United States > Soho and Chinatown

United States - The castiron stairs in the Soho neighborhood

In the morning, I walk out of the hotel and order breakfast a few streets away. I cross Fifth Avenue and head toward Greenwich Village, a low-rise neighborhood in the middle of New York with small theaters and artists’ homes. I explore this “village” in the city following the walking route from the guidebook. Along the way, I pass the narrowest house in New York. Behind me, other tourists follow, using the same guidebook, just in different languages. I flip back a few pages and continue my walk through Soho. The neighborhood, with its cast-iron fire escapes, forms a perfect film set. At the terrace where I sat earlier, I order a coffee and enjoy the street life in front of me. Through the cozy streets, I arrive at the Singer Museum, a characteristic building of this area. I continue walking toward Chinatown, flipping a few more pages in the guidebook to follow the route through its highlights. In Chinatown, all the Chinese shops are clustered together. The narrow streets resemble an Arab souk. Chinatown is still expanding, and more and more Chinese residents are moving into the adjacent Italian neighborhood. At a park on the edge of Chinatown, I sit on a bench and have a drink, watching the children playing in the park.

United States - The beautiful construction of the Brooklyn Bridge

Following the rest of the walking route from the guidebook, I head toward the harbor. Through quieter streets—which I would rather not walk at night—I reach the waterfront between the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge. Along the quay, I walk toward the Brooklyn Bridge. Gradually, I return to the more populated area. At the harbor near the Pier 17 restaurant, I order a beer. It’s quite warm today, very warm even for September. Through the fish market, I reach the start of the Brooklyn Bridge. The pedestrian and bike path lies in the center of the bridge, just above the two lanes of traffic. From the bridge, I have a beautiful view of the city and Manhattan’s skyline. Including the on- and off-ramps, the Brooklyn Bridge stretches about three kilometers—a decent walk. On the other side, there’s a small staircase down. I decide to walk a little further to the next exit, only to discover it’s all the way at the end, meaning I’ve walked the full three kilometers. From the intersection, I walk back to the water. At a viewpoint, I sit on a bench. It’s around five o’clock, and the sun is already low over Manhattan. I wait until it disappears behind the skyline.

United States - The Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan

A beautiful orange glow spreads over New York and the Brooklyn Bridge. Along the waterfront, I walk under the Brooklyn Bridge to the nearby Manhattan Bridge. A high staircase takes me up to the pedestrian and bike path along the bridge, which runs alongside the subway, which rumbles across regularly. Instead of taking the subway, I decide to walk back, enjoying the twilight over the city. The many lights of Chinatown, at the foot of the bridge, are especially beautiful. From the bridge, I walk back to the hotel. I’ve covered a considerable distance today, but it’s a great way to get acquainted with all the neighborhoods of the city. At the corner near the hotel, I have something to eat and then return to my room.