I went to the largest city in the USA for New Year’s Eve, when the freezing wind blows all day long, piercing your skin.
It would be impossible to describe my whole trip, so here are the main places I went to during my stay in “the capital of the world”.
New York will not leave you indifferent. It astonishes by its gigantism and captivates by its diversity. And yet everyone knows New York. The photos and movies are endless and I felt I had already been here, but I soon realised that everything is more than I thought – bigger and higher!
One of the most amazing experiences I had in the Big Apple was to cross the Brooklyn Bridge that is suspended over the East River linking Manhattan to Brooklyn. Along two kilometres, traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge is on two levels, one for motor vehicles and one for cyclists and pedestrians. From the bridge, the view is beautiful, and you feel very small!
A visit to the Rockefeller Center was magical as I went to the Top of the Rock – 70 floors high – where I could enjoy the 360º view over Central Park and the city skyscrapers. I went to the Top of the Rock instead of the Empire State Building because there was no queue and because it was actually cheaper, and I was not disappointed at all. Outside stood the famous Christmas Tree, all lit up and surrounded by hundreds of tourists.
Times Square was like a postcard of New York, the place is surrounded by spectacular animated, digital advertisements. It is like London’s Piccadilly Circus but bigger, much bigger!
I went to Ellis Island by the ferry that stops at Liberty Island, where stands the Statue of Liberty. Between 1892 and 1924, over 12 million potential immigrants landed on Ellis Island, which was the mandatory checkpoint for migrants before entering the United States. A museum traces the history of American immigration through stories of migrants. It is a very interesting, captivating and disconcerting visit. You almost feel like the immigrants are still here.
I spent two days walking along streets without purpose; I think it was a good way to discover the city. My starting point was the New York Stock Exchange in Wall Street. Then I went along Lafayette Street and Canal Street. The second day, I discovered Madison Avenue, the 5th Avenue and its luxury shops, and Central Park.
On Sunday morning my friend and I went to Harlem to listen to some gospel. Unfortunately we went to the wrong church and missed it, although I have heard it is an amazing experience.
My recommending travel guide is the simple but complete Time Out shortlist guide of New York, and a map from the National Geographic Society. Author: Violaine Sabot
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