Popularly known as the city that was purchased for $24 dollars by Dutch settler Peter Minuet in 1614 from the native Le nape Indian.

It was named New York later after the English conquered this area and after the Duke of York.

Wedged between the East River to the east and the Hudson River to the west, the city is surrounded by water. It is a trend setting city and center for the arts, sports, entertainment, fine dining, culture, fashion and finances. The city is also known for its skyscrapers and has more than double the amount of skyscrapers than any other city in the world.

New York City is broken down into 5 boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. As opposed to Los Angeles, it is a city where most inhabitants chose not to and do not travel by car. Transport is by train, subway, bus, taxi, scooters, bicycle, roller blades, horse carriage or by foot.

The city has 4 distinct seasons where you have snow in the winter and hot humid summer days. The main water source for New York City drinking water is the Catskill Mountains from northern New York.

New York City gets in the neighborhood of 40 million tourists per year which includes foreigners and residents from other areas of the United States. They come to see Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum, other museums such as the Guggenheim and the Museum of Modern Art, the New York Botanical Gardens, the United Nations, Central Park, the Bronx Zoo, Rockefeller Center, etc.

There are numerous ethnic pools throughout the city including in the various boroughs. In the downtown Manhattan area you have pockets like Chinatown and Little Italy. There is also a Jewish community in the downtown area and if you look carefully you can find an old style dairy restaurant and find some choice cheese blintzes and other ethnic specialties.

If you were to running the marathon through the city you would pass through all sorts of different cultural areas and the people are there cheering you on the whole way. They are out in numbers lining the streets.

The city is also known for its life and vibrancy. Whereas may other cities shut down, you can always find something going on into the wee wee hours. The pace is fast and the tone at first glance may appear to be a bit intimidating, but when you get through that people are very nice and like to help others. There is a certain sense of comrade among New Yorkers. If you are from New York it is special to find another New Yorker in another part of the world.

The sport of baseball was very strong in New York in the early 20th century and the tradition has carried on into today. I guess after 50 years the Brooklyn Dodgers can now be forgiven for leaving Brooklyn and moving to Los Angeles.

If you have never been to New York City and you are not adverse to city life, then it is a place that should be on your list to visit.