Battery Park: cosa c’è intorno, come arrivare e quando andare · 2026

EKEkaterina Kudriavtsevakate_rina-93 · 22 nov 2015Leggi

We landed at the airport in New York City. Excitement and fear, anticipation and delight – that very feeling when you realize where you are, but still cannot believe it. Perhaps this is the first city where it proved impossible to determine my attitude at first glance. Walking along the evening avenues, I couldn't figure out if I felt comfortable here or not. But one thing was clear: NY is stunning in its power! The skyscrapers, the people, the rhythm, and the energy as a whole – it’s what makes you hold your breath in an attempt to process what is happening. It seems that everything in New York moves faster than the hands of a clock, and that is impressive. Walking along Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge, Broadway, Battery Park, where you get a view of the Statue of Liberty, as well as the incredible view of nighttime New York from the Empire State Building – everything looks amazing, but a strange feeling persists. It is not like in the movies. And there it is – the destruction of the first stereotype. Reality is far from Hollywood blockbusters. Having watched various TV series and films set in New York, I imagined the city somewhat differently. Not worse or better, just different. The main conclusion: never build illusions! As they say, it is better to see once… NY welcomed me, and NY saw me off. Before flying back to Russia, I also visited Brooklyn, immersing myself in the atmosphere of the Russian Brighton Beach, and took photos against the backdrop of the numerous advertising displays of the most famous square in the world – Times Square. Walks in Brooklyn and Manhattan, Central Park, Apple Store + everything I visited in the first days of my stay in America – the minimum program in New York has been completed. Summary: New York is a very powerful city with its own specifics, which strikes you with its energy. For some, it captures the soul, while others are ready to escape this hustle and bustle as soon as possible. But New York is not all of America… Moving on.

АСАлеся Селезневаforkgalaxy · 11 nov 2009Leggi

In an instant, we found ourselves on the top of a bus and set off, entertained by a young guide with an accent. The first stop where we decided to get off was Battery Park. The monument, supposedly pulled from the rubble of the Twin Towers, seems to scream: "Can't you see that these holes in me were made on purpose??". So, as you can understand, this sphere didn't make much of an impression on me. But we really liked Castle Clinton: it's so old and cinematic.. And Kirya kept running around it, shouting that he had often been here in some game, and that it supposedly looked exactly like it did there, and that he felt like he hadn't been here for the first time, and so on. I envied him a little and walked away to zone out by the pier. I immediately recognized the lonely silhouette of the most famous American woman in the distance; the poor thing has been standing there all alone her whole life. Since childhood, I've perceived her as a living person, probably because I love "Ghostbusters 1, 2".. It was quiet, and this stunning day with this shamelessly cool city was covered by a crimson sunset with a blazing huge sun, rushing to dive into the water as soon as possible. It started to get noticeably dark, and we trudged back to our stop. We got on some evening tour. Empire glows temptingly with seductive colors, but for some reason, we decided to put everything off until tomorrow (we were fools, of course, the view of this night mess from above is worth a lot!). After driving around the center a bit, we transferred to a tour to Brooklyn. Damn, what a torture that was! I love cool rides, of course.. But riding across the Manhattan Bridge on the top of an open-top bus, which has a thin iron bar instead of a wall, when a slight turn of the head to the right and a glance down strips you of all courage (because there is a huge abyss there), and a piercing, prickly icy wind draws tears from your eyes... ugh... it's freaking awesome! =) And all the way across the bridge, everyone really thinks they are on a park ride because EVERYONE is screaming. (And I was filming a video the whole way, clutching the camera even with my teeth). (Tip: don't be lazy about wearing everything you can on this trip; I was wearing a sweatshirt, two hoodies, a hat, and it was still cold). As a "sweet treat," the tour included a stop on the shore and general admiration and photographing of the shining Manhattan through the eyes of envious Brooklynites. Having bought a fancy camera shortly before, I spent a long time zoning out over what settings to use so it wouldn't be embarrassing to show later, but I didn't understand a damn thing and took total crap (a lady with a small point-and-shoot camera was cranking out postcard after postcard at that time!). The road back, contrary to expectations, did not become less scary, but on the contrary, turned out to be even longer! We drove around the center a little more and, exhausted by the storm of impressions, docked at Port Authority. I will describe our unpretentious "life" during these days a little. As you have already guessed, our shelter (a place where you sleep, wash, brush your teeth when you wake up, tidy up, relieve yourself) became Port Authority. We immediately agreed to call it "home". And my tongue doesn't even turn to call it a station. It is not only sterilely clean and beautiful, it is cozy! Yes, there is no soft bed or shower, but there are chairs (though not always free) in a small waiting room and the shoulder of a loved one. The first night we slept in turns (you understand that no matter how many of you there are, leave at least two on duty, I will tell you why a little later). It's hard. And several times a night, everyone without exception was kicked out of the hall for thorough cleaning and disinfection (not only the floors were washed, the seats and everything else were completely wiped down!). The state was such that it was better to lie in the dirt than to get up every time during these clean

