All adventures begin and end here. As much as I didn't want to leave Boston, my flight to Moscow was departing from New York. I knew perfectly well that after the Pearl of the North, even the Big Apple might seem less appealing. Maybe I was wrong. Accommodation wasn't an issue—I could stay with a cousin of an acquaintance. The problem was something else: getting there with a huge suitcase and a backpack. Especially since I remembered all too well how I messed up last time, paying 10 times the necessary fare in the subway. Tip: READ the subway car signs CAREFULLY. Just because you are on your line, unfortunately, doesn't mean all trains go where you need to go. Even a train running on your line might not stop at your station. After leaving my things at my acquaintance's place and washing up, I set off in search of free Manhattan fun. Must-see/visit: - Central Park; - Brooklyn Bridge; - Chinatown; - Little Italy; - Broadway; - Times Square at night; - Staten Island Ferry; - Brighton Beach. In Chinatown, there are people who were born in this neighborhood, lived and worked there, and died there, never leaving the area and never knowing English. Consequently, explaining or asking anything from such people won't work. This can play into your hands: I got lucky and, right in front of these people, I left without paying for fixing a couple of errors in the menu. When I was in New York, there was some kind of fair going on in Italy, so I was able to see a few Italians. But in general, Chinatown is growing very fast and slowly but surely is swallowing up Little Italy. Don't be lazy; take a walk down Broadway and head down to Wall Street, then to the water itself, where the free Staten Island Ferry departs. Not only will you sail past the Statue of Liberty, but you'll also get a stunning view, first of Manhattan, then of New York and Jersey City. It's worth it. Tip: Midtown is full of signs like "Pizza for 0.99". In reality, this pizza costs a dollar, but it's still very cheap (the only thing cheaper is at "7-Eleven", where it's $2 for 2 slices, but both with toppings). Sit in Central Park in the evening. Just sit under a tree after a long day or lie on the grass. Listen to what the city residents are talking about. Walk to the lake if you can't sit still. If your hands are still reaching for your gadget, you can delete unnecessary photos and admire the good shots. Drink some water, look around—you are in a forest, in a real jungle inside a jungle. Gather your strength—ahead is the nighttime Times Square and 5th Avenue. When the sun sets and night falls, only one place in New York shines as brightly as it does during the day—that's Times Square! Crowds of people, bright advertising billboards, and actors dressed in costumes of favorite characters—all this creates a special atmosphere. If the prospect of being in a huge crowd of people doesn't excite you, take a walk along 5th Avenue and visit (or maybe buy something there) world-famous stores like M&M's, Hershey's, NBA Store, as well as expensive boutiques. Tip: If you are interested in shopping, head to "Century 21" in Brooklyn. A huge clothing and footwear store with famous brands at quite reasonable prices. The remaining time can well be spent visiting the American Museum of Natural History (which closes at 5:30 PM). And please, since you are in New York, don't make my mistake—go up to the Empire State Building and look at New York from the wind-swept observation deck. Back then I regretted the $29, now I'm ready to pay twice as much just to go back there and not miss the opportunity. Tip: Don't regret the $29 and go up to the Empire State Building observation deck. Brighton! Just take a trip to this street and look at the Russian-language store signs, "Moya Semya" juices, candies with the mysterious name "Korovka", "Adjika" spices, and the funny "Tarkhun" soda. Looking at the eternally rushing pedestrians and the cars constantly yielding to them, looking at the painfully familiar-lo
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