New York was our last stop in the states before heading over to Europe. Even though New York had this amazing feel about it, unfortunately our US funds had dwindled and as we didn’t want to tap into our Europe funds, we didn’t get to do as much as we would have liked, like seeing a famous Broadway show where tickets were priced from $100 + each but we still made the most of it.
We arrived at JFK airport as the sun was about to set. We jumped in a taxi and watched the sky turn into a beautiful orange glow as the city lights started to sparkle and the Empire State Buildings silhouette stood out in the background.
Our pre-booked accommodation was in a private hostel room, which was more like a one bedroom with en-suite apartment. It was in the perfect location on 9th Avenue, between 42nd and 47th street, only a couple of blocks walk away from famous Times Square. New York’s temperature had changed a lot from the balmy Caribbean weather we just came from so we layered our jackets and scarves and head out to explore.
We walked to the flashy Times Square, stopping in some shops along the way. It definitely gave off the New York vibe after seeing all the lights, billboards, crowds and the NYPD. We got tickets to a local comedy club for $10 each, the only catch was that we had to purchase two drinks each. Little did we know that drinks were $20 each made up of the weakest ‘cordial’ alcohol served in the smallest plastic cup. Yep, we were conned into this one! The comedians were funny though and we had a good night so it worked out okay!
We booked a 48-hour pass on the hop-on hop-off sight seeing bus, as we find this the perfect way to get around any city, see the sights & listen to commentators about your surroundings when you’re short on time.
The bus drove through Downtown, the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, passing through SoHo and Greenwich Village. We visited the Financial District, more famously known as Wall Street for a walk around and a quick photo in front of the Charging Bull. As the rain had started, we opted out of the World Trade Centre Memorial – It was such a horrible day in history and it wasn’t something we really wanted to experience in New York. We visited Battery Park, hoping to catch a ferry to Liberty Island but unfortunately the statue and access to the island was closed due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy, which hit in October 2012. We got a glimpse of lady liberty as we walked around the park. We drove over the famous Brooklyn bridge and back again.
A visit to Rockefeller plaza and Grand Central Station were next. We head north on the Uptown / Midtown loop for a stop at the beautiful Central Park. We stopped in Harlem on our way to the Bronx and the famous Yankees stadium. On our last day we tried going up the Empire State Building but because the rain & cloud cover had increased, they told us it wouldn’t be worth the visit to the top as visibility would be limited. We spent the rest of the rainy day inside shopping malls, purchasing cheap cosmetics and the like.
Again, we probably didn’t get to experience the best food New York had to offer but we did find a few gems. We’d have breakfast every morning at an amazing juice shop Healthy Corner on the corner of 9th and 47th Avenue. Acai bowls and fresh fruit smoothies were our daily. We sure made use of our ‘buy 9 get 1 free’ stamp card.
Another of our staple meals in New York was Japanese food and it was always amazing. We had the freshest sushi & sashimi which was on display; sliced and prepared freshly in front of our eyes. We ate Japanese at every opportunity we got and have never had anything compared to it – not even one bit! The rain had set in for the night so we bought tickets to the Regal Cinemas on 42nd Street to see a movie as it would be our last one for a while and what a great choice – free popcorn and coke refills! Dinner was sorted that night. Yep, that’s what travelling on a budget can be like sometimes.
Our US part of the trip had come to an end but we were both so eager for the adventures ahead in the UK & Europe! America really surprised both of us with how amazing and fun it turned out to be!
Hotel: Times Square Dream Hostel
Room Type: Apartment, Private Bathroom
Price: $140 per night
ONLY HAPPY WHEN I TRAVEL 