IIrinaKseniaMoscow · 17 giu 2009Leggi

Governors Island, New York Just 5 minutes from Manhattan lies the small Governors Island, a piece of the 19th century frozen in time. One fine Sunday, after reading about it in a brochure, we headed downtown and caught the ferry. That day, as part of a summer festival, there was a Shakespeare play—an amateur open-air theater. There are no cars or crowds of tourists with cameras on this island. People come here to cycle on traffic-free roads, have a picnic, and gaze at the Manhattan skyscrapers, which look like miniature models right in the palm of your hand. But that's not all. When you arrive, you immediately feel lost and don't even realize why at first. An atmosphere of past centuries reigns there. All the buildings on the island are low-rise and built long ago; with columns, stucco, and surrounded by sprawling trees and winding paths that aren't constrained by straight concrete sidewalks, they look like European estates with a dusty touch of antiquity. Who lives in them? What was there? I read about it later. At the time, we walked around a bit enchanted and surprised. A Shakespeare play, people sitting on the grass, the sun, old buildings—whoever says there is no nature in New York simply hasn't seen everything. So, Governors Island lies one kilometer from the southernmost point of Manhattan, and, by the way, it is legally part of the borough of Manhattan. In the summer, the island is open to the public, and you can get there by taking a free ferry. Ferries run every half hour or hour from the southern tip of Manhattan; they depart from the Battery Maritime Building, which is next to the Staten Island Ferry. Many people bring their own bicycles, and while waiting to board, the crowd splits roughly in half—"pedestrians" and "people with transport," with separate lines for each. On Fridays, you can rent a bike for free on the island (a system that also exists in some places in Manhattan—you take a bike, swipe your plastic card just to leave your details in case of non-return, and if you return it on time, no money is charged). From the 18th to the 20th century, the island served military purposes. There were forts, military fortifications, and, accordingly, houses for the command staff. Before the construction of the first city airport, Floyd Bennett Field, in Brooklyn, it was assumed it would be built on Governors Island. And indeed, from 1950 to 1960, a small runway for military aircraft was located there. In 1985, the island was officially recognized for its historical value. In December 1988, a meeting between Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Mikhail Gorbachev took place there. In 2003, the military transferred control of the island to the New York state authorities for a symbolic sum of $1, and Governors Island was opened to the public. More facts and stories in English (or Ukrainian) can be found on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governors_Island. I will add once again that this place is little known to ordinary tourists; you can find completely deserted lawns even on weekends. Excellent views, a postcard panorama, one of the best views of Manhattan. And a brood of geese wandering through a field with skyscrapers in the background is an unforgettable experience! P.S. I also met an American girl—a Chucky bride—whose dad is in the military, which is why such families move very often; in her 20 years, she has managed to live in or visit almost every state, but she was born and raised on this island!