New York

In this post I will tell you about my experience in the free weekend of the 12-14. I went to the other side of the US: New York. We were four Fulbright students: Luli, Luchi, Gaston and I. Although I said it was a weekend, we stayed four days, until Tuesday.

We rented an apartment three blocks away from the Empire State Building, a really great place in the center of Manhattan. Because of the great location, we walked most of the time instead of taking the subway.

Although we went to a huge city for a few time, we did manage to visit most of the famous places, museums and landmarks. We went to the Guggenheim, Metropolitan and Natural Science museums, Central Park, United Nations, Grand Central Terminal, the public library, Wall Street, Friends House, a ferry to the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, Madison Square Garden, Little Italy, China Town, Dakota Building, Flat Iron, Times Square, Broadway, Ground Zero and other places. However, due to the snow and rain, we did not go to the top of the Rockefeller Center and Empire State Building because we could not see almost nothing. It was really cool to be walking in the streets and knowing that maybe there was filmed a movie or TV show.

New York Public Library

Chrysler Building

St. Patricks Cathedral

Times Square

Empire State Building

Grand Central Station

Empire State Building

New York Stock Exchange

The first big difference between Austin and New York was the weather. In Austin winter is cooler than in New York. One day it was -25°C thermal sensation!!! We did not travelled with the appropriate clothing, we had to improvise. The first day we suffered the cold, but the rest of our stay we used two pair of jeans, three pairs of socks, and six layers of clothes. We could not feel our hands and feet. Our faces were covered with scarfs and the cap, which we removed when taking pictures. It snowed all Monday, which was not very annoying, but it rained all Tuesday and we did not bring umbrellas.

Frozen Fountain

Another difference is how people treat you and how nice they are in Austin and in New York. Here in Austin people are more friendly, patient and respectful with foreigners. However in New York when you ask someone how to get to a certain place, which subway to take or another thing, they will answer quick and briefly. If you ask them again they will answer in a bad way. Maybe not all the people are like that, I do not like to make generalizations, but maybe only people in Manhattan are like that, because they are always tired and stressed.

New York did meet my expectations I already had. Living there is like being in a movie all the time. The buildings and streets are beautiful, you have shops everywhere, you have the famous yellow cabs, and the snow is the final touch. However, I though the Empire State Building and Chrysler would be taller. Also, I was expecting more people in the streets, crowded subway stations and lots of traffic. I guess that is because of the cold weather, and people decided to stay in their homes.

New York is a huge city which you do not get to know in only four days. I hope I can return to NYC in the future because it is a great place and also to go to the top of the Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Center. Of course that if I return it will be in summer, I had enough cold for my entire life!!

PS: I included pictures for those who complaint about the lack of them in my previous post.