New York, New York

A single day in New York isn’t sufficient to fully explore all it has to offer, but it does give us a glimpse and an understanding of its most iconic places. We’re really pleased we visited as we covered a lot of ground on foot and also had a great time.

New York presented us with an authentic American experience. We witnessed its vibrant energy and saw both its stunning and less appealing aspects. We never felt unsafe, although I did mention that I wouldn’t feel entirely comfortable being alone in certain situations. This perception might be influenced by movies, or it could be based on reality. The reality is that New York is a melting pot of diverse people, including those who may not appear entirely trustworthy.

We spent almost the entire day in New York, arriving at 8 in the morning when we touched down at the airport, and departing at 10 in the evening for our return flight to Boston.

Central Park

We landed at LaGuardia Airport at around 8 a.m. From there, we boarded a bus to Harlem and then used the subway to reach Central Park. Exiting at 86th St, we stepped into the park. The first scent that greeted us was that of dog waste. After walking a bit, we realized why – there seemed to be more dogs than people around. Given it was a pleasant Saturday morning, everyone was out and about. While the smell was noticeable at first, we soon got used to it and still enjoyed our time in the park.

Our first stop was Belvedere Castle for some photos, followed by a visit to Bethesda Terrace. Knowing it was a filming location for Home Alone 2, we couldn’t miss it. The terrace was stunning. We wandered around, reminisced about the movie, imagined what it would be like to spend more time there, and then continued our exploration. As we proceeded down the main path, towering skyscrapers started appearing ahead of us. Their massiveness left us in awe. Observing them from within the park felt like gazing at a flat, 2D canvas in front of us.

Before exiting the park, we paused at Gapstow Bridge to capture a moment hugging each other, reminiscent of Kevin and the pigeon lady from the movie. That particular photo remains our sweetest memory from New York.

Exiting the park, we caught sight of The Plaza Hotel where Kevin had his stay in the movie. We then made our way down 6th Avenue, passing by Radio City Music Hall, before turning towards the iconic Times Square.

Times Square

Times Square was equally astonishing for us. The overwhelming brightness of the advertisements left us momentarily dazzled, unsure of where to direct our gaze. It was amusing to observe the diverse models and influencers creating their content, along with people queuing up for stairs that provided a supposedly better view (?!). A visit to this iconic square is a must for everyone, and it might even be more captivating at night when the lights are even more vibrant.

Rockefeller Center

Following Times Square, we headed back to the Rockefeller Center to visit the Observatory (Top of the Rock). We had bought our tickets in advance through their official website.

The elevator experience was quite different from what we had in Boston. We ascended to the top floor much more quickly, received a brief overview of the building, and noticed a screen on the ceiling displaying various colors and images, although nothing overly impressive.

However, the outdoor view was truly remarkable on both sides. One side showcased the areas we had already explored, while the other revealed the areas we were yet to explore. We snapped a few photos from the top but didn’t stay too long. After that, we descended and continued on our way.

5th Avenue, Washington Square Park, 90 Bedford St

We chose to take a walk along 5th Avenue. Tin’s top priority was to grab a hot dog from one of the street carts. Given their frequent presence at almost every traffic light, fulfilling this wish was a breeze. Of course, we bought the hot dog and polished it off quickly. As we walked amidst the towering skyscrapers, it felt as if we were tiny ants amidst giants. It was fascinating to see how this bustling city life was just the norm for locals. To us, everything felt incredibly vibrant and distinct from our usual surroundings.

We continued on to Washington Square Park, full of young people and stalls selling handmade crafts, vintage photos, and vinyl records. The ground was marked with circles indicating spots of interest. We couldn’t resist taking photos at the Good Luck Spot and sharing a kiss at the designated Kissing Spot.

We noticed that the area around this square was actually part of a university campus, explaining the youthful energy. Our journey then took us to the iconic apartment building used as the exterior setting for the TV show Friends (90 Bedford St).

Upon reaching the Friends apartment building, it was a highlight moment for me, being a real fan of the show. Although there wasn’t much to do there, we made sure to capture some photos before moving on.

Soho and Broadway Street

We chose to wander through the Soho district and along Broadway towards the Financial District. This was our first encounter with real crowds. Walking side by side became quite difficult with with people everywhere.

At one crossing, there were so many people that we had to wait through two traffic light cycles to cross the street. The main cause of the crowd? Around 200 people were lining up for collagen shots from a van. This was both strange and puzzling to us.

Furthermore, we found it intriguing to watch people shop, as it appeared to be a significant part of the Saturday habit and culture. What amazed us the most was their willingness to patiently wait in long lines just to get into a store.

Ground Zero, lunch, Statue of Liberty, Wall Street and Brooklyn Bridge

We made our way downtown and visited The Ground Zero, the site where the Twin Towers stood before their tragic collapse in 2001. It was a deeply emotional and impactful moment for both of us.

After taking in the sights of the Charging Bull, we headed to the White Horse Tavern for a satisfying meal. We had burgers, which didn’t disappoint, and each of us enjoyed a great beer. I actually tried a cider that truly captivated me.

Following a much-needed hour-long break at the restaurant, we continued to The Battery park to catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. Though it seemed quite small from a distance, the sense of accomplishment was undeniable. We were happy and proud to have reached the tip of the peninsula.

We also strolled around Wall Street, reached the waterfront, and took a moment to admire the Brooklyn Bridge. Feeling too tired to walk across it, we instead relished the view from the shoreline. As night descended, the bridge’s lights, combined with the city’s illumination, created a truly enchanting ambiance.

Heading back to Boston

Feeling exhausted, we decided to head straight to the airport, even though we still had an hour left to spend in the city. Before leaving, with assistance from a Starbucks employee, we found a free restroom in a bank building. Aware that we had a journey of at least an hour to the airport, we chose to make use of this opportunity.

At the Wall Street station, we hopped onto the subway bound for JFK airport. The trip was quite long, covering 14 stations. Initially, the subway was crowded, but it emptied out as we continued on our route. We encountered a variety of people, from regular commuters to some who appeared to be under the influence of substances, struggling to stay upright.

Nevertheless, we made it to the airport. From there, we caught a train to our designated terminal. Following that, we went through the usual airport security checks and boarding process. A wonderful day came to a satisfying close, marked by 40,000 steps and numerous beautiful photos and cherished memories.