Multicolorful, multicultural, and more
Some of the most fun that I ever had in my life was on my first visit to a friend in New York City. Now, I had been to New York City before, because as a child, I had relatives in Long Island. But only this time did I actually get out and explore some of the more interesting sides of New York City.
Greenwich Village was my absolute favorite. Nowhere else in the world have I seen people feel as free to express themselves as they are. I grew up in Washington, DC, and not until this moment did I realize just how conservative the city of my birth actually is. Never had I seen more color, more fun, and more unique fashion than I did in the Village.
It was a hot summer day in June and we spent the afternoon simply walking through the Village's streets and admiring the variety of people and of scenery. We passed all kinds of small shops selling just about anything you can imagine: from ethnic designs to mod fashion to instruments from all over the world and more. We stopped in one of the instrument shops and I admired several instruments - mostly Middle Eastern - that I had always wanted to learn to play.
We had lunch at a wacky restaurant called Jekyll and Hyde's in which the wait staff play all kinds of tricks and riddles on customers. After that, we explored the neighborhood - in which the Gay Rights movement had originated.
It was...well...liberating to see so many people being themselves out in the bright daylight - certainly something not visible in Washington, DC where the culture is one of elitist snobbery - the wrong kind.
