attached to it. When you are in New York, New York is in you. I had a wonderful time sightseeing. Maybe I’d pick a better season to visit the next time around. But even the cold had character. And it built character. New York was on my wish list, but am not done with it to check it off my list just yet.

Happy traveling people!