Day 1: Thursday, 10/17
My sister and I flew from different cities and landed in the JFK airport around the same time (I had to wait for her for about 30 minutes, but I love airports enough to have enjoyed a little exploration.) We then took the AirTrain from the airport to the Jamaica Station in Manhattan to then connect to the Subway.
We arrived to the stop nearest Grand Central Station and walked a few blocks to our hostel The New York Budget Inn.* Because we both had heavy bags, we went straight to the hostel to check-in. Many hostels and hotels say you cannot check-in until about 3-4PM, but I would advise trying anyway. Many hostels can hold your luggage in a closet or behind the desk, even if your room is still unavailable. This way, you can start your adventure without lugging your things around.
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| Our temporary humble abode. |
We reached our room and fell in love with it. We got a private two-bed room with a shared bathroom on the floor. The room was clean and super cozy. We had found incredibly affordable and comfortable lodging in NYC. Was this real life?
We dropped off our things, freshened up and then were on our way to begin our epic adventure.
During our first day, we found Times Square and Central Park. It was nothing short of magical. One thing I noticed right off the bat: New Yorkers sure do love their Starbucks––there was one in every single corner.
At the end of the day, we knew we had to visit Serendipity III while we were in Manhattan. So, we set out (feet exhausted) to share a famous "Frrrozen Hot Chocolate."
We arrived and only had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated. We were intrigued by the knick-knacks by the hostess podium. The most random things, but all somehow completely interesting. I was close to buying something when the hostess escorted us upstairs. Serendipity III is tiny, but somehow fits a lot of people. It was––like what seems like everything in New York––cozy.
After being seated, we noticed a sign that said every table needs to spend at least $9 (or something like that) and one frozen hot chocolate was only $8, so we both had to buy our own. We didn't complain! My sister bought the original and I bought the peanut butter one. Let me tell you––it is everything everyone says it is. Serendipity III deserves its fame. It's amazing. I am beyond pleased we have one in Miami Beach.
We were exhausted after a day of traveling and walking all over the city (but actually only probably a third of it), so we stopped by a CVS near our hostel and bought some snacks for the evening and fruit for breakfast. Our only full day in NY was ahead of us and we needed our rest!
Day 2: Friday, 10/18
The first thing on our checklist for the day was visiting the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). We bought our tickets ahead of time to avoid any unnecessary lines (something we learned from Europe) and immediately entered. My sister was on a mission to see Starry Night and I was intrigued by identifying any pieces I recognized from my Contemporary Art History course from the previous semester. I just about cried seeing some famous original pieces and my sister was Star-struck (see what I did there?) with her favorite Van Gogh.
It did not take long to see everything we wanted to, so we left just in time for lunch at the nearby Au Bon Pain. The food was delicious, but that was not what made that lunch date memorable. While I finished my Italian sandwich and soup, my sister whispered to me: "It's SJP." I turn and saw a woman that looked just like her and nodded very cooly, "Haha yeah, looks just like her." My sister then rolled her eyes and said "No, IT'S Sarah Jessica Parker." Oh my gosh, it was. I saw Carrie Bradshaw on 5th Avenue! Let's just say it was a highlight.
We then walked through the shops of 5th Avenue and made our way back to the hostel because we had tickets to a Broadway show. As a huge fan of "Chuck" and Zachary Levi, I was so pleased to find out he'd be in an original show when we'd be in New York. The show was called "First Date" and it was everything I wanted it to be. It made me laugh, cry, feel despair and hope. It was a wonderful show and now I'm hoping it'll win some Tony's.
Day 3: Saturday, 10/19
It was our last day and we were feeling pretty tired from the walking we had done the last two days. We loved feeling like New Yorkers a bit, but we were definitely out of shape. So, we decided to get some lunch at an Irish Pub and then get our nails done.
After a bit of pampering, we people-watched at a corner Starbucks until it was time for us to catch the Subway and train back to the airport.
Overall, my trip to NYC was more than I expected it to be. I want to go back––maybe even live there someday. I applied to a job at the NY Public Library just this morning. I loved being able to walk everywhere. I loved that I was just as moody and rushed as the rest on the streets. I loved the cabs, the lights, the buildings, the people, the food, the atmosphere.
Next time: I want to visit Little Italy and Brooklyn. I still need to see Coney Island and the Statue of Liberty. NYC is too large to see in just 2.5 days, so I look forward to returning often.
*Hostel Review:
-Super affordable
-Super clean
-Amicable staff
-5/5 stars!
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