It seems that New York is the favorite destination of french people in Uncle Sam country. This is not surprising, after all on an historical point of view the most immigrants of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries came from Europe in the United States through the port of New York. New York has been more opened to the old continent that other major U.S. cities. New York is a unique city in the U.S., with mixture of cultures, a city that never sleeps, always in turmoil. This city is often taken as a symbol of the USA, with its forest of skyscrapers planted in the early twentieth century. We love it or hate it, but in any case this megapolis not leave indifferent its visitors.
Go just for a weekend in New York, three or four days including the flight, will not learn you a lot about this city, there’s so much to see, so many activities to do there. You can not really in only a few days visit the many museums of this city, except perhaps at a run. But going for a weekend in New York will not be too much expensive, and should be a nice first contact with The Big Apple. Then you may catch the virus of New York, and have an irresistible desire to return to this city for a longer time. The tour guides also advised to spend at least a week or two to really enjoy it.
For myself, I did visit only a part of Manhattan (Midtown, South Central Park, and Downtown). Here is an overview of my weekend in New York:
Day 1 – Arrival in New York & ferry ride
While most of the time the European land at JFK airport, our flight landed at Newark, New Jersey. We had booked a shuttle to get to Manhattan. The drive to Times Square area, where our hotel was quite fast (outside rush hours).
Some people can be surprised when they discover the U.S. roads near New York, which are in poor condition. Some may find the beginning of an explanation in the amount of road maintenance and the harsh climate on the east coast (thermal differences …). But when our mini-bus is passed to the motorway toll gate, the toll was in a very disrepair (thinking about the amount of rust apparent on the toll, that they probably did not see the color of a paint pot for a long time). I felt more like a road equipment come straight from the depths of one old East European country, than the one expected to be seen a few kilometers from the capital of the U.S. economy …
After crossing the Hudson River from the Lincoln Tunnel, we come to Time Square. The time to retrieve the keys and deposit our luggage in our room, we go out for a first round of the district. And we are immediately immersed in the urban jungle, it’s all there: the sirens of emergency vehicles, the Newyorkers running in all directions, cars and trucks that aims at full speed in the potholed streets (be careful when crossing !), and strange chimneys leaving out thick clouds of steam, and of course the giant screens that line the facades of buildings neighborhoods Time Square and Broadway. It is around 15 local time, so we take the metro to go to the south of Manhattan and take the ferry from Staten Island.
The ferry linking Manhattan to the south of Staten Island was free. What’s more, after 8 hours spent in an airplane than getting outdoor on a boat. During this crossing of the bay of New York, we see Ellis Island (where U.S. immigrants were docking), and of course near the Liberty Island and its famous statue. It’s always fun to think that on the morning we were on in Paris and the afternoon we are quietly sitting on the deck of a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, this so symbolic monument of States United States of America and the New York City itself.
Once in Staten Island, we had to get off the ferry to go back immediately to Manhattan in another ferry and return to the starting point, again passing near the Statue of Liberty, with the backdrop landscape of southern Manhattan skyscrapers , lit by the sun.
Notes: When we take line 1 from New York to get to the ferry from Staten Island, only some wagons of the train let us getting off at the South-Ferry station. So remember to check your wagon that allows you to get off. This is supposed to be announced by the driver, but sincerely the commentary screamed through the speakers was completely inaudible, even for local or native English speakers … Also note that the ferry linking Manhattan to the south of Staten Island does not stop on Liberty Island (it only goes near) and will therefore do not make yourself at the foot of the Statue of Liberty. To go to Liberty Island, you need to take the ferry at Battery Park : Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island ferry (this ferry is not free). Note that since September 11 2001, security measures limit access to the statue itself, and you have to be patient at checkpoints, particularly during peak periods …
The ferry docked in Manhattan, so we leave the terminal to visit the district ( “downtown”). We turn next to Battery Park, then in the financial district of Wall Street, to finish at the rebuilding site of Ground Zero. On the spot, seeing the great empty space left after the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, we can realize the dimension and the horror of the tragedy of September 11 2001 …
Night has fallen, and this business area becomes very quiet. We take the subway to go on the side of Time Square and Broadway theaters. If this area was already impressive in the day, at night it becomes a permanent fireworks with display of colored lights and fixed or videos ads, whatever the direction is the eye could see …
Day 2 – Midtown Manhattan
The next morning, after a hearty breakfast in a Starbucks near the hotel, we take the direction of the Empire State building. Arrived just before the opening, we avoid having to queue at security checks. The transition is even faster than we already had our tickets purchased online from Paris. And now we go towards the top! Arrived at the observation platform, it is New York cityscape under our feets, with midtown Manhattan buildings, Central Park, the Hudson River and the East river, 5th Avenue and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the area around Times Square and other famous and beautiful skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building or the Rockefeller Center. In the south we can see the Flatiron building (the first skyscraper built in New York, which takes its name from its triangular shape, similar to that of an iron …) and then in the distance the skyline of Manhattan downtown skyscrapers. In the background in the bay can be distinguished the Statue of Liberty, emerging from the mist. It was a beautiful start to the day, sunny, with just a little mist that was rising in the East river.
