There She Was: Our First Big Trip Into the Wide World!

There she was — our first big adventure into the wide world! We had never flown longer than 3 hours before (Türkiye), and certainly never across the big wide ocean. 6 hours on a plane? How were we supposed to survive that? Well, two months later we flew to Japan (12 hours), but that’s a story for its own blog post.

Small disclaimer: At the time I still didn’t have my Fujifilm camera, so all photos are iPhone shots. The format might not be perfect for the blog, but that will get better 😄

The Journey There

We flew with Delta Airlines from Frankfurt to New York JFK. I had never been checked so many times in my life at an airport. They also asked questions, but what did we have to fear? We had nothing to hide. Still, all the stories about people being sent back and tough immigration checks left us with a slight uneasy feeling.

Anyway, the flight was pleasant. We had pre-ordered Halal meals and they were actually pretty decent. The atmosphere on the plane already felt completely different. We met a teacher from New York who taught at a school in Kaiserslautern. People actually talked to us? What a strange feeling — and it only became more common throughout the entire trip.

Arrival at JFK

Tired from the flight, we arrived in the United States and headed to immigration. Face photos, fingerprints, the classic “What’s the purpose of your visit?” question, and then the magical moment: the stamp in our passports. A mix of relief and pure New York excitement washed over us.

The Ride to the Concrete Jungle

Sitting on the train, not knowing where to look first, we already realized: this place is different. A group of teenagers got on the subway with loud music blasting and started dancing — a little show to earn some money. I quickly dropped my “everything has its order” German mindset. There it was: the loud, chaotic, open USA or rather, New York.

When we stepped out of the metro, we were greeted by a strong smell of urine and other things I couldn’t (and didn’t want to) identify… and right there stood what is probably the most famous building of them all.

Das Empire State Building

After everything we had been through, we went looking for something to eat.

The Pizza Philosophy

We’ve been to Italy and we love authentic Neapolitan pizza. But New York Slice is a whole different story. It’s this greasy, honest piece of dough you eat standing on a paper plate while a yellow school bus drives by. The crust is so crispy it cracks when you fold it, the cheese is slightly salty, and the sauce is sweet and fruity. It’s not gourmet food, but it tastes incredibly good. Why does the pizza taste so amazing? Maybe it’s the atmosphere, or the love of the Mexican pizza makers.

What’s more important than food? When I think of the USA, I think of fast food — and that’s exactly how it was, haha. We basically lived on pizza almost every day. Even though we had eaten Italian pizza in Italy, the New York version is completely different — no question about it.

But that $2 slice was just insane! The crispy crust, the slightly salty cheese, the fruity tomato sauce… We went for pizza every single day. People say the water in New York tastes different (like chlorine, similar to Turkey), which is why the pizza dough turns out so perfect. I don’t know if that’s true, but after my first bite at L’Industrie, I didn’t care about the science anymore.

American Burgieees: Like Pot and Lid

What would a trip to the United States be without eating a real American burger? They belong together like oxygen and breathing.

Our first stop was Dave’s Hot Chicken. Real talk: it was overhyped. The chicken itself was good, nice and juicy. But the seasoning was so dominant that you could barely taste anything else. It was just salty. Chicken on toast bread? No idea why that was on the menu we were confused ourselves. It was weird: dry toast with a juicy piece of chicken and cheap cheese. The fries though? A dream. Crispy outside, potato-y inside exactly what you expect in the USA.

The real revelation came in a small, inconspicuous spot in Hell’s Kitchen. No line, no hype. Just a juicy patty, a fruity sauce, and exactly the right amount of fat. In that moment, I felt the American Dream… through food!

Sugar for Breakfast? The 10,000 kcal Morning Challenge

With breakfast alone you already cover your daily no, weekly calorie needs.
Our daily stop was a place called “Essen” (which means “food” in German). The shop truly lived up to its name. There I had my first Peanut Butter & Jelly Bagel. What can I say? I’m not sure if the Mexican employee liked us because we came every day and chatted with him, but the amount of peanut butter he spread on that bagel would have been enough for 40,000 steps.

Between French toast, pancakes, and sticky syrup, you realize: the cliché from the movies isn’t a cliché, it’s reality. Maybe Americans don’t eat like this every day, but we weren’t the only ones taking away or eating these massive breakfasts.

Add a giant Iced Coffee, and New York is yours.

My Verdict: Taste of NYC

All in all, New York delivers exactly what you expect: food that is juicy, intense, and often a little over the top. It’s perfect for a trip full of discoveries where you can indulge in calories without guilt. I still miss the pizza today.

But I have to be honest: as much as I loved the $2 pizza and PB&J bagels, at some point you start missing home. Döner, Adana plates, and a good German sourdough bread.

Here are a few more impressions from our culinary journey:

Attractions

Sometimes the classic tourist attractions are worth every penny. We sat on a boat on the Hudson River, sun blazing, cool wind in our hair, and the Manhattan skyline in front of us. In that moment you forget you’re just another tourist with a CityPASS. The city felt exactly like it does in the movies. The guide was great and the photos we took speak for themselves. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, clear recommendation.

A few pictures from the boat tour: Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Vessel with the Empire State Building in the background.

The Contrast of Stones

What impressed me most about New York was the architecture. We walked an incredible amount to soak up all the details. Especially fascinating was the corner at Rockefeller Center. You’re standing between these huge modern glass and concrete giants, and suddenly St. Patrick’s Cathedral appears. This contrast between “old Europe” and the “new world” is overwhelming. At sunset we went up. The view from Top of the Rock looking at the Empire State Building is the moment you realize: I’m really here.

Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, sunset with view of the Empire State Building.

Central Park

Central Park is this strange place where the city suddenly holds its breath. One moment you’re walking between skyscrapers and yellow taxis, turn a corner, and suddenly you’re in a forest. What impressed me most: the silence isn’t real silence. You can still hear the distant sirens (there are so many sirens), but it feels like you’re in a movie or a TV series. To really explore the park, we rented bikes. That warm wind on your face while riding past the huge meadows — that’s one of those moments I still think about to this day.

Central Park

Dumbo and the golden moment on the bridge

Dumbo with its historic brick buildings right under the Manhattan Bridge felt like a painting. I didn’t even have to try every photo looked aesthetic immediately. No matter where I pointed the camera. That’s when I understood why so many people go there just to take pictures. When you stand there and see it all in front of you, it almost doesn’t feel real.

Seeing the Manhattan Bridge like that was one thing, but walking through Chinatown and then going up onto the bridge was something else. That moment was just perfect: New York in that intense orange light as it slowly got dark. The city on the right, the East River in the middle, and the Brooklyn Bridge it had something magical. A moment I won’t forget easily.

Conclusion

I hope we can visit New York again soon; it was beautiful and there was so much to see. The weather was perfect and the people were very kind. I can speak for both myself and my wife when I say we would be so happy to return.

Let’s see — one day again, Insha’Allah.