Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
Tired of the big city? Take the A train to Rockaway beach! You can enjoy a long metro ride through Queens and afterwards walk along the sandy beach. There are no typical beach facilities (as one would expect back home) and I was quite irritated by the standardized homes along the way but there is nothing like a cool summer breeze close to the ocean.
Continue reading “A visit to the shore”We all know classic New York style bars from the various TV series – but if you want the feeling of going back in time, visit McSorley’s Old Ale House close to Astor Place. You get good beer in a dark but welcoming environment, experience the service by the friendly waiters and after five minutes you immediately feel at home.
Continue reading “McSorley’s Old Ale House”
Central park is the archetype of the green lungs of cities. The park is 341 hectare large and gives you 94 km of paths to walk. The citizens of Manhattan use it for sporting, just walking around or having a picnic. It is a wonderful place that features unique bridges, fountains, lakes, a castle and lots of greenfields.
Continue reading “Exploring Central Park”
Something I’ve so far only seen in New York is this vast amount of food carts, selling soft drinks and hotdogs. You can find them in front of every major sight and they are mostly run by veterans, proudly showing their rank and unit. But this is not only about a coke and junk food – some carts really have the product range of a normal eatery.
One of the best bakeries in New York, United States – and you really can’t run out of sugar supply here – is Magnolia. It is located at the Rockefeller Center and is therefore easily reachable by subway. What I absolutely loved was their interpretation of cheesecake (one of New York’s specialties) made with raspberries.
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When people came as immigrants to the United States from 1892 to 1954 they first had to stay at Ellis Island, an island in the harbour of New York. There they were questioned and examined for diseases. 12 million people arrived to the country on this way.
Continue reading “The Gateway to the States”
Coming to New York meant to be coming to a place seen an endless number of times – on mass media. One of these places well known is the Statue of Liberty in the harbour of New York. The statue made of copper was inaugurated in 1886 and is a present from the people of France. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Continue reading “Lady Liberty”
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
– Emma Lazarus
You can’t go to New York without having a traditional Lox bagel – a bagel with cream cheese (a “schmear”) and salmon. A good source for that is H&H Midtown Bagels located five blocks away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but be aware: they are huge (and tasty, of course). Did you know that the “beugel” originally came from Bratislava?
Continue reading “The New York Lox Bagel”
Using credit cards in New York City is really common. You can pay nearly everywhere by card, only if you want to buy some food from a food cart on the street it would be very useful to have some money in your pocket. The best way to get George Washington into your wallet is to use your credit card at one of the ubiquitously available Atomatic Teller Machines (ATMs).