A week in New York
- PART 1 -
© Etudiante Vagabonde. Photo: View of Brooklyn Bridge Park
DAY 1
Discovering the chic neighborhoods of Brooklyn
Je pars de Mexico City ce matin-là pour atterrir à l'aéroport international John F. Kennedy en début d'après-midi. La file d'attente pour passer l'immigration en arrivant aux États-Unis est interminable, j'attends presque deux heures pour montrer mon passeport et répondre à quelques questions. Suite à toute cette agitation, je me dirige vers Brooklyn pour découvrir le quartier qui m'accueillera durant les sept prochains jours. Je découvre alors les "brownstones", ces hautes et anciennes maisons construites en grès rouge, typiques de certains quartiers de Brooklyn. Les maisons sont collées unes à unes et sont disposées sur plusieurs étages. On accède généralement à la porte d'entrée du premier étage par un bel escalier qui donne sur le trottoir.
Climb Rockefeller Center
I climb the stairs of the subway station to land at the foot of the Rockefeller Center. The change is rather abrupt, I feel engulfed by the buildings around me, like a little mouse in a maze. I enter the Rockefeller building, I hand over my ticket and I get into the elevator. In just a few seconds the elevator travels 80 floors. My stomach has stayed on the first floor while my feet are already at the top of the building, it's a bit like a high-speed attraction.
I get out of the elevator with the crowd and I go through the door to discover a terrace overlooking Manhattan. For a first point of view on New York it is rather grandiose! One side of the terrace offers a beautiful panoramic view of Central Park framed by buildings on both sides. I go back in and walk around the terrace and on the other side I admire the heart of Manhattan with the Empire State Building right in front of my eyes.
Yankees game
Coming down from Rockefeller Center I meet up with my friend with whom we head towards the Yankees stadium. A game is taking place this afternoon, the Yankees are playing against the Chicago team! The subways are full of fans dressed in Yankees colors. Entering the stadium, I discover a crazy atmosphere, here Baseball is a real culture! Stands serve burgers and sodas everywhere. A good way for me to familiarize myself with American culture.
Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge
After spending the afternoon baking in the sun at Yankee Stadium, we head to the famous Brooklyn Bridge; one of the oldest suspension bridges in the country, and also the most famous in the city! We then begin crossing the bridge on foot, about fifty meters above the East River, from the Brooklyn borough to Manhattan.
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This beautiful walk of about two kilometers allows you to admire the skyline of Manhattan and the other neighboring bridges. You can also make out the silhouette of the Statue of Liberty in good weather.
The bridge crossing is completely free. It is done on two levels: one for vehicles and the other for cyclists/pedestrians. The walk lasts about 30 minutes and allows you to take your time to admire the view and the cars that circulate below our feet.
DAY 2
In the heart of the Big Apple: Central Park
My second day in New York starts with a beautiful sun, so I decide to go for a stroll in Central Park! I get on the subway and when I get out of the station, I stop to rent a bike from one of the many agencies located near the park. For $10 an hour, I get a beautiful yellow bike, which allows me to travel the length and breadth of the park. Knowing that the latter is about four kilometers long and 800 meters wide, the bike is a good way to get around even if I still had to get off the bike to take some paths reserved for pedestrians.
As I enter the park, I realize the immensity of the space. The bike path that goes around Central Park is actually a real highway! There are many cyclists and joggers who come here to do their daily sport. It is not uncommon to come across groups practicing yoga on the green spaces or young schoolchildren doing sports. I also come across a lot of animals; small birds, turtles in the lakes and squirrels.
230 Fifth Rooftop Garden Bar
Although it is the most touristy rooftop in the city, I never miss going to this bar during my visit to New York since it offers a breathtaking view of the Empire State Building which is about ten blocks away.
This rooftop is open all year round, every day from 2pm to 4am. After midnight, it is strictly a bar and they no longer serve food. Admission is free, you just have to consume to be able to sit down. A burger costs around $18 and a cocktail $14. A brunch is offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm for $29.
In winter, transparent igloos are placed on the terrace to enjoy the view while staying warm.
New York Madness in Times Square
After the calm of Central Park comes the New York madness in the heart of Times Square. Arriving at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Broadway, I feel like I'm in a Hollywood movie. Commercials, stores and lights on all sides, a very bling-bling world but fun for a moment. Here, there are about 365,000 people who pass by daily, enough to easily get lost in the crowd.
I soak up the atmosphere of this magical place, so I go and enjoy a good burger before starting a little shopping session. I spend a few dollars in the huge stores, I walk through the many floors of each building from where the view of Times Square is wonderful.
After dark, the magic still works in Times Square. We climb the famous red stairs to observe the hustle and bustle from a little higher up.
DAY 3
The Vessel
Today I'm heading to the Hudson Yards neighborhood to discover a strange work of art: The Vessel. This sculpture attracts all eyes. Designed by the English artist Thomas Heatherwick, this work of art is also an observatory since you can climb to the top of it and enjoy the view.
Access to this observatory is completely free, however you must book your ticket. Two solutions are available to you; either you can book your entrance ticket on the website tickets.hudsonyardsnewyork.com or you can book it for the big day at the foot of the Vessel with the risk of having to wait.
Climbing the Empire State Building
It's rather gray today but I still decide to use my CityPass to climb to the top of the famous Empire State Building. I don't recommend you to do the same thing since you can't see much from up there when there are clouds. On top of that, once I got to the 86th floor, I was told that access to the 102nd floor was inaccessible at the moment due to construction. The view wasn't very impressive but the atmosphere of the buildings in the clouds was quite unique.
Walk along Brooklyn Bridge Park
That evening I decided to go see the sunset from Brooklyn Bridge Park. I then left Brooklyn on foot and followed the river to the park. From the bank, I observed the majestic skyline which very symbolically represents the city of New York.
At the end of the day, many people have settled in the park to relax or play sports. Many basketball, football and baseball fields are available to the public, which delights the youngest who come here to let off steam with friends.
After dark, lights twinkle on the skyscrapers across the river, and the Brooklyn Bridge lights up. The view is amazing, I feel like I'm in one of those Hollywood movies.
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