Big Apple Experience

When someone mention New York, almost everyone’s first association is Statue of Liberty. It’s not surprising at all as it is definitely one of the most recognizable landmarks of this city. I think this monument is on everyone’s priority list of “things to see in NYC”, especially for the first timers in Big Apple.

So, we couldn’t miss it either.

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At the entrance gate you can meet ‘Lady Liberty’ in person, ‘she’ sits there and welcomes you. 😊

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When we were planning our trip, my friends and I bought CityPASSes in advance, and that is something I would totally recommend to all of you to do. There are several options, but we chose the one which includes six main attractions of New York and costs 116$. It’s valid for 9 days so you have more than enough time to plan your visits.

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It pays off for sure, because tickets would cost a lot more separately.  And it’s also time saving, with it you don’t have to wait in a long lines at all. That’s what I liked the most about it. I don’t like wasting my time in general, especially while on vacation when I want to visit as many things as I can during the day. So, this was super cool.

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CityPASS includes Statue Cruises ferry ride with stops at Liberty Island and Ellis Island, so we used it for the first time there.

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The weather was amazing. It was a beautiful sunny day, and our ferry ride was really pleasant. And when you add to it this fabulous view, there is nothing more you could ask for.

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Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France and it’s an icon of freedom and independence of the United States. The statue was a welcoming sight to immigrants arriving from abroad.

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Interesting facts about The Statue of Liberty:

  • female figure represents Libertas – Roman goddess of Liberty
  • height of Statue is 93 meters – from ground level to torch
  • torch is covered with thin sheets of 24k gold
  • there are seven rays on her crown – one for each of the seven continents
  • the Statue skin is made of copper
  • green color is because of the oxidation – when copper is exposed to oxygen in the air
  • it took nearly thirty years for the Statue to turn from original copper color to the green we see today
  • it is on the list of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO

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Also one of the famous landmarks of New York is Brooklyn Bridge which links two New York City boroughs  – Manhattan and Brooklyn.

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You can drive it, bike it, but my recommendation is to walk it. There is about 2km long pedestrian walkway above the car traffic. It is really nice walk with a great view. You will need at least 45 minutes to cross it, if your pace is slow, and you take time to enjoy it and make some photos as a memory.

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As you walk you will pass by love locks attached to the Bridge. This famous European tradition makes its way all to the States. Couples leave padlocks on the bridge and throw the keys into the river as a sign of everlasting love.

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I am huuuge ice cream lover and that is definitely my favorite treat. This ice cream was sooo delicious, and beside the other interesting spots, it’s also one of the reasons to come back to Brooklyn again. 😉

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If you are in New York, you can’t miss to visit some of the NYC tower viewing decks. Rockefeller Center is one of them.

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Rockefeller Center is national historic landmark in the heart of Midtown Manhattan.

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We were there while they started to prepare a huge ice rink in front of the Center for the holiday season. I wish I had an opportunity to ice skate there, but let’s leave it for some of my future visits.

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At the Top of the Rock Observation Deck is an absolutely breathtaking view. With 360 – degree views of Manhattan and beyond this is a must visit.

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We had a walk through Wall Street in Financial District of Lower Manhattan.

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Wall Street is home of the New York Stock Exchange and the largest US brokerages and investment banks.

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9/11 Memorial is located at the site of the former Twin Towers that were destroyed in the 9/11 attacks.

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Take a moment of quiet at the twin reflecting pools, where the names of every person who died in the attacks are inscribed.

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This whole Big Apple experience was educational and inspirational at the same time. As the St. Augustine said: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”. And I couldn’t agree more. To me, travel is the best teacher and life lessons learned from traveling are the most valuable ones.

Let me know what you think.

More about NYC coming soon.. Stay tuned..

 

 

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