New York: Day 3

Today’s activities took place mostly across the river in Brooklyn, away from Manhattan. We made our way from the hotel to Grand Central Station where we photographed the architecture with its infamous arches and staircases the station was easy to get inspiration from. My favourite part of the station however was the ceiling, painted a muted emerald green it’s embellished with gold figures and tiny lights. I loved this part as it was unexpected and intriguing.

After Grand Central Station we made our way to the ferry which took a fair bit of walking. We then boarded the ferry and took a short trip over to North Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Here had a completely different vibe to Manhattan; more hipster, mellow, and worn in. Walking through Williamsburg it was clear that art plays a very big part in the culture there, with wall art at every corner and many artisan shops/restaurants it was undeniable. I feel that Brooklyn had more personality than Manhattan as it’s an intimate experience and the people make up the fabric, embroidering their surroundings.

After Williamsburg we made our way down to Dumbo where we took photos of the East side. We waited from sunset to get a good picture of the skyline and Brooklyn Bridge in the dark. The waiting paid off as the photos came out beautifully rich in colour and atmosphere, even if it did feel like -10.

From Dumbo we took a ferry to Wall Street. It’s amazing how individual districts of New York can feel so different from one another, even if they’re close. The buildings in and around Wall Street were sharp and extravagant, staying true to its reputation. Walking deeper into Wall Street we visited Ground Zero. The memorial was very moving, with both the North and South pool engraved with all the names of the people who died around the ledges. Especially touching were the white roses placed in the names of individuals by family members.

Tomorrow should see us in the Upper East Side…