09.08.2016 New York # Review

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Once again it has been shown that good times fly by. No idea where the last three days went so fast.

New York was just as we imagined it, or as seen on TV. Big, loud, crowded, often accompanied by the typical siren sound, and of course not a cheap experience for tourists. But despite all that, it was very likable and worth revisiting.

On the first morning, we met up with Tony and Vvnnie. They are from Malaysia and have been living in New York for quite some time now. Since our last meeting over two years ago in Kuala Lumpur, the joy of our reunion was naturally great. For us, it also had the advantage that we had two local guides at hand. So the entire tourist program was quickly covered without feeling rushed. Since our hotel was relatively cheaply located in Midtown, we were able to reach some highlights such as the Rockefeller Center (best view of Manhattan from the top of the rock) or the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier with the Air & Space Museum on foot.

For more distant destinations, we had the subway just around the corner, which we extensively used thanks to our 7-day unlimited tickets. The only downside is that it feels like 40°C on the platforms, so that's where deodorant reaches its limits.

All in all, we saw everything we had planned to see in the three days. There was even time to visit the National Museum of History (because of the movie 'Night at the Museum'). Plus, the 9/11 Memorial, the Financial District with Wall Street, and Central Park. Well, and everything I will recognize later in the estimated 5000 photos. If you want to experience Times Square in peace, you should go there at six o'clock in the morning with a coffee. The hectic hustle and bustle only starts around eight o'clock and you can even see the famous red stairs that are crowded with people during the day. But that was also the only advantage of jet lag 

The water taxi is also great for sightseeing. You can buy a day ticket for $31 and then take as many rides as you like from one of the six stations. The stations are spread across various districts along the Hudson River around the Statue of Liberty to the Brooklyn Bridge on the East River. So if you want to see the skyline from all sides, this is the best way to do it. In between, you can get off for lunch in Greenwich Village or stroll through Soho, everyone should be able to find something they like.

Visiting a Paulaner Brewery in Chinatown was also fun. As it turned out, the owner, a native of Munich, was also one of the founders of a German pub in Kuala Lumpur, which Tony had taken us to a few years ago. By the way, the beer is brewed according to the original recipe. There is also a Kölsch beer available, but not in test tubes like on the Rhine, but in real glasses, as it should be 

In general, we found the pub culture in Williamsburg to be more pleasant. Not only because the prices were much more reasonable than in Midtown Manhattan, but also because the atmosphere lacked the touristy touch, it was authentic. It felt a bit like going on a pub tour in Dresden's Neustadt, but with a great view of the Lower East Side. Especially at night, it's a spectacular sight. If we come back to New York, we will probably stay there and only cross over to the peninsula for tourist or shopping purposes. You can reach all the relevant places quickly by subway.

A big plus was the friendliness of the New Yorkers. Except for two exceptions, one at each Starbucks, where the crew was a bit indisposed, we had only positive experiences. Whether asking for directions or having special requests in a restaurant, we were always treated with genuine friendliness and courtesy.

I could write much more, but on the one hand, this shouldn't become a novel, and on the other hand, the flight to LA leaves in an hour and I need to wrap this up. Now we look forward and are excited about the exotic South Seas. Let's go to Tahiti!