New York at Night
The visit to New York and the impressive panorama from the World Trade Center were the crowning glory of a ten-day vacation on the US East Coast.
A long time ago…
I have been to America many times – mostly for work, but also a few times just to visit my family and many friends there. Occasionally, it is possible to combine the two by adding a few days of free time to a business trip. That’s how I ended up visiting New York for the first time: in March 2001, after a meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, I took the opportunity to drive up the East Coast to Massachusetts and Connecticut, where I had good friends at the time.
On the way there, I took a few days’ break in New York. I stayed with my cousin on the Upper West Side and met my mother there, who was visiting him at the same time. So we were able to explore the city together. March 2001, that was before the attacks. So we were both still at the top of the old World Trade Center.
We also saw a lot during those three days: the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, museums, or just wandering through the urban canyons… it’s quite different from here. In addition to the many memories, after all these years, I still had the desire to come back and see how the city had changed after the reconstruction.
New York today
During this year’s Easter holidays, I finally had another opportunity to visit the city that never sleeps. My daughter and I planned a ten-day road trip. Once again, Charleston, South Carolina, was our starting point. We ended our trip with three days in New York, culminating in a visit to Broadway to see the musical “Hamilton.” It was her first time in America, and upon arriving in New York, the enormous contrast to the expansive green landscapes of the southern states we had seen before was particularly striking.
From our hotel on Long Island, we explored the city by subway. Among all the sights and museums, a picnic in Central Park was of course a must. It’s really amazing how suddenly you can escape the hustle and bustle of the big city and find peace and quiet.
One thing was at the top of my list, though: going up to the One World Observatory — the observation deck at the top of the new World Trade Center. In the evening. After an afternoon break at the hotel, we set off for the southern tip of Manhattan. Of course, it was a strange feeling to stand in the footprints of the old towers and remember the photos I had taken there. After a security check and a rapid elevator ride, we were able to enjoy the overwhelming view from lofty heights: a sea of lights stretching to the horizon, with a few striking landmarks in between.
The Results
New York offers an incredible number of impressions that can only be captured to a very limited extent in pictures. The nighttime view over the seemingly endless sea of lights is particularly impressive. The photos definitely include some candidates for the next calendar…
