“I Thought It Was A Normal Day… Chipotle for lunch.”

September is the most beautiful and pleasant time in NYC. The best month to visit the city and a New Yorker’s Summer treat before the cold creeps in. The concrete is warm, the sun is shining, and Mother Nature sends a soft breeze through the city. It’s not humid, it’s not raining, and you don’t need sunglasses because the buildings protect you from the sun. In September, you can tour landmarks, run errands, and spread love all over Manhattan!

On this day I had a lot to do! It was a week and a half away from our wedding, and we were doing everything ourselves. Having had a full schedule for the last few months, it was only getting fuller, and today was no exception! Happy as a lark and smitten as a Bride, I planned to accomplish as many errands as possible and have Chipotle for lunch! After bouncing around downtown (well, the East Village around Great Jones and Canal St.) I caught a cab to head up to Midtown for the Garment District and buy fabric for tablecloths.

As we made our way uptown, the traffic got heavier and heavier, and the people became denser. We arrived at a complete stop around 22nd St. & 6th Ave. With no other option, I paid for the cab and started walking. Making my way towards 34th Street, it was evident that something big was happening! When I saw people climbing traffic lights I knew, It was not an ordinary day!

I asked someone, “What is going on? What happened?” -They answered, “The Pope is here!”

“The Pope, like THE Pope!?!” -Looking at me like I lived under a rock, he exclaimed, “YEAH! The Pope.”

Realizing the magnitude of Pope Francis being in town, I knew there was no way I would reach the Garment District.

But first, Chipotle! 

I went through the crowd and finished the trek at 34th Street’s Chipotle! Surprised that I was even able to get a burrito, I turned around and started making my way home. I had never seen Manhattan so full of people! Googling while eating my burrito, the crowd in my photos would grow over the next few hours while they waited for Pope Francis to ride by with greetings.

Facts About This Day From The Official Website of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation- https://nycgocparks.org

Pope Francis visited New York City’s most prominent and iconic landmark, Central Park, on September 25, 2015. The weather was perfect for the 80,000 people who filled Manhattan’s streets.

East to West, from 26th Street in Chelsea over to Kips Bay, the streets were filled with people. Up through Midtown, The East Side, and to the top of Central Park at 110 St. 

For two days, Pope Francis was greeted at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, spoke to the United Nations General Assembly, visited the 9/11 Memorial, and held Mass at Madison Square Garden.