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”McSorley’s Old Ale House
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”Exploring Central Park
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”Magnolia bakery
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.
Continue reading “Magnolia bakery”The Gateway to the States
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”Lady Liberty
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”The New York Lox Bagel
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”Flatiron Building
Close to Madison Square Park you can find one of New York’s most impressive buildings and it is worth to get there, even if you can merely watch it from the outside. The Flatiron building has a triangular shape and uses all space available at this intersection (which isn’t much).
Continue reading “Flatiron Building”Brooklyn Bridge
As one of the town’s landmarks, the Brooklyn Bridge over the East River connects Manhattan with Brooklyn. Opened in 1886 it was the longest steel-wire suspension bridge in the world. Numerous pictures and movies include the bridge and it has even found its way into literature.
Continue reading “Brooklyn Bridge”Coney Island
In need of some fresh air, sea water and sand? Coney Island (the name is derived from the Dutch original name, meaning “rabbit island”) was once really an island in the far south of Brooklyn. In 1940 the passage between this island and the mainland was filled up. Today lots of people come here to relax at the shore.
Continue reading “Coney Island”