Today’s agenda included visiting some of New York’s iconic landmarks, Grand Central Station and Wall Street. I woke up around 9 am, mindful of the 11 am check-out deadline. After a quick shower, I set aside time to handle an important phone call.

Airline Problems

The previous night, I’d noticed an email from the airline asking me to contact them urgently. Without a local SIM card, I opted to call via Skype—an affordable and practical solution. Unfortunately, the wait was excruciatingly long, made worse by the endlessly looping hold music that tested my patience.

I explained the issue to the airline representative. My credit card had been declined multiple times. The first card being rejected made sense since it didn’t have sufficient funds, but the second card should have worked without any problems. I had already emailed all the necessary details to a previous agent, yet the payment was still declined.

The agent I spoke with today mentioned that the expiration date on their records didn’t match what I provided. I pointed out that all the correct information was in the email I sent and urged them to check it. Clearly, the mistake was on their end, not mine.

The agent assured me he would email me within 15 minutes, and once I received the ticket, everything would be sorted. Thankfully, it all worked out as promised.

Last Day Sightseeing in New York

In the afternoon, I planned to meet up with Sandra and Yadira, the two women I had met a few days earlier. Since they were in the city, it seemed like a great idea to reconnect. I mentioned to Sandra that I intended to visit Wall Street and Grand Central Station that day. Afterward, I’d head back to the hostel to collect my bags.

I checked out just before 11 am, right on time. The morning and part of the afternoon were spent waiting for the email, which finally arrived after a two-hour delay. Once everything was sorted, I let Sandra know I was ready to meet up. We agreed to meet outside Victoria’s Secret, next to Macy’s Warehouse. I got there on time and waited for Sandra and Yadira to arrive.

About ten minutes later, I met up with them in front of the building. They had just finished some shopping at Macy’s, but Yadira wanted to continue browsing. She headed back inside while Sandra joined me to explore some of the tourist spots. Yadira was only visiting Sandra for a few days and was eager to make the most of the shopping—fair enough.

Grand Central Terminal

Sandra and I made our way toward Grand Central Station. I wasn’t entirely sure of the route, but Sandra had it covered. Using her Spanish, she skillfully asked for directions from the locals working in the area.

After about 10 or 15 minutes, we arrived at Grand Central Station. As I looked around, I mentioned to Sandra that it reminded me of a scene from an animated movie. “Madagascar,” she said with a knowing smile. “Exactly!” I replied, feeling a spark of enthusiasm.

We strolled through Grand Central Station, chatting as I snapped some photos of the iconic space. Afterward, we took a quick break for the restroom. Our next destination was Wall Street, and conveniently, the subway connected directly from Grand Central Station.

Lunch

We headed down to the subway and got a ticket for Sandra. Feeling my stomach growl, I asked if she was up for grabbing lunch. She agreed, so we later stopped for a Subway sandwich, which hit the spot.

When we arrived at the Wall Street station, I quickly spotted a Subway restaurant. Over sandwiches, we chatted about life and its ups and downs. Hanging out with Sandra was great—despite being older than me, she had such a youthful vibe. After lunch, we walked a few blocks toward Wall Street. Along the way, we noticed a striking sculpture in a nearby courtyard. Curious, we took a detour to check it out, and it was absolutely stunning.

Wall Street

In the center of the square, there was a gorgeous fountain that immediately caught my attention. I told Sandra I needed to snap a photo for a friend back home. When she asked why, I explained his quirky fascination—he had a thing for fountains worldwide. As I was taking the picture, the plastic lid from my cup suddenly flew off and landed right in the fountain.

I took a few photos of the courtyard and then noticed the towering building directly ahead. It was none other than a Trump property. My aunt had mentioned it to me before, saying that visitors could even go all the way to the top.

After spending about ten minutes in the square, we resumed our walk toward Wall Street, which was only a block away. We soon reached the iconic stock exchange and the bustling street itself. In certain spots, tourists gathered in dense clusters. After snapping a few obligatory photos, we continued walking to the end of the street.

By this time, it was around 4 p.m. I suggested to Sandra that we head back to Yadira to say our goodbyes. I wanted to make sure I got back to the hostel with enough time to change clothes and prepare for my next journey. Tonight, I would be heading north, crossing into a new country. The thought filled me with excitement—new surroundings, a fresh adventure, and the promise of more memorable experiences ahead.

On to the Next Adventure

I returned to the hostel around 5:30 p.m. and spent some time typing and unwinding. My budgeting had worked out perfectly—I had about $40 left, just enough to cover my needs for July 15th, my departure date from the U.S.

Around 7:30 p.m., I left the hostel to head to the bus terminal. I needed to arrive early enough to print my ticket due to their inconvenient rule—you could only print it at the station if you were there at least an hour before departure. Since my night bus was scheduled to leave at 10 p.m., I had to make sure I arrived before 9 p.m.

After a few hiccups on the subway—having to walk to a different line and accidentally boarding the wrong train—I finally arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal around 8:30 p.m. Thankfully, I was still on time.

A Small Gesture of Appreciation

A homeless man approached me and asked where I was heading, then guided me to the Greyhound desk to get my ticket. He was clearly hoping for a tip. I couldn’t help but laugh at his attempt to earn a little something. I told him he could have all my dollar coins. He was hoping for more, but I made it clear that was all he was getting—take it or leave it. Naturally, he accepted with a smile. It came to about three dollars. Honestly, I’m not doing it out of charity—I appreciated the help he gave me, and I had no use for the coins anyway. They were practically worthless at this point, and even the money changers wouldn’t take them. I usually just tossed them in the trash, though I know I could have donated them at the airport—if only I remembered!

Onto the next Country

The bus departed on time at 9:45 pm, and we made a service stop in Albany, New York around midnight. We had to wait there for an hour, so I stepped outside to grab a bite at a small restaurant. They only had cheese pizza, so I went with it. At 1 am, we were back on the road, again right on schedule. The bus was cold, and I couldn’t sleep at all—it was miserable. Instead, I listened to music and worked on my laptop. The bus had Wi-Fi and power outlets, which made it a much more comfortable option than flying. It was a long ride, but the music kept me going. Around 7 am, I arrived in the next city—one that turned out to be beautiful, as I would discover later.