Today’s plan was to see Manhattan from above at Top of the Rock! The morning started around 11 am as I got ready, though I wasn’t feeling great—last night’s craziness and too much alcohol had taken its toll. A lingering disappointment from the night before weighed on me; I hadn’t exchanged contact information with Kim, the girl I’d met. It was frustrating, especially since this was probably the third time I’d met someone amazing but lost the chance to reconnect. It really bothered me.

Laundry Time

In the afternoon, it was back to the laundromat for some laundry. While waiting, I grabbed a late breakfast/lunch at the nearby Subway. With my laptop in tow, I tried to get some work done but barely made any progress. These past days had been unproductive, and I couldn’t shake the frustration of falling behind. The website updates would just have to wait.

By 4 pm, with the laundry finished and some downtime under my belt, I was finally ready to head out. Public transport made the trip to Manhattan simple, though I had to get off the subway earlier than expected to reach Central Park.

Central Park

The city temperatures were manageable—slightly warm but nothing unbearable. I strolled down the street to where Central Park began. Starting in the southern section, I planned just a short walk rather than a full exploration. I was certain I’d return someday to explore the northern part of the park as well.

I spent about an hour enjoying the park, wandering and taking in the surroundings, though the crowds weren’t quite to my liking. I’ve always preferred quieter parks. Still, it was nice to see people enjoying themselves. I came across a small fair with a lovely view of the skyline before eventually making my way back to the bustling streets.

Hanging Around Rockefeller Center

I headed to Rockefeller Center to spend some time there before my visit to Top of the Rock. Taking the subway brought me directly to the spot, as it was conveniently connected to the center. Once inside, I bought a ticket for the 7 pm time slot, giving me an hour to explore the area. I wandered around, soaking in the atmosphere while waiting for my entry time.

The mall didn’t have much to offer—just crowds and few shops—so I found myself a bit bored. I picked up a postcard at the Top of the Rock gift shop but ended up losing it later. It wasn’t a big deal; it had only cost about a dollar. Deciding to leave, I took an elevator and found myself in a grand main hall. The space was stunning—high ceilings and beautiful decorations—and surprisingly quiet, likely because the main door was closed, keeping the photobombers at bay. After admiring the hall, I circled around the escalator and asked a guard for directions to exit the building.

Rockefeller Plaza

I arrived at Rockefeller Plaza, bustling with activity. That familiar “wow” feeling hit me as I took in the sights. A massive plant sculpture stood out, drawing plenty of attention—it was part of a special exhibition by an artist. I wandered around the square, snapping photos of the unique attractions. The fountain was a must for my Dutch friend, who had specifically asked me to capture it for them.

I walked away from Rockefeller Plaza, and after a few blocks, I spotted an ice cream stand. It was pricey, but I figured, why not? I treated myself to a delicious ice cream topped with nuts, then sat down to watch the people around me.

I crossed the street to McDonald’s for a quick bathroom break, then headed back towards Rockefeller Plaza. I took one more stroll around the plaza before leaving—it was just so crowded. Luckily, it was already 7 pm, so I could enter Top of the Rock. I could’ve gone up right away, but I decided against it. Seven o’clock felt like the perfect time; the crowd was thinned out. I wanted to make the most of my $30 ticket, enjoying both the daytime and nighttime views.

I entered the building through the outside entrance. From this angle, the tower looked incredibly tall.

Up

The security team of Top of the Rock let me in since I arrived at the right time. I made my way up the stunning stairwell to the next level, which looked luxurious. I had to wait in line, and when I turned the corner, I understood why—there was a security check. The person ahead of me was asked to leave because he had a pocketknife with him. He had the option to hand it over or leave, get a new ticket, and come back another day. He chose the latter and walked out.

After passing the security check, I waited in another line, where they were taking touristy pictures. I wasn’t a fan of that; it seemed like every tower did the same thing these days. I asked the staff if I could skip ahead and walked past the crowds. Finally, I reached the elevator. An open window in the ceiling gave a clear view of just how high the shaft went. Once at the top, I had to walk around a few corners before arriving at the escalator that led to the outdoor observation deck. I was amazed at how long the queues could get when it was busy. Later, I found out Top of the Rock had a capacity limit (of course), which explained the large queue system. Thankfully, there weren’t many people around at the moment, but I knew the crowds would soon arrive.

