A week in New York
- PART 2 -
© Etudiante Vagabonde. Photo: Flatiron Building
DAY 4:
Sparking curiosity at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
This morning I am back in Central Park to explore the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which is one of the most famous in the world. The visit is on 6 levels, but it would take a whole day to visit everything, so I advise you to target the periods you want to see. Great and very famous artists such as Picasso, Andy Warhol, van Gogh or Kandinsky are exhibited in this museum. People come from all over the world to admire their works.
Practical information
Hours : The Metropolitan Museum of Art is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except Friday and Saturday when it closes at 9:00 p.m.
Price :
$25 for an adult
$14 for students
$18 for a senior (+65 years)
Free for children up to 16 years old
Street Art in Bushwick
After my visit to the Museum of Modern Art, I will discover a completely different type of contemporary art movement: street art. In the borough of Brooklyn, one neighborhood is very famous for Street Art: Bushwick. So I take the subway to venture there today. From my first steps, I see around me a world that is completely different from the chic neighborhoods of Brooklyn.
In the 1960s, as life became more and more expensive, the Bushwick neighborhood saw the arrival of the African-American, Puerto Rican and Caribbean working classes. The neighborhood then evolved from an economic point of view and became the most dangerous place in New York. Crime, drugs, violence and prostitution reigned here. The place became a little quieter with the arrival of Latinos in the 1990s but the neighborhood has still kept a rather unique atmosphere where the cultural mix is very much felt.
En 2005, ce sont les artistes qui envahissent le quartier de Bushwick lorsqu'ils fuient la bourgeoisie de Williamsburg, situé juste à côté. Suite à ça, de nombreux collectifs de Street Art inondent le quartier de leur graffitis. C'est ce qui fait aujourd'hui la réputation de Bushwick. En me promenant dans les rues, je constate vite que les habitants sont très attachés à cet art éphémère. Pour moi et mon appareil photo, toutes ces fresques représentent un vrai terrain de jeu.
I quickly sense the hipster culture that energizes the streets by taking a look at the decoration of the trendy bars in the area, the large number of thrift stores and the "slow life" attitude of the locals.
I venture into a few thrift stores that sell very vintage old clothes. I find old t-shirts from big rock'n'roll bands and biker jackets.
Flatiron Building: New York's iron
Much smaller than other skyscrapers in the city, the Flatiron Building still piques my curiosity. It is an emblematic monument of New York that has appeared in several Hollywood films, including Spider-Man. Located on 5th Avenue, facing Madison Square Park, the building is 87 meters high. It owes its name "flat iron" to its rather strange iron shape for a building.
A visit to the Natural History Museum
This museum, which was the setting for the film Night at the Museum 1, is one of the most beautiful in New York City. I really enjoyed visiting this museum, which took me on a journey through the history of the Earth and the Universe in general with indigenous cultures, dinosaurs, animals and human sciences.
Practical information
Opening hours : The Natural History Museum is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Price :
$22 for an adult general admission ticket,
$26 for an adult general admission ticket + one exhibition included
$31 for an adult general admission ticket + all exhibitions included
JOUR 5
Visite du Financial District
Je commence ma visite du quartier des affaires par le fameux taureau de Wall Street. Ce taureau de bronze est l'emblème du quartier, il en garde bien l'entrée. La statue nommée «Charging Bull» en anglais, ce qui signifie «le taureau en train de charger», démontre une posture agressive dans le but de dénoncer la hausse des marchés financiers.
Je continue ma visite du Financial District, le quartier des affaires, où les plus grosses institutions financières de la ville se trouvent. C'est notamment ici que se trouve la Bourse de New-York.
One World Trade Center: the tallest tower in the city
Walking through the business district, I can't help but pass by One World Trade Center, a symbol of New York. It is the tallest skyscraper in the city with its 104 floors and the sixth tallest in the world.
At the foot of One World Trade Center, I come across two large fountains that are located on the former site of the twin towers that collapsed on September 11, 2001. This is the September 11 Memorial that pays tribute to all the victims of the attack. The park is completely free to enter.
Stone Street: Old New York
Au détour de ma promenade dans le quartier historique du Financial District, je découvre Stone Street. Cette rue qui doit son nom à son pavage en pierres marque un joli contraste entre l'ancien et le moderne de la ville. Elle représente le charme de l'ancien New-York, au 17ème siècle.
In the street, I sit down at one of the many tables in an Irish pub to enjoy a good fish and chips and a good Irish beer.
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