After Philly, we rode a bus to New York the very next day. We purchased bus tickets a few months before so we got it cheap and we already had a place to stay in which we reserved via Airbnb.
Our way to NY wasn't really a pleasant trip. We were supposed to arrive around 12NN and we planned to already start our tour as soon as we arrive. But there had been a problem with our bus. We stopped at a rest stop around New Jersey which was still about 1 1/2 hrs away from Manhattan. They were to exchange drivers because apparently our current driver already reached her maximum limit of hours. So she said to wait for the next driver who was due to arrive in 30 mins. We didn't know what was happening because we waited for 3 hours, still without any driver and still without any announcement! We were so pissed off because we waited at the rest stop inside a very hot bus (they turned off the airconditioned to save gas) and we were missing our tour! We already had plans in mind since we're only there for 3 days but now it was cut short to almost 1 1/2 days. We had to cram everything on the second day and we couldn't go to the other places we planned to go to. Unfortunately, we arrived in NY around 5PM!
As soon as we arrived, we went to eat at a pizza place we found while walking around. We were already tired so we decided to go straight to our apartment. It took us a subway ride going to our
Airbnb apartment.
It was actually a really nice apartment! Everything in their pictures is what it really looks like.
It wasn't in the best location since we still need to ride the subway for 30 mins but it's generally safe around there and it's the cheapest apartment with the nicest living space we could find. And it has good reviews!
Yep, too bad we couldn't go around on our 1st day but it ended on a nice note because of this great apartment!
We took off around 7AM the next day because we still need to claim our
New York Pass to start our tour. Having the NY Pass is actually a really nice way to save money!! I swear it's worth it! We paid $169 for the 2-day pass and it already includes a bus tour (and it's hop on-hop off!). So technically we already have our transportation in going around the city. Imagine going to the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and other sites which costs $30+ individually. With all the places we visited, it would already cost us about $300+ if we paid the entrance fees separately. Read all about it on their website. We can go to famous landmarks and we can just show our NY Pass and they'd give us tickets, it's like our credit card. Some landmarks even have a separate line for NY Pass holders so we can sort of skip regular long lines.
We rode the tour bus and our plan was to get off at the Statue of Liberty stop.
Eataly. Wish I could've tried eating here.
Battery Park. It's where the ferry going to Liberty Island is located.
This is absolutely my favorite dress among the dresses I bought in the US. It's from Papaya and it's a perfect fit for me, I swear I don't look fat wearing it.
My girls, Glyza and Sasa
Lady Liberty!!!
Didn't get a picture this close last time I was in NY. They were repairing the island because of Hurricane Sandy last time I was there so no one was allowed to get off.
Our next stop was Rockefeller Center!
Top of the Rock!!
It's what they call their observatory in Rockefeller.
I actually like the city view here more than what we witnessed on top of the Empire State Building. But that's just me. The ticket here is also in our NY Pass package!
NYC!!!!
We went back to Time Square to go to the wax museum!
In all honestly, I didn't like NY the first time I was there. I was a little bit overwhelmed and hassled because we only had an overnight trip there and I was with my mom and my grandmother so we couldn't go to a lot of places. It also rained on our second day and there was also a foggy Empire State Building so we couldn't enjoy the view. I'm so glad I took another trip there. There's still a lot of places I want to see but couldn't get a chance to because we were time pressured. Hopefully next time, I'll be there longer so I could appreciate the city more. I still haven't been to Brooklyn!!
Madame Tussauds and more on the next NY post! Couldn't cram everything here. Heh.
xo
B
PS: Here's my trip around the US! Make sure to check them out!
Busch Gardens, VA
Longwood Gardens, PA
Washington, DC
Philadelphia, PA
Manhattan, NY (2)
Baltimore Zoo
Carmel-by-the-Sea & Monterey Bay, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
