Every journey has its sights to see, stories to tell, and savors to remember.

It’s been 20+ years since Manny and I were last in New York, and so much has changed. This trip really made us see it differently. In a good way.

🚞 Grand Central Terminal — soaking in the buzzing crowds, the celestial ceiling, and the breathtaking architecture.

🖼️ Museum of Modern Art — wandering through galleries filled with masterpieces at every turn – all 4 floors of it. Picasso’s paintings were also featured when we visited.

🕊️ 9/11 Memorial and the One World Observatory — a blend of reflection 🙏and awe from one of the city’s highest viewpoints.

⛪ Trinity Church offered a quiet pause contrasted with the fast-paced rhythm of Wall Street, complete with the Fearless Girl and Charging Bull.

🌉 Brooklyn Bridge — unforgettable skyline views.

🏞️ Central Park — the perfect escape from the city rush; even paused to enjoy a live performance.

🌆 SUMMIT One Vanderbilt — glass floors and sweeping views that made it feel like floating above Manhattan.

🏙️Empire State Building — a classic, timeless view of the city that never sleeps. Brought back memories of Sleepless in Seattle.

🗽 Lady Liberty and Ellis Island added a meaningful touch of history to the trip.

🏀 New York Knicks vs. Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden—an electric atmosphere from start to finish. Bonus: Knicks won! And we got to see Jordan Clarkson play—wasn’t his best night, but he dropped 9 points. Pinoy pride! 🇵🇭

🎭 Saw Mamma Mia on Broadway — nostalgic and fun, singing along to the ABBA songs I grew up with.

🍔 No NYC trip is complete without indulging in its food scene: burgers and beer at Black Tap, massive bagels from Ess-a-Bagel, a box of Joe’s Pizza, and the iconic sweetness of Junior’s Cheesecake.

A whirlwind tour of NYC— history, views, food, and those only-in-New-York moments.

But the journey didn’t end there.

Our flight home was unexpectedly diverted to Anchorage, Alaska due to a medical emergency onboard. An elderly passenger suffered a seizure mid-flight— tense moment for everyone.

What was truly moving, though, was how quickly six strangers (2 Pinoys included) with different backgrounds, coming together in an instant. It felt like watching a real-life ER episode unfold.

The passenger’s wife apologized to everyone as they disembarked, but everyone reassured her there was nothing to be sorry about. When Anchorage paramedics arrived and retrieved the passenger, the entire plane broke into applause – sharing a collective breath of relief.

We were informed that the passenger was transported to a hospital in Alaska, and I hope he’s now recovering well.

From our suspenseful start to NYC marathon and all the way to this epic ending, moments like these remind us that even when the world around us makes it seem like the bad outweighs the good, people still show up for one another. And sometimes, that becomes the most unforgettable part of the journey.✨

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Mamma Mia!

NYC Eats