New York at my feet
ENSeeing New York from above is THE tourist thing to do... So, Rockefeller Center or Empire State Building? Both are better! One by day and the other by night.
Two buildings to take height
I have to admit, during this week in New York, at the end of May, I played the tourist. My main activity: walking! Like all those who discover New York for the first time, I walked around Manhattan in all directions, discovering, smelling, absorbing the atmosphere of each district...
Of course, I did all the touristy stuff or almost all of it. Starting with the Rockefeller Center. Because seeing New York from the top, well, it's worth the detour...
And then, as there is also the mythical Empire State Building to take height, to make a small night ascent there, the last evening of my stay, did not seem superfluous to me at all.
Two buildings... like spectacular parentheses to frame my first steps in the Big Apple. Two dizzying visions of the city, which give only one desire: to dive back in!
Top of the Rock: the Rockefeller Center Observatory
At the top of Rockefeller Centerthe observatory Top of the Rock offers a breathtaking view of Manhattan. I agree with my friend Marie Toumit, who made a comparison with the Empire State Building on his blog Further The top of Rockefeller Center is the best place to see New York from above.
The observatory is vast, made up of beautiful terraces, distributed on three levels. As a result, we don't jostle with the other tourists for the pictures. We enjoy quietly the view, at our own pace, as we go up from one level to the other.
It's a little gray the day I climb it. But it doesn't matter. I'm so happy to be there, in the middle of the postcard! It's crazy, completely crazy! New York at my feet!
On the flip side, with the Empire State Building in sight:
Front side, overlooking Central Park:
We do not get tired of it...
Empire State Building: a city is beautiful at night
Ah, to contemplate one last time the city from above, after having spent the week walking from one end of Manhattan to the other... To do it at night is worth all the fireworks in the world! Wonderful "final touch" to this New York stay. Head for theEmpire State Building...
The Empire State Buiding, like everyone else, I've known it since I was a kid. It's a King Kong's building ! It would be a shame to miss it.
But there are people who want to see the city like King Kong. You have to wait in several (and beautiful) halls before you can take the elevators. Then play a little elbows to fit his lens between the cameras of other tourists.
But hey. Once up there, we don't regret it. As the other said, it is beautiful, a city, at night...
My favorite building is the Chrysler Tower, recognizable among all, even more elegant with the night lighting:
There either, we do not get tired of it...
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Congratulations on your blog.
Your articles are really nice and your photos make you want to escape.
Continue to make us dream.
Pierre-Yves
@Pierre-Yves: thank you very much! I'll try to keep going, then... 🙄
New York, that makes a parait a destination to spend a few days, I keep it aside and thank you for deciding in favor of one or the other point of view, even if seeing both seems to be the must 😉
@Bruno: well, to tell the truth, I haven't made up my mind yet, as you can see... I'd have to go back at other times of the day - at dawn and before sunset - to really appreciate the view from both buildings. But it's true, if you can, it's worth treating yourself to a climb up both!!!!
8)
My favorite is the Chrysler, day and night! On the other hand, I hadn't climbed to the top of the Rockfeller, but I'll have to remedy that... How much does it cost to climb to the top of the Rockfeller?
@Lucie: I can't remember exactly... The best thing to do is to check out the link to the official website: http://www.topoftherocknyc.com
On the website, it says: 25 USD for an adult ticket, and 38 USD for both sunrise and sunset (good idea, I'll do that next time, I think).
🙂
Thanks for all the info! Totally, the sunrise and sunset combo speaks to me 😉
Now, it will be necessary to return to the Top of the Rock on a beautiful day. 8)
@Marie: yes, I intend to... Especially as I've just discovered the existence of the "sunrise-sunset" post.
😉
Anyway, thanks for the wink 😉
I have a preference for night shots. It reminds me of the photos I took during my stay in Singapore.
The city takes on a whole new look when it's decked out in lights!
@Maïder: I love night photos too. It reminds me that I have a night series on Singapore too (photos taken in 2009) and that I've never posted them... I'll have to get back into it!
Always nice to come to your site!
I have so many fond memories of mythical NY, I'd love to go back and rent a tiny room... and take my time!
NowMadNow
@NowMadNow: thanks miss, same for your site! 😉 I too dream of returning to NY and spending more time there.
Photos that make me want to go back. The idea of doing one tower by day and another by night is an excellent one. The views are totally different.
@Elyes: yes, I highly recommend the experience: taking in the view from the Empire State Building AND Rockefeller Center, one by day and the other by night (or vice versa), you don't experience the same thing, and in both cases, it's spectacular...
🙂