„A bad day in New York City is still better than a good day anywhere else?“
And suddenly we were already on day four.
Honestly? I felt like we’d been in New York for ages, and yet everything went by way too fast. That’s probably what’s so crazy about this city – every day feels like three because so much is happening. And even though we’d already seen quite a bit, these were honestly my favorite days.
I think it was precisely at that point that we started to settle in. It sounds strange when you’re only there for a few days, but suddenly we knew which direction to go, which corners already felt familiar, and how to navigate this complete chaos without constantly having to check Google Maps. That initial feeling of being overwhelmed slowly faded and was replaced by this „Okay, we’re starting to understand the city.“ And that’s exactly how I was able to enjoy New York in a completely different way—more relaxed, more mindful, and somehow more personal.
Suddenly it wasn’t just about sightseeing anymore, but about moments, little routines, and that feeling of truly being right in the middle of it all.
Day 4
– Soho and this “Sex and the City” moment
Day four was definitely one of my absolute highlights in New York.
And not because of any huge tourist attraction or because bigger is better – but simply because of the vibe. My husband surprised me that morning, and we went to Magnolia Bakery first. Yes, the bakery from Sex and the City. If you know me, you already know: Of course, we had to go. I’d mentioned at some point that I really wanted to go there because Carrie always bought her cupcakes there – and suddenly, there we were. In hindsight, I realized that Carrie’s apartment was practically around the corner, and we DIDN’T go.
Sometimes I really wonder what goes on in my head. But whatever. At least we went where Carrie bought her cake, and that’s what counts. Afterward, we strolled toward Soho – or rather, wandered around between Soho and NoHo – and I have to say: The atmosphere there felt completely different from the rest of New York.
Somehow more relaxed. Younger. Cooler. More fashion.
More of that „I’m drinking an iced matcha and probably have a startup vibe“ feeling. And yes – people shop there. A lot. We also went to that viral store New York or Nowhere and guys… the line. In the blazing sun. Seemingly without any shade. But: worth it. We waited forever and, of course, didn’t leave empty-handed. Afterwards, we strolled down Broadway and just went from store to store. No stress. No big destination. Just letting ourselves drift.
And these are exactly the kinds of days I love most when traveling.
Not the ones that are completely planned, but the ones where you suddenly find yourself in a neighborhood and realize: Okay, I could actually stay here longer. Of course, we also went to Polène – or rather, the store that immediately went on my personal wishlist afterward.
Let’s put it this way:
There’s a bag. And maybe you’ll find it on a future wishlist. Maybe. At lunchtime, we went back to Los Tacos (yes, food post coming soon) before heading downtown later. And I have to be honest here: The New York subway? Sorry. I’m never complaining about Vienna again. Never again. Yes, there are an incredible number of people there, and of course, the system is huge—but holy shit.
Poorly signposted. Loud. Partly dirty. Confusing. I had several moments where I thought: Please, let’s just find our way out. After that, we went to the Oculus—and if you love architecture: please check it out. Seriously. I think it was one of the most impressive buildings I saw there. Everything seems almost unreal. Modern, clean, futuristic – and yet somehow emotional when you consider where you’re actually standing. Because right next to it is the former World Trade Center site. Seeing these huge reflecting pools where the towers used to stand was honestly a moment that moved me much more than I expected.
You know the pictures.
The story. But actually standing there is something else entirely. It feels both serene and incredibly weighty at the same time. Almost surreal. Afterwards, we grabbed a quick drink and then headed back towards the hotel. In the evening, something I was really looking forward to was on the agenda: dinner at Balthazar. Yes – we went back to Soho for it. And yes – it was worth it.
I’ve been to the restaurant in other cities and really wanted to see what it was like there. And I have to say: it had exactly the atmosphere I love. Elegant, but not pretentious. Cool, but not trying too hard. And most importantly: not completely packed with tourists. It felt somehow more authentic. Afterwards, we actually took an Uber back – which, honestly, is sometimes just the less stressful option in New York.
And of course, I immediately started filming. Because some things simply have to be documented.
Day 5
– Wall Street and heat records
Day five began with breakfast at Sadelle’s. And let me say this right off the bat: After that, I was full. Really full. Very full. More on that in the food blog post, otherwise this will completely spiral out of control.
Afterwards, we headed towards Lower Manhattan – down to Wall Street. And even though many say there’s „not much“ there, I found the area somehow fascinating. Especially the old buildings and churches. To be honest, we almost always visit churches when we travel – no matter the country or city.
Simply because architecture tells so much. History. Details. Atmosphere. And sometimes I find places like that more interesting than any of the usual tourist hotspots. From there, we continued towards Battery Park, where you can see the Statue of Liberty.
And I have to be honest:
It was smaller than I thought. I had some completely unrealistic expectations and probably secretly thought it was almost as tall as the Empire State Building. Spoiler alert: It isn’t.
But still, I had this little moment of: Okay… I actually saw the Statue of Liberty with my own eyes. And that’s what counts.
What really defined this day, though? The heat. Apparently, it was one of the hottest May days ever recorded in America. Cool. Of course, that’s exactly when it happened. It was brutally hot. Hardly any shade.