No Sitting

Top of the Rock’s observation deck had two levels. The lower one had large glass windows with only a few small openings for taking pictures, which I wasn’t too fond of. When I discovered there was an upper deck, I made my way up and snapped a few photos. I went back down to capture Central Park and other areas of Manhattan. The view was stunning. After a while, I looked for a place to sit. The security was strict: no sitting on the ground or the small stone ledges near the exits. There were only six benches, and all of them were occupied. So, I leaned against the wall and waited. Eventually, I headed back up to the highest deck. It was crowded, but I was determined to find a good spot for some photos.

As the sun set, I took several photos of Manhattan. The lights in the sky were absolutely stunning.

Dutch People Everywhere

It was fun experimenting with the zoom and capturing close-ups of the buildings. Photography was a breeze in this location—I didn’t need any special skills, just a steady hand. I ended up taking about 300 photos of Manhattan that evening—insane!

The upper deck of Top of the Rock was crowded, and all the best spots were taken now that the light had faded. However, I managed to snag an amazing spot right in front of the Empire State Building. Tourists were everywhere.

At one point, two Chinese-Dutch girls stood next to me, chatting. I listened in quietly, smiling, but not joining the conversation. They didn’t realize I was Dutch, and I assumed they were students from Amsterdam on vacation. Both were good-looking and seemed nice. Eventually, another Dutch guy behind me started talking to them, so I decided to reveal myself and join in. “Is this the Dutch corner or something?” I joked. The girls burst out laughing, “Oh my gosh, you’re Dutch too! How funny!” We started talking about New York, and I gave them some tips.

They were Shouf and Show (hopefully spelled right) from Amsterdam, on a last-minute vacation. They had rented a car and visited Niagara Falls, arriving in New York on the 4th of July. I shared some pictures of the fireworks and gave them more recommendations for the city. The other Dutch guy got a bit left out of the conversation, as he stood behind us, surrounded by other tourists. As we chatted, I kept snapping photos—the light and clouds in the sky were changing constantly.

New York’s Skyline during Night Time

At some point, the girls left Top of the Rock. I said goodbye and wished them a great vacation. It felt strange talking about my hometown, Volendam, here on Top of the Rock—a place famous in the Netherlands. It reminded me of a similar moment I had in Fiji with a Dutch guy from Almere. Funny how small the world can feel sometimes.

After about five minutes, I decided it was time to go. I’d captured enough incredible shots of the Empire State Building and its surroundings. Before leaving Top of the Rock, I snapped a few more pictures of the other parts of the city.

Back to the Hostel

Back on the streets, I walked to the nearest subway station and hopped on the train back to Queens. I couldn’t help but notice the steam rising from the sewer manholes, something I’d seen in San Francisco last time. It wasn’t something you’d see in Europe, and for me, it felt like one of those classic movie moments again.

The subway stations near Rockefeller Center were fenced off, and I had no idea why, so I had to find another station. As I walked around the city, I ended up near Times Square, which looked absolutely amazing. After exploring a bit more, I found a subway station and made my way back to Queens. At Ditmars Boulevard, I grabbed some snacks from the corner pharmacy store and walked toward the bus stop. Ten minutes later, the bus arrived, and another ten minutes after that, I was at 72nd Street, where my hostel was located.

Public Transport

The buses in the US were so different from those in the Netherlands. Some had stop buttons, while others had cords above you, next to the window, which you had to pull to signal a stop—just like in the movies. Paying the driver was a unique experience too. You’d drop in your money, either coins or bills, and they wouldn’t give you change. In New York, I used the Metrocard, which I slid into the machine, and within a second, it would pop back out. It was such a fast way to check in. At the subway, you swipe the Metrocard just like a credit card’s magnetic strip. It was fascinating to experience all these different public transport systems around the world.

That’s enough writing for today. I headed back to the hostel, relaxed for about an hour, and eventually went to bed around 1 am.