09/11 Memorial Plaza & Museum - Oculus - TriBeCa -SoHo - Little Italy - Chinatown - Flatiron District - Gran Central Terminal

9/11 Memorial Plaza.

The next morning wake up at 6:00, muffin breakfast and American coffee in the hotel and at 8:00 we are already on the road to discover the city. As soon as we exit the hotel door just in front of us we see one of the symbols of New York the Empire State Building.

We continue on W 31 st and then on 5th Ave to get to 33 Street Station where we take the subway line 6 to go to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. During the walk on 5th Ave at the intersections with the other streets, it is possible to take some nice pictures of the city, perhaps capturing the typical “district heating” steam that comes out of a manhole or from the typical red and white tube.

Time Square
Around the city

Arrived at Fulton Street Station about 500 meters we find the 9/11 Memorial Plaza. It is a square where there are two large square tanks built in the place where the Twin Towers used to be. The names of all the victims of the attack are engraved along the perimeter of the tanks.

In this square there is a park with numerous trees including the Survivor Tree, the only tree that has resisted destruction. Close to the Memorial Plaza is the 9/11 Memorial Museum and opposite the One World Trade Center. It is the tallest skyscraper in New York and the sixth of the tallest in the world that has taken the place of the Twin Towers. On the official website all information on times and the cost of getting on the observatory.

One World Trade Center New York
One World Trade Center

9/11 Memorial Museum.

After visiting the whole square, we decided to visit the museum on 11/9. Always taking advantage of the City Pass, it is a multi-storey museum, where there are photos, exhibits, multimedia displays that retrace all the moments of the September 11 attack. In some areas of the museum you can take photos in others instead it is absolutely forbidden and is clearly specified.

As soon as you enter you have to go down the stairs and practically we found ourselves inside what remains of the foundations of the twin towers. Inside there are several exhibits, an elevator engine, a piece of the antenna that was on the roof, semi-destroyed vehicles, the Survivor Stairs, that is, the stairs traveled by many survivors who managed to escape and much more. It is a visit that lasts about 2 hours and is very touching … On the official website, the timetables and the cost of tickets (if you do not have a pass), there is also an app for Android and Apple smartphones to be used as an audio guide.

Ladder 3 Memorial Museum
Ladder 3 fire truck

Oculus – TriBeCa – SoHo.

Just in front of the museum is the Oculus, or the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, the transport hub of Lower Manhattan. An immense structure designed by architect Santiago Calatrava that connects 11 subway lines, Path trains and the Hudson Ferry Terminal. Inside there is also a shopping center where there are more than 100 shops and many places to eat.

Oculus New York
Oculus

We made a quick visit and through the E line of the metro we went to the Canal Street Station in the TriBeCa district. In this neighborhood there are no museums or points of interest to see, but the neighborhood is the real attraction. TriBeCa is the abbreviation for “Triangle Below Canal Street” that is the triangle under Canal Street. There are few skyscrapers and cobblestone streets here. Until the 70s it was an industrial area but now it is a “VIP” residential area where many famous people live. There are many shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs. At 14 North Moore Street is the Ghostbusters barracks, the famous 80’s movie.

Ghostbuster barracks
Ghostbuster barracks

Another very trendy neighborhood that borders Tribeca is SoHo. The meaning of SoHo is SOuth of HOuston. Characteristic of the neighborhood are the cast iron and red brick buildings with the fire escape stairs that have become famous thanks to the many films shot in this area. There are many clubs and the shopping district is also considered, in fact there are many big designer stores.

We took a long walk between Tribeca in Soho up to 90 Bedford St where the apartment where the Friends series was filmed is located …

Soho New York
Building in the SoHo district

Little Italy – Chinatown.

After the ritual selfie, we went to the Little Italy neighborhood. So we took the subway line B from West 4 St-Washington Sq Sta station and after 2 stops we got off at Grand Street Station. We continued on foot until we arrived at 177 Hester St at the intersection with Mott St where there is one of the two signs “Welcome to Little Italy”, the other is located at 156 Mulberry St. We took a tour, however, noting, that there is little Italian left … most of the shops have Italian names, Italian flags, but in reality they belong to Chinese. The Italian places are very few.

Little Italy Manhattan New York
Little Italy

In fact, attached to Little Italy is Chinatown, the neighborhood where one of the largest and oldest Chinese communities outside Asia lives. The main street is Canal Street, very chaotic and crowded with tourists, where there are many shops and stalls of various kinds.

Chinatown Manhattan New York
Chinatown

Flatiron District.

We made a very fast ride and reached Canal Street Station, via the N line we went to 23 St Station where at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway is the Fuller Building better known as Flatiron Building, the “iron ” from New York.

It is one of the most famous and iconic triangular-shaped skyscrapers in the city and for this reason the New Yorkers have been nicknamed “iron”. The building also gave the district its name, in fact we are in the Flatiron District, a very busy area full of attractions. Just opposite is Madison Square Park where we rested for a moment. From the park you can also see the Empire State Building and the Metropolitan Life Tower, another beautiful building of about 200 meters high.

Flatiron Building - Fuller Building
Flatiron Building

Gran Central Terminal.

We took the subway line 6 again at 23 St Station to go to one of the main symbols and points of interest of New York: the Grand Central Terminal.

We are talking about the largest railway station in the world and the most famous in New York, an icon of the city, which has become a real tourist attraction. There are numerous shops, bars, newsagents and restaurants.

As soon as we entered we found ourselves inside the large atrium, which we already knew thanks to the numerous films shot inside. At the center of the atrium is the information office and at the top of the office we saw the famous 4-sided clock. In the center of the room is the large US flag which was attacked in Grand Central Terminal, a few days after the September 11 attack. Going up the stairs in the lobby there are cafes and a large Apple store.

Gran Central Station New York
Gran Central Station