Manhattan skyline - a view in a million
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of... Bethany Hutchison reflects on her visit to the Rockefeller centre in New York.
I’m walking through the bustling streets of New York City feeling completely out of place in my surroundings. I’m used to the country air and large open spaces and this, although absolutely beautiful and surreal, is the polar opposite. In between my mother and my grandma, we walk past ‘The Rink’ at the ‘Rockefeller Centre’ and I am met with individuals whizzing around (or more accurately slipping) on the ice. I’m looking on in awe with my grandma standing beside me photographing and recording the spectacle when my parents usher us on. They have something else to show us, something so much better.
Before I know it, we are walking towards a large building. As mentioned previously, I’m unfamiliar with my new, foreign surroundings and I immediately assume that the building towering proudly over me is the Empire State building. However, I’m quickly corrected. What we are about to walk into is the Rockefeller Centre - Built in 1933 this building Is approximately 259 metres high and is one of New York’s most famous attractions. With television shows such as ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘The Today Show’ being recorded outside the building.
I’m looking towards my grandma in anticipation as we enter the building. On top of the doors there is a massive decorative window in warm orange tones and on top of that I gaze longingly at a decorative piece of artwork of what appears to be some sort of king or god encompassed in a collection of gold accented clouds. I’m in complete and utter amazement craning my neck as far as it will go as we pass through the doors in order to commit every last detail to memory.
We enter the building where the same warm tones continue and we are met with more artwork. I look at my grandma, her whole face lit up in wonder, taking everything in. As I walk through the building my thoughts are immediately filled by the fact that my grandma has always wanted to travel to New York and now this dream has become a reality. My heart fills with gratitude and warmth thinking about the fact that my parents have enabled her to fulfil this particular ambition. Despite being on holiday she is still somewhat stuck at home. On her wrist she is wearing two watches, one telling her the time zone in New York and the other one set to the British Time Zone (so that she can think about my grandfather back in England). Before this trip my grandma had been to Las Vegas with a friend of hers where she had an unforgettable time. I only hope that we are able to provide her with the same experience.
After advancing further through the building and entering the Rockefeller lift, we make it to the top of the building (otherwise known as the 'Top of The Rock’). Leaving the lift and the lobby behind my breath instantly catches. Looking over the crisp blue horizon we are able to see everything New York has to offer. Glass surrounds the top of the building as a seamless means of protection. Creating the illusion that there is nothing there stopping you from dangling your legs over the edge. Seeing this clever architectural illusion slightly unnerves me and I’m apprehensive to go too far to the edge just in case I do end up plummeting past the buildings 70 floors. I look towards my father who’s having the time of his life snapping photographs of the skyline and see my sister rapidly moving around, unable to stay still and just appreciate the view for a while. Instead, she darts to the number of binoculars provided, looking through and trying to see if she can see anything interesting. We are all completely and utterly transfixed. I decided at that moment that this will be a core memory of mine. No matter how many holidays I go on, or how many places I visit I will always come back to this: my family, content and in deep admiration, basking in the sunlight and framed by the picturesque skyline.
Bethany Hutchison, Y12
I’m walking through the bustling streets of New York City feeling completely out of place in my surroundings. I’m used to the country air and large open spaces and this, although absolutely beautiful and surreal, is the polar opposite. In between my mother and my grandma, we walk past ‘The Rink’ at the ‘Rockefeller Centre’ and I am met with individuals whizzing around (or more accurately slipping) on the ice. I’m looking on in awe with my grandma standing beside me photographing and recording the spectacle when my parents usher us on. They have something else to show us, something so much better.
Before I know it, we are walking towards a large building. As mentioned previously, I’m unfamiliar with my new, foreign surroundings and I immediately assume that the building towering proudly over me is the Empire State building. However, I’m quickly corrected. What we are about to walk into is the Rockefeller Centre - Built in 1933 this building Is approximately 259 metres high and is one of New York’s most famous attractions. With television shows such as ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘The Today Show’ being recorded outside the building.
I’m looking towards my grandma in anticipation as we enter the building. On top of the doors there is a massive decorative window in warm orange tones and on top of that I gaze longingly at a decorative piece of artwork of what appears to be some sort of king or god encompassed in a collection of gold accented clouds. I’m in complete and utter amazement craning my neck as far as it will go as we pass through the doors in order to commit every last detail to memory.
We enter the building where the same warm tones continue and we are met with more artwork. I look at my grandma, her whole face lit up in wonder, taking everything in. As I walk through the building my thoughts are immediately filled by the fact that my grandma has always wanted to travel to New York and now this dream has become a reality. My heart fills with gratitude and warmth thinking about the fact that my parents have enabled her to fulfil this particular ambition. Despite being on holiday she is still somewhat stuck at home. On her wrist she is wearing two watches, one telling her the time zone in New York and the other one set to the British Time Zone (so that she can think about my grandfather back in England). Before this trip my grandma had been to Las Vegas with a friend of hers where she had an unforgettable time. I only hope that we are able to provide her with the same experience.
After advancing further through the building and entering the Rockefeller lift, we make it to the top of the building (otherwise known as the 'Top of The Rock’). Leaving the lift and the lobby behind my breath instantly catches. Looking over the crisp blue horizon we are able to see everything New York has to offer. Glass surrounds the top of the building as a seamless means of protection. Creating the illusion that there is nothing there stopping you from dangling your legs over the edge. Seeing this clever architectural illusion slightly unnerves me and I’m apprehensive to go too far to the edge just in case I do end up plummeting past the buildings 70 floors. I look towards my father who’s having the time of his life snapping photographs of the skyline and see my sister rapidly moving around, unable to stay still and just appreciate the view for a while. Instead, she darts to the number of binoculars provided, looking through and trying to see if she can see anything interesting. We are all completely and utterly transfixed. I decided at that moment that this will be a core memory of mine. No matter how many holidays I go on, or how many places I visit I will always come back to this: my family, content and in deep admiration, basking in the sunlight and framed by the picturesque skyline.
Bethany Hutchison, Y12
