NY: Harlem - Central Park - MoMa - St. Patrick's Cathedral - Williamsburg
On Friday morning, he wakes up early and immediately on the street. First stop to return to Dumbo on Washington Street to take photos without too many people. Mission accomplished we arrived at 8:20 and there was practically nobody there.
Harlem.
After this detour, through the F line and then the 6 subway line we went to 116 Street Station in the Harlem district. About 600 meters from the stop is the Bethel Gospel Assembly Church.
There should be a gospel function in this church every morning at 11:00, but when we arrived it was completely closed and there was no one there.
Unfortunately we arrived on Monday and left again on Saturday so it was not possible to attend mass on Sunday morning, leaving aside the hitch on Wednesday. In fact usually on Wednesdays at 19:00 some churches rehearse and you can attend a real Gospel concert.
So we visited a part of the neighborhood and went to 125th St in the heart of Harlem, the African American neighborhood of New York.
We took a walk on this large avenue until we arrived in front of the Apollo Theater, the main attraction of the neighborhood.
Central Park.
From line B from 125 Street Station we arrived at 96 St Station to go to the Gothic Bridge, where the final scene of the film “Collateral Beauty” in Central Park was shot, to visit the rest of Central Park. We passed under the Glen Span Arch, where there is also a small waterfall. While walking, we came across several bridges, streams, waterfalls and we also crossed several squirrels. After spending a few hours in the park, from 110 Street Station – Central Park North via subway line 2 we arrived to 34 Street – Penn Station to return to the hotel to rest a bit.
MoMA – St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
After a short rest we are back on the road to continue our itinerary. On Friday afternoon from 16:00 onwards, the entrance to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) is free. So through the subway line F from 34 St – Herald Sq Subway Station we arrived to 57 Street Station where the MoMa is about 300. Unfortunately the queue was endless and went all the way to the street, so we couldn’t get in. All information on opening hours and admission prices on the official website.
At about 500 meters, among the many skyscrapers, shops and museums, on 5th Avenue is the Cathedral of St. Patrick. Once in front of the Cathedral, it is impossible not to notice the grandeur of the external structure and in particular the two large spire bell towers 100 meters high. Once inside, however, there are the three naves, a central and two lateral ones which house several white marble sculptures. In the side aisles there are also several chapels, finally there are two large pipe organs.
We continued on 5th Avenue to see the shops present to finally go to the central part of Times Square.
Williamsburg.
After this round of windows and shops, via the R line and then the L line of the subway, from 49 Street Station we arrived at Bedford Av Station in another area of Brooklyn or Williamsburg.
This neighborhood was once an industrial area, but today it has become a tourist attraction. The area is fairly quiet, not as chaotic as the rest of New York. There are several shops, supermarkets, clubs, restaurants and pubs, most of which have sprung up in former industrial buildings. There are also many Italian places and pizzerias. We got off at this stop because the intent was not to visit much of the neighborhood, but to go directly to East River State Park, a small park that offers one of the best views of the Manhattan skyline.
So from the metro station we headed to the park, passing in front of these former warehouses with several restaurants, pubs and pizzerias inside.
In the park which is right on the river bank, there are several benches and also a tiny beach where you can take spectacular photos of Manhattan.
One thing we have noticed, this park is not frequented by many tourists, such as other areas of Brooklyn. We arrived just in time for sunset and we stayed until about 22:00 to admire and photograph the spectacular panorama in all versions …
Return.
And we have come to an end, we know that beautiful things do not last long, today we leave for Italy. Wake up early as usual and this morning we decide to go from the Wolcot hotel to Time Square on foot going zigzag between Broadway, 7th Avenue and sometimes pushing up to 8th Avenue stopping between the various souvenir shops where we bought some souvenirs.
There are still few tourists on the streets, but the chaos of the city is always very high. Workers at work, taxis all the time, ambulances with deployed sirens speeding by, people running to work and students. In Time Square, the clones of Marvell or Disney characters are inevitable.
Let’s take some more photos in Time Square and between the back streets of the city. At 10:30 we return to the hotel to take the suitcases (prepared the night before) and check-out.
A last drink at Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar, an excellent wine bar just in front of the Wolcott hotel and we go to 33 Street Station. Via subway line 6 we get to 51 Street Station, change station and from Lexington Av-53 St via line E we reach Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Station.
From here, about 100 meters away is the Jamaica Station, the AirTrain station. We top up the $ 10.00 metrocard and after the turnstiles we take the AirTran JFK Red which takes us to Terminal 1 of JFK airport.
It took us about an hour and 10 minutes from the hotel to the airport. We arrived at 13:30 and we were perfectly on time, the Alitalia plane leaves at 17:30 so we have plenty of time to print the boarding pass at the Alitalia counter, check and eat something before embarking for the return.