The air was stagnant.
And even though we were strolling along the waterfront towards the Brooklyn Bridge, we were completely drenched in sweat. We even had to take a spontaneous break at a café because, to be honest, we were both exhausted. Afterwards, of course, we went up to the Brooklyn Bridge. Photos were a must. Obligatory. And yes – it really is impressive. But at that point, I felt like my soul was slowly leaving my body because of the heat.
From there, we went briefly towards Chinatown and the Manhattan Bridge before we finally decided: Enough. Back to the hotel. Shower. Air conditioning. Save lives. And seriously: Respect to all the people who voluntarily endure a midsummer in New York.
How? Simply how?
In the evening, we wanted to take it easy and decided on Bar Pitti. And if I’m being honest? I just wanted to pretend for a bit that I was Hailey Bieber. Or at least someone who happened to be sitting next to her. Because it felt like every celebrity had eaten there at some point. More on that in the food blog post – but the atmosphere alone was okay. Read more at my food blog.
Afterwards, we strolled towards Koreatown, which is very close to our hotel. Just wandering around. People-watching. Soaking up that last special travel vibe. And of course, we ended up at Target. Because buying snacks and drinks for the evening is always part of the experience.
Day 6
– Between last shopping trip and leaving
And suddenly, it was our last real day in New York.
I swear, I still don’t understand how quickly time flies on vacation. We had to check out at 11 a.m., so we deliberately started the morning slowly. Packing suitcases. Going through everything one last time. Lying in the room for a bit and trying to somehow capture these last few hours.
Afterward, we went back to Rosetta Bakery—simply because we liked it—and decided to take it easy for the rest of the day. No more long to-do lists. No stress. Just enjoying it one last time. We strolled down Fifth Avenue again, went to Central Park, and simply tried to soak up as much of the atmosphere as possible. It was all very deliberate.
It was almost as if I could tell deep down that it was all about to end. My husband really wanted to see the Ghostbusters house, so we made a quick stop there too. And of course, there was more shopping. Because what would a last day of vacation be without a quick „Okay, just a quick look“?
Victoria’s Secret was a must. Sephora too. And I even went back to a store for a dress. Luckily, I didn’t buy it. On second glance, I suddenly didn’t like it so much anymore—and those are usually the purchases you later regret. After that, it was back to the hotel. Pick up the suitcases. And slowly make our way to the airport.
Our departure – or:
How we suddenly stayed two days longer in New York
And now for the plot twist. Because our journey home went… let’s just say differently than planned. We took the Long Island Rail towards the airport and thought: Perfect. Now we just have to get home. Or so we thought.
Fun fact: You can only drop off your luggage there a maximum of four hours before departure. So, first things first: waiting. The TSA check was surprisingly quick, and we briefly thought: Wow, this time everything is actually going smoothly. Until suddenly the message came: Flight canceled. Just like that. After hours of waiting.
And suddenly there we were. In New York. Two extra days. Sounds dreamy at first, right? To be honest, it wasn’t quite. Those two days weren’t quite as wonderful as the ones before – simply because we were already mentally preparing for home. And that’s when something dawned on me. As beautiful as this trip was – and it truly was – it also showed me how much I love Vienna.
How we live. How clean so much is. How well our public transportation actually works. How beautiful our everyday life sometimes is, without us even realizing it. New York was an experience I absolutely wanted to see at least once in my life.
And I’m incredibly happy that we had it. But at the same time, I’m even happier to be able to say: Home really is home. And in my case, quite clearly: Vienna 🖤
My conclusion about New York
– would I come back?
And now, honestly: Would I travel to New York again?
Yes. But probably differently.
I think that’s exactly what’s so crazy about this city. It’s loud, chaotic, overwhelming, sometimes incredibly exhausting, and yet it still manages to make you fall in love with it somehow. Not in that romantic, perfect way—but more like with someone who completely takes you out of your comfort zone and still fascinates you.
There were moments when I really thought: Okay, this is too much for me right now. Too many people, too loud, too hot, too hectic. That heat wave in May, in particular, completely caught us off guard, to be honest. But at the same time, there were those other moments that I’ll never forget. Sitting in Central Park and suddenly forgetting that you’re actually in the middle of a metropolis. The skyline at sunset. That feeling when you suddenly find yourself in places you usually only see in movies. Or just strolling through Soho and thinking: Okay, this really does feel like a movie.
What I found particularly fascinating about New York were these contrasts. Luxury next to absolute chaos. Small, quiet streets and five minutes later, completely jammed intersections. Old churches amidst towering skyscrapers. It’s a city full of contrasts – and that’s probably what makes it so special.
And yet, this trip also showed me something else: how much I love Vienna. It might sound strange after such a trip, but I suddenly appreciated many things at home even more. The cleanliness, our public transport, the peace and quiet at times, and our lifestyle in general.
Nevertheless, I’m incredibly happy I made this trip. New York was definitely an experience I wanted to see at least once in my life – and one that will likely stay with me for a very long time. 🖤
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