You should go at least once in your life ....

(Some photos from the archives!)

A few years ago my wonderful husband treated me to a birthday trip to New York. It was a very short visit for just 4 days, but we walked our little legs off trying to fit in a much as possible. I must add that New York in March can be a bitterly cold place - the sunshine cannot get down to the pavements due to all those tall buildings. (Far colder than many days I have experienced here in the great white north. It's the damp air you see!)

One of my favourite buildings during our visit was Grand Central Station. And though not purposefully arty but rather an accident of shutter speed, I rather like this capture of people in motion.

St Patrick's Cathedral off Fifth Avenue - commenced in 1858 and completed in 1878.

I love seeing blasts of old amongst the towers of the new, like hidden gems.

The Art Deco Rockerfeller Centre in Manhattan, finalised, I believe, in 1939.

And the view from the top - see St Patrick's again in the bottom left?

Ground Zero - as at 2006. I suspect it looks very different now.

Looking over Central Park - it really is a massive rectangle of nature in the midst of honking cars and smelly fumes (2.5 miles long and half a mile wide). For an urban park, I really liked the vibes, and I was surprised at how quiet it was (as in not much noise versus not many people). This picture is in March, so no lush greenery or trees unfortunately, but the outline is clear.

And the Lady herself, from a safe and breezy distance - the Statue of Liberty.

And Carnegie Hall - and (stolen from Wiki), I can tell you it was designed by William Burnet Tuthill and built by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1891 - it is one of the most famous venues in the United States for classical music and popular music, renowned for its beauty, history and acoustics.

Like I said, everyone should try and go to New York at least once.