Times Square in New York and Empire State

Day 8: New York: Times Square in New York and Empire State, Chrysler Building, New York Public Library, Lower East Side, Union Square, Flatiron Building

The alarm rings again at 6 in the morning, after sleeping for a few hours that have helped us recover after yesterday's full day in which we enjoyed a helicopter tour in New York and a sunset at the Top of the Rock, which served as a prelude to today in which we will stop at Times Square in New York and Empire State among other places we have left to visit on this trip to New York in 11 days so complete that we are living.

We leave when it is 7:30 in the morning and I thought that today they gave the day as cloudy we have to recognize that the sun is through our window so we start fast and approach a Starbucks that we have right in front where we ask for a I drink a coffee + 2 Panini is for $ 17 that we devastate on the top that is quite quieter
We left Holiday Inn Times Square when it is 9 am and as we had planned yesterday, we went to one of the most visited symbols of the city: Times Square in New York, where we want to approach this morning, with a little more time , to taste it with peace of mind and take all the photos we can, so that we can also take a good memory.

Long ago, before the 20th century, Times Square was called Longacre Square, a name that showed the importance of the carriage sector that had the area and especially the square. In 1904, the well-known New Work Times appeared in the New Times building, renamed the square with the name Times Square is currently known and bringing with it the first neon cartels that are currently part of the landscape.

Not many years passed, less than 20 for Times Square to become the new cultural center of the city, filled with theaters and concert halls that also attracted the most famous stars of the time.
Today Times Square is known as the entire district surrounding the old square Times Square in New York, although we have to say that the square itself is between the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue, between West 42nd Street and West 47th Street. The northern part of the square, in which a triangle is formed is known as Duffy Square and is dedicated to Chaplain Duffy of the Infantry Regiment known as “Fighting 69th”, place where the famous TKTS ticket sales ticket offices are located , under the famous red stairs, today another icon of Times Square.

How to get to Times Square in New York

Being Times Square one of the best areas to stay, especially if it is the first time you come to the city, we also understand that it is not exactly the cheapest, finding prices of around 100 euros / night for a double room, yes, reserving it well in advance, especially on holidays such as Easter or Christmas.
That's why we want to guide you a bit about how to get to Times Square from other points of the city, although we have to say that it is one of the most accessible points in the city and you can get here with any of the subway lines: 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q and R that They stop in Times Square.

If you visit Times Square during the day, we recommend that you take it easy first, and you may even feel overwhelmed at first. At least it happened to us and that is to reach Times Square in New York For the first time, it is at least an overwhelming experience. Something advisable is to sit on the red stairs from where you will get a good perspective of both the square and the bustle that forms in it.
Another area where you can sit is in the famous red chairs of Times Square, from where you will have another perspective, where you can enjoy from day to day from one of the most iconic places in the city.

You also can't forget to visit Times Square at night, since seeing the posters illuminated with the darkness of the night, they make them stand out much more than during the day, creating a lively atmosphere. Just be prepared to meet crowds and it doesn't matter if you come day or night, Times Square in New York It is always accompanied.

Shopping in Times Square in New York

Another one of the things that you will surely do in Times Square is to get lost in some of its most emblematic stores, of which it will surely take you back to leave:
- M & Ms store in the north area of ​​Times Square
- Disney Store, a pleasure for children and not-so-children
- MAC Cosmetics or Sephora on the east side of the square

As you can imagine, Times Square is not just an area of ​​passage in New York and it is that as we have done we deserve to spend a few hours, both day and night, but not only in passing, but not 100% dedicated to the Plaza, to be able to enjoy it, sitting on the famous red stairs, in one of its benches or at the tables that are there to enjoy the coming and going of the people, noticing how even the New Yorkers themselves cannot avoid raising their heads before the show of light and sound that Times Square has every day, at any time you spend.

Where to eat in Times Square in New York?

If you are looking for a good place to eat or dine in Times Square you are in luck: in Times Square you will find many of the most famous restaurants in the city, which above all are the ideal places to end a day in New York.
- Hard Rock Café in New York: On the corner of 43rd Street and 7th Avenue
- Junior's: Between 44th Street and 7th Avenue. His cheesecake is famous throughout the city
- Red Lobster: On 41st Street and 7th Avenue. A place to try lobster and seafood at pretty tight prices
- Bubba Gump: The most famous prawns in the world with stunning views of Times Square
- The View: On 45th and 7th Avenue. This restaurant has a buffet on a revolving floor where you will have spectacular views of Times Square

In addition, we cannot forget the ubiquitous 24-hour Starbucks, where if the weather is nice you can order a coffee and enjoy it sitting in Times Square or one of the most famous McDonald's in the world, where you can say that you have eaten a hamburger in the Times Square itself.
After more than an hour delighting in every corner of Times Square in New York and when it is 9:30 in the morning, we decided that it is time to leave one of the most famous squares in the world and continue with the itinerary we have planned for this eighth day of the trip to New York during Holy Week, that Yes, before taking a last picture, with which to record that we were here.

