In New York...🎶

I have Frank Sinatra in my ear.🎶

Travel: 🛫

On the flight, I met a nice man from New Jersey who gave me tips on filling out the entry form and also explained New York to me from above. Unfortunately, it was quite foggy, but we could still see the Statue of Liberty 🗽 and the Manhattan Bridge.

I was a bit nervous about entering. When you research on the internet, you read a lot about the famous border controls of the USA. But Allen (the man from New Jersey) immediately said that I shouldn't worry with the German passport, I can go anywhere. I found that quite optimistic, considering that my travel plans are a bit confusing 😅

But he was right. I actually read in my research that you must have a return or onward ticket, otherwise you can't even get on the plane. But neither Eurowings nor the border officials wanted to see my onward ticket or anything like that. I just quickly told them my plans and I was in. No big deal.

Afterwards, I took the train to Penn Station and then the subway. Of course, the subway station where I had to get off was closed due to construction. So I quickly switched to the shuttle bus and then, after a short walk, I made it: The HI International Hostel in New York. It wasn't easy to stand in a subway station with a heavy backpack and warm hiking shoes. I was pretty sweaty, but also glad that everything went so well. I quickly checked in, freshened up a little, and then explored the surroundings. The hostel is not far from Central Park. After the exhausting journey, I decided to first explore the surrounding blocks, then have some Chinese food, and then make my way to Central Park. There was a theater performance starting there and I was already invited to watch it at the entrance. It was free and you could decide for yourself whether you wanted to pay or not. Great timing 👍. Food and entertainment, what more could you want? The performance changed locations during the show. I enjoyed my Chinese food and watched the show from a distance. I almost felt like a New Yorker 😅. Then I relaxed a bit and went to the 6-person female dormitory. Bunk beds and I immediately chose the top one. It wobbles dangerously when you lie down 🙈. But the lockers for the backpacks are big, the beds and bathrooms are clean, and everything else seems to be well thought out. I sleep like a log, you can feel the time difference. It's almost morning in Germany 😅.