New York: The sun is shining...

My day was a little bit more quiet than yesterday.

I woke up with this view:

and I walked from my hotel, 230 East 51 street, to the Central Park. I saw squirrels and had to think about the wonderful book from Kathrine Pancol "les écureuils de Central Parc sont tristes le lundi"...

I had lunch in the Chelsea Market: Shopping mall with a nice ambiance and large choice of food. I recommend the "ten vegetable soup" (Hale and hearty soup). But attention: really hot!!!

In the afternoon, I took the N train to Coney Island: Super relaxing! And the way is included in the price of my one week metro ticket (29 $).

New York: I´m walking...

"What a gorgeous january day" said an old man (who could be the father of Woody Allen) today on the 5th Avenue to me. And he was right! The whole day I was walking in the sun through this overwhelming city! I shot about 200 photos in just one day and I think I got my first sunburn in 2012. Strange, what?!

I woke up at 6 o´clock and started my tour at 8.30 a.m.
First stop: Phone shop At&t and buy an american sim card. Done.

Then, I took my breakfast in a french fast food café (everywhere are french shops, restaurants and cafés! Incroyable!) and I walked down the 5th Avenue and the Broadway till Ground Zero. Here I was really emotional. Even now, if I see pictures or documentaries about 9/11, I have the same feelings as that horrible day in 2001. But to see this place in real life... I have no words… you have to feel it yourself.

With so much emotion I continued my walk till the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and took the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty and this wonderful view of Manhattan. Really nice, this 25minutes tour, and for free!

After this short boat trip, I wanted to see the Brooklyn Bridge. On the way, I discovered the South Street Seaport. This place must be fantastic in summer! It´s also a perfect place to take photos from Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Bridge and sea gulls.

Because the weather was so fine, I walked the whole way back and realized that I had completly forgotten to eat something. So I bought a spicy hotdog. Not bad.

In the evening I had some sushi with a friend in the restaurant Blue Ginger. Delicious!

The most impressing things today are:
- nearly empty streets,
- fire trucks – old style and what a noise!!!
- the incredible architecture

 Background Brooklyn Bridge

  Staten Island Ferry

  Fat rat attacks Manhattan

 

 Empty streets

New York: First impression

I was really early at the Munich airport today (3 hours before boarding) and quite nervous about the start of my 3month travel.

Departure 11h45: De-icing procedure:

Neufundland: 

Arrival: 3pm New York time:

Sunny welcome in the USA, only a little wait time for entry formalities. 

Fortunatly, I met a very nice person in the airplane who helped me to find quick the airtrain and metro and teached me how to use the metro machines. really strange system... it´s not as easy as it seems!

When I stepped out at Lexington street (Manhattan), I was surprised about the calm in the streets! Reminds me about the first Berlin impression in November 2011.

The podhotel is really nice situated. After a short break in my tiny room, I already checked the neighborhood, supermarket, etc. 

Now it´s time to sleep! Gute Nacht!

The days before travelling 3 months

Tomorrow, I will start my semi-world-tour. First stop New York.

My suitcase is ready and I´m really excited about the next months.

Before I will go to the country of bagels, burgers and hot dogs, my parents and my sister spoiled me with my favorite dishes:

Schnitzel mit Kartoffel- und Karottensalat, Kalbslendchen mit Petersilienkartoffeln, Tafelspitz mit Kohlrabi-Karottengemüse und warmes Kartoffelgemüse mit Kümmel.


Tonight, we´re going to the Asado Steakhouse. 

Vienna

I had a great weekend in Vienna! What a wonderful christmas ambiance!

Toscana feeling in the bar: Enrico Parnigl 
Authentic italien restaurant: Rossini -> good food and friendly staff
Museum: Albertina (Exhibition René Magritte) Belvedere (Exhibition Klimt)
Theater Volksoper: "Die spinnen, die Römer" 
Impressions:

Geneva

Relaxing weekend with good friends. Little sightseeing tour and excellent fondu au fromage! Merci les filles :-)

Cully

Cully - What a nice Swiss village and countryside!

Annecy

Annecy: Just half an hour by car from Geneva and you are in Annecy, a tiny village in France.