From Times Square we go to Bryan Park a park of 3.9 hectares, located very close to Times Square, in the heart of Midtown, surrounded by skyscrapers, which a sunny day like today becomes the perfect place to spend a while enjoying the first rays of sun of the day. Within Bryant Park we can also find the New York Public Library, another of the visits we will make today and that has become one of the most visited places in New York.

How could it be otherwise and taking into account the day it is, we take advantage of the time it is to have a coffee in one of its many tables, where we expect it to be 10 in the morning, at which time they open the New York Public Library. If you have some time, take the opportunity to come here, have a coffee and enjoy one of the most pleasant areas of the city that wonders, especially in the hottest months, where many activities take place.

A few minutes past 10 in the morning when we approached until the New York Public Library, which we have right in front of us and where we enter for free, seeing when entering a store that seems to be calling us and that although we do not like shopping on trips, we have to say that both the store of the Public Library and MOMA's (which we will visit tomorrow), have become our favorite in the city.

As we approach we find a beautiful neoclassical building, designed by Carrère & Hastings that has three floors with 20 reading rooms, among which are some with exhibitions and computer exhibitions. The entrance staircase is really spectacular, marble and decorated with two lions and two fountains that surround the information desk where you can ask for the plans that show the different rooms of the library and also facilitate your visit,

In the room on the left of this floor we can find the De Witt Wallace Periodical Room, the perfect place to read the press from around the world. On the other floors we can see different reading rooms until we reach the main reading room (and also the most famous), the Rose Main Reading Room, currently under restoration, in which we find a huge collection of books.

Keep in mind that both the library can be accessed for free and use all its facilities, although no volume can be taken from it, something to keep in mind. Even at the entrance and at the exit, you will be registered, so don't even try to make the attempt.
When we realize we have been practically an hour inside the library, between the visit to the rooms that we could access and the minutes that we have dedicated to the store, where we have been able to find several things outside the most classic souvenirs, to that we have to recognize, we have not been able to resist and have come with us.

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From here we follow our route on Fifth Avenue to go directly to the Chrysler Building, another of the New York's most famous buildings and also more symbolic, that we have not seen you up close and that today, being in the area we take the opportunity to approach. To arrive we pass by the book street, one of the streets that we really find most beautiful in all of New York, and although the street really does not have much to do, on the ground we find plates with references to books, something for which it is already worth spending a few minutes .

It does not take more than 15 minutes to reach the Chrysler Building, the one we have to confess, since from afar it does not stop impacting us and it is that we are again in another of those scenarios that remind us of the many films that have portrayed or focused on Some of his scenes.

As the Chrysler Building cannot be visited inside but it is possible to access the reception, we do not think twice and enter, where we can contemplate the fantastic art deco decoration of the hall, which certainly leaves us with the desire to be able to Access to one of its upper floors, from which surely, you have stunning views of New York.

After this brief stop and following the planning we have for today, we approach the Empire State Building the tallest building in the world between 1931 and 1972 and from which you have stunning views of New York and to which, How could it be otherwise and more being included in the CityPASS, we will access now, a good time, since the sky is very clear, to enjoy New York again from the heights. If you do not have the Citypass you can book online tickets here and save yourself the long lines that are formed.

As soon as we arrive we see that there is a huge queue, luckily as soon as we get closer they tell us that by having the CityPASS we can access directly, skipping the queue, something that saves us practically an hour since there are a lot of people and we can't forget the Empire State is one of the New York's most symbolic buildings and also one of the most visited tourist attractions.
We pass through the arches of security and control of tickets where they confirm, something that we did not know, that if we want to have the CityPASS we can re-enter from eight at night to see the city at night today or any other day, An extra extra to recommend the CityPASS if you want to visit all the attractions that it includes.

After passing through several rooms and finally accessing the store we make a queue that takes us directly to the elevator where we go up 80 floors and then return to make another queue, in which if you want you can go up the stairs six floors directly to advance some time or if not make another small queue to climb in the elevator, where after ascending the last floors we are finally back on New York City

The Empire State building today and after the fall of the Twin Towers, is the third tallest building in New York behind the One World Trade Center and 432 Park Avenue, with 102 floors and 381 meters, a good height from the that as you can see in the photos, you have a unique perspective of the city.

Taking into account that it was built in 410 days, we can say that it was an achievement for the moment in which almost 4000 people worked who built an average of 4 plants per week. A whole record.
There are two viewpoints in the Empire State Building, the first on the 86th floor and the second on the 102nd. If you do not own the CityPASS, climbing to the first costs $ 32 and to continue until the second you must pay an extra $ 20 more. As a comment we can tell you that from the 86th floor the views are unique, so paying those extra 20 dollars, we believe it is not worth it.

Taking into account that the Empire State has almost 4 million tourists every year, it should be punctual, especially if you do not have the CityPASS to skip the lines, since as soon as a few hours pass from the moment of opening, it is usually filled with people.
The schedule is from 8:00 in the morning that the first elevator goes up at 1:15 in the morning that the last one rises.

It is certainly another one of the essential visits in New York, since the views are truly stunning. Totally recommended. Of course, preferably arrive with CityPASS to avoid queuing, as we explained earlier.
We are here for more than an hour enjoying views of heart attack and when it is more than 1 noon, we return to the elevators that return us to the asphalt of New York, yes, with a new image of the city, that sure , we will not forget.

