Second day in New York: Typical tourist program

In preparation for my trip to New York, I got tips from friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who have been to New York before, and I bought the Explorer Pass for 5 attractions. It cost a total of €125. Whether it's worth it for each individual to decide for themselves. If I had paid for each attraction separately, it would have been a bit more expensive, but to be honest, the huge savings didn't really matter. The entrance fees for the observation platforms (Rockefeller View and Empire State Building) are quite expensive, so if you want to do them, I think the pass is worth it.

For time and weather reasons, I only decided to visit one platform: the Rockefeller Center. Although the Empire State Building is certainly more famous, the advantage of the Rockefeller Center is that you have the skyline including the Empire State Building as a photo motif.

The Explorer Pass also has the advantage that it gives you a rough overview of the countless tourist offerings and includes addresses with a map, etc.

I couldn't sleep early in the morning and went to breakfast at 7 am, much to the chagrin of my roommates. The breakfast at the HI Hostel is not very generous. You have the choice between a sandwich with fried egg, a bagel with (a lot of) cream cheese, a small package of cornflakes with milk, or a muffin and either a banana or an apple and a coffee. But it's completely okay for the first hunger.

Then I took the subway again. I navigate through the streets with an offline map from Maps Me. In addition, an app for the subway in New York, so you don't stand out as a tourist. Constantly looking at your phone is completely normal in New York; no one realizes that you're just looking for directions.

In general, in my impression, New Yorkers are cool and do not show any emotion. Nothing can shock a New Yorker, that's why they don't stare. No matter how crazy people around them behave. Someone can stand there and talk to themselves loudly (I looked - he was definitely not on the phone) or someone can scream at the top of their lungs and announce that they will pray for an earthquake that will swallow the entire city. But no one reacts. Just the normal madness of New York.

It's actually not difficult to find the Rockefeller View. But in the first moment, I was a little unsure if I was really at the right place at the given address and if you're allowed to enter the fancy building like that. But don't be confused. Go down the stairs and follow the signage and it was pleasantly empty so early in the morning (opens at 8:00 am). Just go up directly and then you can follow the photo session on three levels. The nice thing about it: there are gaps between the glass panes, so you can take photos without reflections of the glass. For solo travelers who want to take photos of themselves with a tripod and self-timer: unfortunately, no chance. Tripods are not allowed to be used.

After that, I went straight to the next tourist attraction: the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Since it was a Monday in my case, I was lucky to board the first ferry. At least that's what I thought. Secure a seat on the upper deck of the ferry for a good photo, but be careful: everyone wants that. That's always the unpleasant part of being a tourist: standing in line and then being squeezed through something with hundreds of others. You feel a bit like cattle being herded. Not nice. But since I also wanted to see the Statue of Liberty up close and the Manhattan skyline is really worth seeing, I had to go through it. When disembarking at the Statue of Liberty, it became clear to me that I had underestimated how many people are transported by these ferries. The line of people waiting on the island for the ferry to continue was enormous. And I immediately realized: damn, I have to get in there too. A huge setup of tourists with cameras who all want the best spots in front of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Quite exhausting after a while. You can get an audio program, which is included in the ticket price, to get more information about the Statue of Liberty. Then line up again, take the ferry and go to Ellis Island. The island is small and the museum costs extra admission. And the line for the return ferry is even longer. All in all, a much more exhausting, albeit cheaper, endeavor than visiting the Rockefeller Center. Then explored the area on foot and recover a bit from the crowds. I stopped by Joes Pizza for a slice of pizza (a slice of Margherita = Cheese - 3.50 dollars), you can't complain about that. And as a bonus, there's a photo wall with pictures of mega-stars who have all stopped by for a pizza. It was a great idea and I would recommend it, although the spot is quite popular and accordingly crowded, but I was lucky with the timing.

And then I actually still had time for a third attraction, even though the ferry thing is a real time-consuming process. Due to the bad weather and because it's also a must-see in New York, I decided to visit the 9/11 Museum. Here too, there is an audio program that you can either rent via an iPod (costs 8 dollars) or download as a free app. I used the audio program and found it really useful in this case, and I would recommend it because it also helps you explore the museum with a certain structure and also helps not to forget any parts. Very moving and in my opinion, an absolutely successful museum. Except for the slightly too patriotic and possibly somewhat one-sided part about the Iraq war, I thought the museum was well done overall. A very special atmosphere arises in this museum, which gives you goosebumps, and it is not uncommon for someone to cry. But it's not kitschy, it is presented tastefully, and it treats victims and their families with dignity. I was not aware of the extent of the problem for the helpers who often have problems with cancer today, and I think it's right that they receive support from the museum. Definitely something worth supporting. It touched me personally, and it was definitely a museum visit that was neither boring nor will I forget it anytime soon.

In the evening, totally exhausted, back to the hostel. A shower and then there was actually free beer. The hostel has a meet-and-greet party every Monday and Thursday. In addition, you get the first two beers or wine for free. Of course, you have to be able to prove that you are over 21 years old. A great opportunity to meet people from all over the world. That evening, there was a young man from Australia, one from Lithuania, another German woman, and two Americans. We had a lot of fun together. If you want to continue drinking and partying after 11 pm, you can't do that in the hostel courtyard. But that's not a problem, there is a separate place a few meters away in the garden. It's okay to party there all night. Then sneak into the room quietly so as not to wake the roommates and recharge.