bLOGBOOK - New York city

New York city

Road overflowed by cars, side walks overcrowded of people. Traffic noise and human buzz: the sound of the city. Despite the sun, streets are enlightened by the multicolour banners and signs fixed everywhere. In the air fragrances of melted asphalt and garbage, replaced sometimes by the smell produced by hot dogs sellers at the corner of the street. New York city is amazing. Messy and agitated, but in this environment the so called "big apple" is rational and logic. The urban organisation in blocks makes easy to move within the city. Fifth avenue, 43th street west, 45th street east... Streets have not name, but numbers. There are simply map reference point. Everything is perfectly organised in Cartesian plan. Of course in New York city there are Madison Square, Times square, Broadway, but all these destinations lies in the precise urban net. Skyscrapers, glass buildings and few level houses stand together conferring a curious and unique dimension. The New York public library, the second library in the U.S. after that one of the federal Congress, stands out. Its classic style is included in a space made by high buildings and modern towers. And in the back Braynt park is a lovely surprise: an oasis of relax and pleasure, a place where have a break before coming back to the city life. Between Broadway and Times Square New York never sleeps. Shows, musicals, concerts, drinks: welcome to the night life! In "Stardust" is possible to experience a typical N.Y. dimension. In this restaurant waiters and waitresses serve and work singing. Here Broadway talent scout come to find people for shows and musicals, putting under contract people from the service staff. All around people in mask try to sell a picture with superheroes and cartoon characters. Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse, Daisy, Iron man, Spider man... All these people live in Times Square, every day. With them people in costume promote the musical or the show of the day. And at every corner, blacks selling ticket for panoramic view of the city and night bus tour. Wow. New York city gives the idea everything can happen, and in somehow it does.


The statue of Liberty is more than big, is colossal. You can already see from the coast, and even before putting feet on the ground you realizes the statue is impressive. It is on Liberty island. By the way, everything in the U.S. is free. Words "freedom" and "liberty" are used every time, by everybody. It's typical for the Americans. But the point is those who always talk about freedom are those who haven't, or have less than all the others. And that's true for the American people. To be free and thinking to be free are not the same thing. But they can't understand that. Anyway, the statue is visible from inside only booking three months in advance. That's a pity, 'cause the audio-guide for the the outside visit is something to forget about. Country glorification, patriotism, celebration and self-celebration of freedom are the mainstream of the tour. So, please, take note: when you go to visit Liberty island pay attention to the audio-guide.
   Near the New York harbour is the 9/11 memorial, what is replacing the twin towers. Where was one of the two towers, a new one, less high than the previous one, has been built up. There will be the world trade centre. About the second tower, there a touching fountain will remember what occurred in 2001. The fountain has been realized in the place of the basis of the second tower. The result is a large, square hole with water flowing down, as a sort a waterfall toward the empty space. Empty and meaningless is the sensation, the feeling you have there. The goal was just that: to remember how shocking were the 9/11 attacks.
   Being in New York city means to have a walk in Central park. In summer it's fantastic, but in autumn it has to be something special. All those different trees should give a unique colour diversity... In summer people take sun, have a rest, play baseball, make jogging, have picnic lunch... In Central park every thing disappears: calm and green, with kids' happy screams. And squirrels. A lot of squirrels. They're everywhere: on the trunks, on the grass, on the street. Sometimes dogs get crazy in saying them, and start barking forcing men to move away. Horns and car noise are just a far wisher, twitters are the main sound-track of this magic kingdom. Playground, lakes, the turtle island, a zoo, panoramic terraces: a world is in Central park. Huge, long. One of the best magic experience in N.Y.. But a post is not sufficient to can talk about the city. Four-five days are needed to visit only Manhattan, and we the are still the borough of Queens, Bronx, Statten island and Brooklyn. Once crossed the famous Brooklyn bridge, a stop has to be made in Brooklyn bridge park, a new green area to discover, as well as the whole city.

Other destinations visited

Amsterdam / Antwerpen / Berlino / Binche / Braine l'Alleud / Brugge / Budapest / De Haan / Den Haag / Durbuy / Gent / Halle / Knokke / Leuven / Liège / Mechelen / Mons / Namur / Oostende / Santiago de Compostela / Strasbourg / Tournai / Vilvoorde / Waterloo