New York, New York…. Woooow! I could start and end this blog with that (New York itself is a statement!), but I won’t 😊. The opportunity presented itself and the road took me to NYC this time. Although I have to admit, it wasn’t very high on my “MUST SEE” list. I’m more attracted to the wilderness than concrete. And I always thought of New York as too crowded, the buildings would make me feel so tiny and cramped, etc…. Oh my, was I WRONG! It’s actually a jungle on asphalt. A city full of diversity, energy, beauty… Yes beauty…I was blown away by those giant buildings, each was an architectural gem, in my eyes. So let’s start .
I was staying there for about 10 days, and that’s enough time to really take your time touring the city and absorb everything. I like to absorb the energy of everyday life wherever I go. I was staying at friends in Brooklyn, from where I took the subway to Manhattan every day. I have to admit that their metro is genius. The city is well connected in any direction you turn, the road signs are clear and the people are very accommodating. Considering that it is the city that never sleeps, the traffic is hectic and people are always rushing, I expected New Yorkers to be tense, edgy or even insolent but their kindness and calmness simply disarmed me. Whatever I needed to ask there were always two or three of them ready to help. Also, considering the size and population of NYC there is a certain amount of crime, however, I can really say that I felt safe those 10 days (although you can never be cautious enough). The feeling of insecurity has never overwhelmed me. Every day I visited one part of Manhattan and absorbed its magic. From morning to night, my legs discovered the wonders of this city (and were hurting too J).
Speaking of good advice 😊 forget Uber from the airport to Manhattan. In fact, you can get there much cheaper and faster if you use their underground network. AirTrain runs from the airport to the Jamaica station. In Jamaica, you transfer to the Metro or LIRR (if you found a place in Brooklyn) and the New York is yours 😊. You can buy a weekly Metro pass for USD 33 and you have unlimited rides for a full 7 days. After that, you can top it up depending on how many more days you will be there
People asked me if I was afraid to walk around NYC alone. I told them NO. It’s the best thing that happened to me. I had my own pace, the things I wanted to see, take pictures of… In New York, even if you’re alone, you can NEVER be bored! That’s why all of you who have doubts about going solo to NYC, I say go! There’s so much going on that you wouldn’t have time for company anyway 😊.
We all know that New York is an expensive and luxurious city to live in, but as a tourist you can get by everyday with very little money 😊. Food from their road trucks is great (except for the hot dog which I didn’t like at all, but I can forgive them for that). There are supermarkets with a gastro section where you can buy nice hot soup and other menus (pasta, meat, salad… anything your heart desires). You can eat a complete meal there for about 20 USD. Restaurants are a different story, be aware that you will spend a little more money in restaurants because, as I said, NYC is an expensive city. What amazed me the most is that they have chairs and tables placed in all of different places that are not connected to any bar or restaurant but are simply there for people to rest. Time Square or Bryant Park are just few of examples of such places.
One of my favorite places has certainly become Bryant Park. A beautiful park in the middle of the city where you can come sit down and take a break from the rush, eat or hang out with friends. And even take photos of random couples. Not secretly, of course!J Because that is exactly what happened to me. I would just call it fate! I always wanted to photograph couples in NYC. That day at Bryant Park, during my break from sightseeing I stumbled upon a wonderful young couple who needed some help with their own camera. Soon we found ourselves having a full blown couple’s photoshoot there!
Another place that totally blew me away is the High line. A former railroad turned into a promenade in the western part of Manhattan. You have the feeling that you are far from the bustle of the streets when it is happening right below you. Just an amazing feeling. I could talk to you for days about the NYC scenery, the whole city is a movie scene. Everywhere you turn, you can recognize a frame from a movie or series. It was so fun discovering it all!
Museums are a MUST when visiting New York! Especially American Museum of Natural History and the iconic MET (Museum of Art). I was honestly blown away by the MET. You can spend hours in there, so fill your stomachs before going in so you can enjoy and take your time inside😊. The art is breathtaking, hypnotizing, romantic… I got there just a few days after the MET Gala (Costume Institute Benefit) so alongside the museum’s permanent installation the “Karl Lagerfeld: a line of beauty” show was also on display. The show honors late designer Karl Lagerfeld. Museum prices range between $30 and $45 and are worth every dollar. So don’t skip them. Rather skip the street hot dog 😊
Another thing that suprised me in a good way is how clean the city really is. YES, you read that right. A city of 10 million inhabitants (that is Manhattan alone), approx. 20 million if we count the other parts of NYC, is actually clean. Before I came, I was expecting chaos there, but I found nothing like that 😊.
As for shopping (I’m not really crazy about it), there is one very decent outlet, but it’s located in New Jersey. The connection to Manhattan is excellent. At the bus terminal, get on the bus to Mills Garden Outlet and drive there carefree. Buses run constantly, and the shopping center is open until 9 p.m. so you can enjoy shopping until you drop 😊. Although honestly, as EUR and USD are currently equal in value, it is no longer that time when shopping on discount really pays off. Similar clothes can be found in Europe on online sites that offer great discounts too.
To sum it all up, reading what I wrote so far I have come to realization that I could probably write ten more pages about my adventures in New York and my admirations for it. I guess because my expectations weren’t very high I got blown away! Every corner, every building, coffee shop, park, tells a story of New York. Those blinding lights, cars honking, murmur on the streets, people rushing. This concrete jungle with some greenery really stole my heart. It was a love story! I can now totally understand New Yorkers when they say it is the best city in the world (not that I necessarily agree, but can understandJ). Hoping to be back soon I am ending this blog with a very warm recommendation for you to go and explore this magnificent city! You won’t go wrong.
