From Berlin to New York
Our VAST26 adventure began on Friday, September 11th, at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. At 10:00 a.m., we took off on our approximately nine-hour Delta flight to New York City. After months of preparation, it finally felt real: we were on our way to the United States!
The flight went smoothly, and at around 1:00 p.m. local time, we landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport. This was also where we first met some of the other VAST26 participants during our journey. Ajin and Gaith had taken the same flight to New York, so our group was already starting to come together before the official program had even begun.
After landing, we spent about an hour waiting at border control. Even there, one thing immediately caught our attention: American flags were everywhere in the arrival hall. It was one of those first small moments that made us realize that we had really arrived in the United States.
Once we had passed through immigration and collected our luggage, we continued our journey together with Ajin. We took the train towards Jamaica and then changed to the subway to make our way into Manhattan.
Coming out of the subway and suddenly finding ourselves surrounded by enormous skyscrapers was an unforgettable first impression. Our hotel was located right in the middle of Manhattan near Times Square, allowing us to immediately experience the energy and fast pace of New York City.
During our first afternoon, we explored the area around our hotel and visited several stores, including ALDI and Target. Comparing everyday life in the United States with Germany was already interesting, and one of our first impressions was that many groceries seemed noticeably more expensive than what we were used to at home.
Afterwards, we went to a BBQ restaurant for our first proper dinner in the United States.
An Emotional Evening at the 9/11 Memorial
Since we were in New York on September 11th, the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers, a memorial ceremony was held in the evening to honor the victims.
Hours before the event even began, the streets around the World Trade Center were already crowded with people, and several sections were reserved exclusively for the families of those who had lost loved ones in the attacks.
We experienced the ceremony right next to the World Trade Center, where large numbers of firefighters in uniform were present, including some who had traveled from other states. Military personnel could also be seen throughout the area.
As the ceremony began, a large group of firefighters marched in long rows while playing bagpipes, creating a very emotional atmosphere. We later learned about the connection between this tradition and the strong Irish heritage historically associated with the New York City Fire Department.
After the performance, people in the audience began calling out the names of deceased friends and family members. The entire crowd remained remarkably quiet. Standing there made us realize how deeply the attacks of September 11th and the grief resulting from them continue to affect people in the United States.
After a long first day full of new impressions, we returned to our hotel. Exhausted from the flight and everything we had experienced, we quickly fell asleep during our first night in the United States.
Saturday – Exploring New York City
On Saturday morning, we got up early and started the day with a run through Central Park before the main crowds arrived.
What impressed us was not only the view across the water and the surrounding skyline, but also the incredible number of people who were already exercising early in the morning. There were dedicated lanes for runners, cyclists were moving along the paths, and despite the enormous size of Central Park, almost every area seemed full of activity.
Afterwards, we met Ajin in New York’s Financial District. There, we visited the famous New York Stock Exchange and explored many of the impressive buildings in the area. Of course, we also stopped at the Charging Bull, one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Financial District.
We then boarded the Staten Island Ferry. During the crossing, we had spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Seeing New York from the water gave us a completely different perspective of the city and made the skyline appear even more impressive.
After grabbing a traditional New York-style pizza for lunch, we continued exploring Chinatown, one of the city’s most distinctive neighborhoods.
Our next stop was the Brooklyn Bridge, where we once again had an incredible view of the Manhattan skyline and plenty of opportunities to take photos.
Later, we took the subway to Manhattan Beach. After spending most of the day surrounded by skyscrapers, traffic, and crowds, it was a completely different experience to suddenly find ourselves at the Atlantic Ocean. We spent some time at the beach, went for a short swim, and enjoyed the fresh sea air.
For dinner, we traveled further into Brooklyn. Getting there turned into a small adventure of its own. To catch the correct bus, we had to navigate a huge multi-level bus terminal. With its constant movement of people and enormous number of departure gates, it felt more like an airport than a normal bus station. Fortunately, a member of staff at the information desk helped us find the correct platform.
After a few complications while searching for our bus, we eventually arrived safely at a Colombian restaurant in Brooklyn, where we enjoyed an excellent dinner.
Times Square at Night
Feeling refreshed after dinner, we made our way back towards Times Square. We did not arrive until late at night, but the area was still packed with people. It certainly did not feel as though New York was planning to slow down anytime soon.
Giant screens mounted on the surrounding buildings displayed advertisements nonstop, filling the entire area with bright lights and colors. Everywhere we looked, people were taking photos and recording videos, while bicycle rickshaws drove through the streets playing loud music.
Countless performers and entertainers in all kinds of costumes were interacting with visitors. Some even offered souvenir photos with animals such as parrots or snakes in exchange for a few dollars.
Overall, Times Square was loud, bright, energetic, and somewhat overwhelming – but that was exactly what made the experience so memorable. After spending an evening there, it became easy to understand why New York is known as “the city that never sleeps.”
Sunday – One Last Morning in New York
On Sunday, September 13th, we woke up to a completely different side of New York. The sky was cloudy and it was raining, but we did not want to waste our final hours in the city.
We headed towards the Hudson River and continued exploring on foot. We walked along the High Line towards Chelsea, visited Chelsea Market, and stopped at Little Island and Pier 57. Even with the rainy weather, it was a great way to experience another part of Manhattan before leaving the city.
Eventually, it was time to return to our hotel, collect our luggage, and say goodbye to New York.
We made our way to Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, where we boarded the train to Washington, D.C. This marked the end of our New York adventure and the next stage of our journey towards the official start of VAST26.
During the train ride south, we passed through several U.S. states and cities along the East Coast. Watching the landscape change outside the window gave us another impression of just how large and diverse the United States is.
After an unforgettable weekend in New York City, filled with countless new impressions, famous landmarks, great food, unexpected adventures, and our first encounters with other VAST26 participants, we were finally on our way to Washington, D.C.
Our VAST26 journey had officially begun.
