Finally, New York! I’d be lying if I say I’m not excited to be here. Not just the fact that I personally have gotten to experience “The Big Apple”. We’ve been behind the scenes; visited companies, interacted with people living and working here and experienced and seen more than we would if coming here as tourists.
We stayed in Hotel Pennsylvania, just across Madison Square Garden and a short walk from Times Square. It’s strange to personally see and experience this city, as it’s a city I as so many others have seen and experienced only through different media. Some girls and Iwent on a guided bus tour, Uptown, Downtown and a ferry out to see The Statue of Liberty. It took a couple of hours, or more like a day, but we got to see a lot more of New York, geographically speaking, than we would’ve by walking. The view from the ferry was magnificent! You got to see the city from a distance and see how all the buildings just were set on a perfect line with the water right below. Still walking around is one of the best ways to get to know a new place.
As in Boston we’ve been very lucky with the weather, so sunny, and perfect for walking. Before going back to Lancaster we had some free time. I decided to take it easy and solely enjoy the city, walk and have good food. My favourite thing is the High Line, a public park built on an old rail line elevated above the streets. The special view, you get to walk through the city in a different way, with a industrial feeling surrounded by trees and spots of grass and flowers. Also a trip to Central Park, and pancakes on the steps of Metropolitan Museum of Art made my trip complete. There is still so much I could have done, but I don’t think it’s possible to get though all the things you plan to while in New York, there is so much to see and do. Even though I tried, there would not have been enough time, and there might never be. Surprisingly enough I did very little shopping, for the same reason as just mentioned; there was so many others things I’d rather do.
We visited some more companies; Kaneka, a producer of chemical products, comScore an Internet technology company, paid a gratitude visit to Santander and went to a event with alumni from Lancaster University now in New York. Still the companies and people delivered. I love the way we get an insight into the world that we in not too many years could be a part of. We also had some more “touristy” activities planned, as the 9/11 Memorial and to the United Nations Visitor Centre.
Our days in the US are coming to an end. I’ve seen some great buildings, met some great people, had great food, experienced so much I never thought I would, and best of all I got to share all this, all these moments, with the great group of people I travelled with. Coming to a city as famous as this comes with some expectations, and New York definitely delivered!