SPENCER I USA
Ett första möte till fots med staden som aldrig sover
Spencer rapporterar från New York.
På min resa ner till Karibien skulle det bli en mellanlandning på flygplatsen Newark, strax utanför centrala New York. Med SAS direktflyg från Arlanda passar jag på att stanna några nätter när jag ändå befinner mig på nordamerikansk mark!
Hur är pulsen på Times Square och kan man ta sig runt till fots på Manhattan?
In media res
From Newark Airport to Penn Station in Manhattan, it takes about three quarters of an hour by train. The price is easy, around SEK 150, but the standard on the train is not as impressive. The Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Manhattan/Chelsea accommodation is strategically located, just a few minutes' walk from the train station. The room is more than spacious and comfortable for a solo traveler. A smooth check-in and I'm thrown straight into the center of the action – in media res.
On foot I head north and enter the Empire State Building. The entire visit is like an interactive museum, with special effects in the elevator. Is it worth going all the way up to the 102nd floor? In my opinion, yes absolutely! 381 meters up in the air, accompanied by the evening silhouette over New York and to the tune of what has become the de facto signature tune of the city: "Empire State of Mind" by Alicia Keys and Jay-Z; I admire my first encounter with the city that never sleeps.
I frame the evening with vibrant Times Square where it feels like more Spanish is spoken than English. The place is undeniably iconic from a cultural point of view. Photographers, filmmakers, dancers and costumed figures compete for your attention to sell their products and services.
New York - walkable?
For those who are used to traveling in Europe with Scandinavian eyes, know that it works well to get around on foot. Pedestrian streets and promenades are common in Europe. During my days in New York, I walk to the vast majority of places I want to visit. Note that it takes longer than normal given the American grid system which means that you frequently have to stop at pedestrian crossings with traffic lights.
On the whole, I mean that the city is walkable as, in addition to sidewalks, there are also a number of parks. From the hotel in Chelsea, I walk in the direction of Uptown via Broadway and make a short visit to Trump Tower. Then on to Central Park, where you can botanize for hours in peace and quiet - absolutely perfect for me, who likes to take a daily long walk.
On the last day before traveling further south, I walk Downtown and familiarize myself with The High Line, which is an old elevated railway, converted into a public park where you can walk without worrying about traffic. In addition, several sights can be glimpsed in the distance, including the Statue of Liberty. Via The High Line I go down to Chinatown, the 9/11 memorial (Ground Zero) and Wall Street.
Pluses and minuses
+ A big plus for the huge range of cultural experiences and the fact that you can get there on foot.
- The American hotel breakfast: fat, colorless and sugar - and again sugar!
Conclusion : New York as a destination is in some sense a place you should visit and a long weekend is enough to still get a sense of the city's identity, mentality and above all the people who live there. One tip is to order a virtual/digital SIM card for surfing data in the USA. I used Airalo and it worked perfectly!
