Some off time

Having just left DC once during my stay here really made me look forward to going to New York. Luckily, The Washington Center offered an organized trip so I jumped on it as fast as I could.

After a five-hour bus trip, we were dropped off near Time Square with 6 hours to spend in New York. Because we woke up at 4 AM that day, we decided 10 AM was the ideal time for burning our palates with a NY-style slice of pizza! After being properly nourished, we decided to run around and explore the city using the metro system.

One of the most breathtaking monuments was – by far – the 9/11 Memorial. The two big fountains are overshadowed by the “One World Trade Center.” The new building is so tall that ice falls off the rooftop. Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit the observatory because the admission fee was $45.

Weirdly enough, I did not like New York as much as I like Washington. Sure, it’s one of the vibrant and famous cities in the US, but overall, it was so dirty, clogged, and busy that I couldn’t focus on the beauty of the city. Only when being there, you realize that 8.4 million people live in New York City. Yes, a CITY. Belgium is a Country and has 11 million inhabitants, which is crazy when comparing the land area between the two. Absolutely crazy.

Another remarkable thing was the New York City Steam System. The system is used to heat and cool buildings, but it is enormously cool to see steam coming out of the sewers.

In a nutshell, New York is fun – but I wouldn’t specifically plan a trip to it again.

Cherry Blossoms

One of the most beautiful sightings in DC is by far the Cherry Blossom Festival. The cherry blossom all start blooming around this time and makes some nice views around the Tidal Basin.

New York Trip