I want to tell you about Jorge (pronounced HOR-hay - Spanish pronunciation.)
He works at Buchette Del Vino, a little wine bar in Times Square that became my favourite spot in NYC to take a load off, have a cold Peroni and watch the crazy shenanigans unfolding around me.
I’d only popped in a couple of times but he was always there with a smile on his face and some good old New York hospitality.
So on Wednesday we said goodbye to our lovely house sit and the gorgeous animal family we were looking after, and headed into the city for a 3-night stay.
I had tickets for Top of the Rock that evening, so Rhett and I had a wander, sat in Central Park soaking up the sun, grabbed a quick bite and then I headed off to have my tourist moment.
Afterwards we wandered back through Times Square to get the full night time experience (ah-maz-ing), & as we passed Buchette Del Vino (I wanted to show Rhett my new local haunt), I called out to Jorge to say Hi.
He instantly recognised me & invited us in for a beer on him! 🥰
Literally two free Peronis for hubby and me so we could sit, watch the madness of Times Square and soak it all in.
How lovely is that?? I arrived in NYC a complete stranger a couple of weeks ago, and here I was being welcomed back like an old friend at a little bar in Times Square no less! 😎
It’s moments like that that get etched into your memory. Those little moments of human connection & kindness.
There’s an old saying that money makes the world go round, but I don’t think it does.
I think we do.
People meeting people, casual conversations, friendships made, even if only for the blink of an eye. Unexpected moments that make you smile and remember, long after you’ve forgotten what building you saw on what day.
I think that’s what makes the world go round.
Talking about moments…
I’m writing this from Central Park on Saturday morning just before we leave for Philly & I’ve just watched not one but TWO couples get engaged right in front of me!
Oh my gosh!
They were crying, I was crying, the woman on the bench next to me was crying & there’s a lovely old guy playing romantic songs on his erhu (Chinese Violin) as this is all unfolding. It’s like a fairy tale! ❤️
So yes I have walked umpteen thousand steps, visited the New York Public Library, eaten an $18 street cart hot dog (I kid you not), taken a stupid amount of photos of all the landmarks, visited Lady Liberty in the pouring rain, shed a tear at the 9/11 memorial, tried to reenact Working Girl on the Staten Island ferry (😂), and watched the Yankees take on the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
I have done as much of New York as I could fit in and loved every minute of it!
But as I sit here on my last morning, it’s not the buildings or the landmarks I’m thinking about.
It’s my chance meeting with a lady called Kristin over a beer, my new friend Jorge, my wonderful day out with Pamela Marshall a fellow Substacker, the Welsh family I met in an Irish pub on Broadway, all the amazing New Yorkers I’ve had random conversations with, and the lady sitting next to me on a bench in Central Park this morning, both of us crying as two beautiful engagements unfolded in front of us.
Those are the moments that will truly stay with me as I leave this amazing city. ❤️
Thank you New York, you’ve far exceeded my expectations and I will be back. 🗽
I'm so glad you had a great experience of the USA. In spite of the insanity going on here, the vast majority of us are good, kind people who will do what we can to help others. Even New Yorkers, lol!