When we look at the clock again it is practically 1:30 pm and considering that we have already spent time for New York food, we take the subway to get closer to the Lower East Side, the area where we can taste the best sandwich of Pastrami of the world. You know the place we talked about, right? Katz's Delicatessen.
And how could it be otherwise the tail is quite significant and is that as we have heard so many times here: In New York if you go to a place where there is no queue it is not worth it. Something that we have to say that so far is being fulfilled enough, and that is that in New York practically everything has to be queued.

As you enter Katz's Delicatessen, the first thing they do is give you a kind of tickets, which you do not have to lose, if you do not have to pay 50 dollars where they are pointing everything you ask at the different counters. As we understand and as it has happened to ourselves, there is usually a lot of queue, although they go fast, so as in other similar places, it is best that one is asking and the other will take a table. At a counter in the first areas you order the sandwiches, then you order the drink or the fries in the following ones and in the last one the coffee / cappuccino or desserts. In the place there are many tables, so surely you do not have to wait too long to find some free.

We ordered a couple of pastrami sandwich, the most famous, plus two sodas and coffee and cappuccino for 55 dollars. As on other occasions we have to say that it is not especially economical, but it is more than recommended, especially for the famous of the place and of course, for the pastrami, which is delicious.

Something to keep in mind is that you have to pay in cash since they do not accept credit cards, something quite important since for example we had 60 dollars left and thinking that everything can be paid by card or we had worried about getting more money . So it is best to bring cash if you want to come here and more or less you can already tell that for two sandwich more drinks and coffees will cost you about 55 or 60 dollars.

After charging ourselves with energy at Katz's Deli, we get lost in the Lower East Side, a neighborhood that sincerely surprises us greatly, and it has a very bohemian atmosphere and a very cool roll with charming shops, restaurants and cafes with magic by the How well worth a walk.

The truth is that the Lower East Side environment is not at all similar to the rest of Manhattan or at least what we have seen, but it is true that in our case we have loved this and it gives us a fresh air chute After these days of travel we have focused on busier areas.

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From here we go up 4th Avenue until we reach Union Square, another of the points we have marked to visit today and that is another of those places that appear in the guides such as essential in New York City.

Here we find one of the famous storesDylan's Candy Bar, some stores in which in addition to selling candies of all kinds and flavors, it has a bar on the second floor where you can enjoy, above all, the smell of sweets in the lower part of the store. Although we only go for a walk on the first floor, we believe that as a curiosity, if you are in the area, it is worth taking a look.

From here we continue our walk to the next point we have on our itinerary, one of the places we most wanted to see and is that it is another of the great icons of New York: inimitable Flatiron BuildingWhere we arrive as soon as we arrive, we sit on one of the benches and still wanting and trying, we are unable to move in practically an hour. And this corner of the city is really unique!

It's almost 6 in the afternoon when we get back on track getting closer to and Eataly, a complex that is right next to Flatiron Building where we find stores with Italian products and some of the best Italian restaurants in New York and that remind us during the half hour that we travel to Italy, that country that we like so much and where we will return in a couple of months, since Lake Como, this time, is waiting for us.

From here ending the visit in this area of ​​the city we take the subway and go towards Times Square where we sit at one of its famous and symbolic red tables, waiting for the sunset in the city, directly enjoying a good time watching life go by something that we like to do in all our trips and more in cities like New York, that are present at this practically every minute of the day.

And so, almost without realizing the night falls in Times Square, something that makes the cartels stand out even more, at which time we climb the stairs of TKTS where at this time there is already a really impressive atmosphere and from where we have a really perspective Good of the whole square at this time and very lively. Times Square is one of the best places to see on a route through New York at night.
A good option to tour New York at night is to book this tour in Spanish that runs through the best illuminated places in the city.

No doubt, however much they say that for the first time it is worth staying in the Times Square area we have to say that we do return, despite what we initially thought and how overwhelmed we were with this area, almost certainly We would stay here again, even if they were only a few days and it is to be here early in the morning or at night, next to the accommodation, we have to say that it is something that is much appreciated, especially after being all day Walking and touring the city.

It is after 8:00 at night when we decide that the time has come to go to rest, first going to a place where we buy some sushi since we are not very hungry, but we just passed by Chevys Fresh Méx, a Mexican restaurant quite recommendable and very large where we see how they serve several guacamole dishes with very good looks and considering that we want to change a little type of cuisine, there we go. We ordered some special nachos, a dish prepared by the guacamole right there, plus some quesadillas with a beer and a coke, plus some nachos that they put as an entree, for $ 45 plus a 20% tip. We have to say that without being the best Mexican we have tried, it is very good, so if you are in the area and you want to change a bit, it is more than recommended.

It's 9:30 at night when we enter through the doors of the Holiday Inn Times Square and go straight to the room, just giving us time to look at the weather and see that tomorrow is cloudy and rainy. We will have to close our eyes soon and hope to be lucky again and that the weather forecast will be wrong and we will enjoy sunny days, the rest of the days we have left in New York.