Next, we go down 5th avenue, to see a little more closely the historic Flatiron building and the surrounding area.
On the return we stop at the New York public library, with its beautiful reading rooms, decorated with beautifully carved wood, worth a look.
A little further north on 5th Avenue is the Rockefeller Center and skating rink, St Patrick’s Cathedral, and many shops often interesting, but also often unaffordable… Then the avenue leading to the vast Central Park, with its many alleys, skating rinks, lakes, bridges, fountains, lawns, groves, and its swans, ducks or squirrels… A real green lung in the heart of this metropolis … Central Park is huge and visit the entire park can take some time, but even if you are just passing through quickly, it is part of New York landmark.
Note: Central Park is now considered safe, although it is always advisable not to go alone, especially in desert areas. However, at night, tourist guides advise clearly to avoid Central Park …
Coming out of Central Park, we make a quick hook to the Natural History Museum. Then we descend to the south of 5th Avenue, to visit Grand Central Terminal, with its sumptuous hall, then we continue a little farther to the Chrysler building, which is probably the most beautiful building of Art-Deco style in the city.
Day 3 – Singing in the rain …
No chance, now it’s rainy day. We take to the shops on Broadway and Times Square, buying some souvenirs for children in the huge Toys’r U.S. store, taking some calories in M&Ms Shop (I never imagined that one can invent as many variations of these chocolates, or as many products on the same topic …) and then visit Macy’s, etc … We then take a walk on the side of neighborhoods of Soho, with its trendy restaurants and boutiques, to finish by Little Italy and China Town.
In the evening we return to Midtown, to go to the top of Rockefeller Center ( known as “Top of the Rock”). From its panoramic terrace you can admire New York and its main monuments by night, including the Empire State building. Unfortunately for us the weather was not in our favor, and at the top of the skyscraper we enjoyed rain and wind storm. Conditions a little difficult to take pictures at night, anyway I kept nice but wet memories of this evening… 
Day 4 – last morning in New York, and fly back in Paris …
For the last day, the sun has returned. We take a breakfast in a self, and when enjoying my cheesecake I distracted look of a giant screen broadcasting videos of beautiful landscapes. This was on the facade of a bank building which, at the time, I didn’t know : Lehman Brothers…
This is the last morning in New Yok, we enjoy the good weather to go to the Brooklyn Bridge. Taxi to save time. The yellow cab drop us at City Hall, just near the pedestrian and cyclist access. The Brooklyn Bridge is separate into two levels of movement: one of them for cars, another, above, restricted to pedestrian traffic and cycling (each have their own lane). Since the bridge, we see the skyline of Midtown skyscrapers (Empire State Building, Chrysler building …), the Manhattan Bridge, and of course the skyscrapers of Manhattan south (downtown), very close. In the distance in the bay of New York, we also see the Statue of Liberty.
We continue our walk around the neighborhood, then it’s time to return to the hotel, to finish preparing the luggage, and take the shuttle to the airport.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed the atmosphere that emanates from this town, and also like friendliness and professionalism of the people we met in shops and restaurants.
If I go back to USA this will probably to visit some great natural parks (one of my dreams !), but for sure I will also return to this Big Apple, just to chew a piece again…
Photos of New York :
Note: in order to reduce the environmental impact of this trip, the round-trip Paris-New York (2 people in economy class) has been the subject of compensation for its CO ².
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