Let’s be honest—most of us grew up with the idea that New York is where dreams come true, a place with unlimited opportunities. We've all seen movies that show the beauty of its towering skyscrapers, New Yorkers enjoying their lunch breaks in Central Park, and the grandiosity of the Statue of Liberty.
When I first arrived, though, I was shocked. The reality of the city didn’t match the expectations I had, shaped by what I saw in the movies. It felt as if I had stepped into a jungle—a jungle filled with people who sometimes acted like animals. I still remember watching the movie Isn't It Romantic on my flight to JFK, where Natalie (Rebel Wilson) gets hit in the head by a homeless guy in the subway. I laughed at the time, but little did I know that something similar could happen to me there.
We were constantly approached by people asking for money. On our first walk in the city, it happened at least five times. One memorable instance was when we were sitting by the Empire State Building, enjoying our coffee and waiting for our time slot to go inside. A woman approached us and said, “You look like you have 10 grand in your pocket, could you give me some money?” I remember thinking, "My coat is from SHEIN and cost $15, my boots were $20, and all my accessories together cost less than $10. Of course, I don’t have 10 grand!"
One of the most disturbing encounters was while we were walking toward the Financial District. Out of nowhere, a man started screaming at us, yelling obscenities like, “You fcking fggots, suck my d*ck,” and he moved toward us with his arm raised, as if he was going to hit us. We were so shocked that we just stood there, staring, not saying a word (thankfully, that was our instinctual response). After a few tense moments, he turned around and left. It was surreal—something that could only happen in New York.
But if you look past the overflowing trash bags on the streets and ignore the occasional crazy encounters, you can still see the beauty of the city. No, it doesn’t look like the movies, but there’s a certain magic to it. We had so many moments where people were genuinely kind and polite. For example, one woman shouted from across the street, “You look stunning!” That compliment put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.
We were fortunate with the weather, too. Even though we visited in February, the sun was shining almost the entire time. If you’re planning a trip, I highly recommend going up to a skyscraper at sunset—the view is absolutely magical. Words can’t capture how it made me feel standing there, soaking in the skyline.
A quick note about hotels: they are expensive, and just because you’re paying a lot doesn’t mean the facilities will be modern or luxurious. In many ways, New York feels like it’s trapped in a time capsule from the '80s or '90s, when the city was booming. For example, at Macy’s, you can still find old wooden escalators. How cool is that?
We stayed at the Hyatt Place near Times Square, a 4-star hotel with beautiful pictures on Booking.com. But the actual experience wasn’t great. For those of us from Europe, a 4-star hotel usually means quality. In New York, it means breakfast consists of dry food like bread, granola with yogurt, and a plastic-wrapped boiled egg. Our room smelled like weed because other guests were smoking, and even after cleaning, the sink was still dirty, so I ended up wiping it myself every day.
Oh, and another thing: the smell of weed is everywhere. The only area where we felt like we could breathe normally was the Financial District. So, be prepared for that!
But despite all of this, if you ask me whether it’s worth visiting New York, I would say without hesitation—definitely! New York has been one of my favorite trips ever. The city is alive, vibrant, and full of iconic places you need to see at least once in your lifetime. There’s a unique magic to it that will stay with you long after you leave.
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