I went to New York with my little grandma, my love. We love traveling together so much — it’s our time, a little bubble where we reconnect, where we laugh for no reason, where we take the time to talk about everything and nothing. These trips bring us closer in a way that everyday life does not always allow. And honestly, going with her is already an adventure in itself.
New York… the famous “Big Apple.” A mythical city, built by waves of immigration from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa, each of which helped shape its unique identity. Originally colonized by the Dutch under the name New Amsterdam, it later came under British control before becoming one of the greatest economic and cultural engines of the modern world. A city shaped by diversity, where each neighborhood still carries traces of these different communities: Little Italy, Chinatown, Harlem, Williamsburg… as if each corner of the city tells a different chapter of its history.
New York is also an immense cultural cradle. This is where major artistic movements exploded: jazz in Harlem, hip-hop born in the Bronx in the 1970s, the punk and underground scenes of the Lower East Side, not to mention Broadway, a global symbol of theater and musical performance. Museums like the Met or the MoMA also reflect its central role in global art and culture, bringing together works from every era and every continent. Even its architecture tells its evolution: historic buildings standing alongside ultra-modern skyscrapers, as if past and future coexist permanently.
It is a city that has gone through defining moments of world history, from massive waves of immigration at Ellis Island where millions of people arrived with their suitcases, languages, and hopes, to becoming the beating heart of the “American Dream.” In the 19th and early 20th centuries, these immigrants literally built the city: they constructed bridges, skyscrapers, subway lines, while creating entire neighborhoods that still reflect their origins and traditions today.
New York has also been at the center of major economic transformations, notably with its role as the world financial capital on Wall Street, but also through periods of crisis such as the Great Depression, followed by major waves of urban renewal. More recently, events like September 11, 2001 deeply marked its identity, strengthening both its resilience and its sense of unity.
Each era has left its mark, not only in infrastructure — from historic buildings to ultra-modern skyscrapers — but also in everyday culture: street food influenced by the entire world, multicultural festivals, religious and community traditions coexisting side by side. It is this constant layering of histories, cultures, and generations that gives New York its deeply cosmopolitan and unique identity in the world.
But beyond all of that, New York is above all an energy. A vibe that is impossible to explain until you have experienced it.
Since we are only a few hours away from New York from Montreal, we decided to go by car. A little grandma–granddaughter road trip. On the way, we stopped at a small diner for breakfast. The kind of simple, warm place with endless filter coffee and generous plates. The food was really good, but more than anything… it was a moment with my little grandma, my love. Sitting there, talking quietly, laughing, just being together. Sometimes, those are the most beautiful memories.
Then comes the moment of entering New York.
WOW.
Entering New York through the tunnel is like stepping into another world. You are in the dark for a few seconds… and then bam — the city swallows you. The lights, the buildings, the energy. I literally had a little “wow” stuck in my throat. Not a forced wow — a real one. The kind that catches you by surprise. New York is a completely absurd mix of things you don’t fully understand, but that you still love.
Fun fact: there are actual hot-dog eating contests here, with “pros” who train for it. The record is around 86 hot dogs in 10 minutes… yes, 86. We are talking about a serious event, with around $10,000 to win, a belt worthy of wrestlers, and even a televised broadcast every July 4th. It is completely absurd, but at the same time very “New York.” And apparently, some participants are also able to eat poutine… well, I have some doubts about that, but I still applaud the effort.
On the street, you also come across the famous pedicabs — those bike taxis with flashy lights, blasting music, and drivers who clearly try to get your attention in every possible way. It immediately reminded me of Thailand, with that slightly chaotic and colorful vibe. However, in New York, it is a bit controversial: prices can quickly become exaggerated and it can feel like a bit of a tourist scam if you are not careful. But still, it is part of the scenery and the experience of the city — another example of that mix between fun, chaos, and typical New York tourist traps.
And then, without really understanding why, you can stumble upon Tibetan monks in the middle of the street selling bracelets or asking for donations claiming to fund the construction of a temple. Often, they say that the project has been going on for years, that it is almost finished, or that it just needs one last push… but in many cases, it is mostly a staged setup to collect money. It is the kind of moment where you realize that New York is also that: a city where everything can become a spectacle, even the most unexpected interactions. But at the same time, it is part of the urban experience — learning to observe, to understand what is authentic and what is a little less so.
Add to that random mascots, characters that seem to come out of nowhere, and you get a perfectly organized chaos.
But beyond all of that, what struck me was the emotion. I was in awe. Like, really. Like a child discovering something too big for them. New York is intense, it is loud, it is sometimes completely chaotic… but it is alive. I had a real crush on it. Right from the moment I arrived. Everything I love in a city is here, amplified by a thousand. It is noisy, there are people everywhere, it never stops moving — it really reminded me of Asia. That kind of energy, a bit chaotic but so alive. I love it. Like, really… I LOVE it. To the point where I had a very serious thought of: okay, I want to live here.
Every neighborhood feels like a different world. You go from SoHo to Chinatown, from Brooklyn to Harlem, and it feels like you are changing countries in just a few subway stops. That is what is crazy about it.
SoHo is the chic, artistic side of Manhattan. Cobblestone streets, industrial lofts turned into art galleries, luxury boutiques, and super stylish cafés. Everything is beautiful, a bit “aesthetic,” as if every corner was designed to be photographed.
Chinatown is a completely different vibe. You shift energy in just a few steps: Chinese signs, food smells coming out of tiny restaurants, crowded markets, fish shops, exotic fruits, and a very intense neighborhood life. It is loud, alive, authentic, and you really feel like you are somewhere else in the world.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, has a more relaxed and creative vibe. Independent cafés, street art murals, parks with views of Manhattan, and a slightly more local atmosphere despite the borough’s massive size. It is where you feel a more everyday New York, less touristy, but still incredibly vibrant.
Harlem is rich in history and culture. A major cradle of jazz and of the African-American cultural movement, the neighborhood has a strong identity. Even today, you can still feel a very present musical, spiritual, and community energy, with churches, gospel concerts, and a deep cultural pride.
And between all of that, the subway almost becomes a portal: just a few stops are enough to move from one universe to another, as if you were changing cities without ever leaving New York.
Quick fun facts:
– Over 8 million residents
– 24,000+ restaurants
– Subway running 24/7
– More than 800 languages spoken
Back to the main story. We arrived in the late afternoon. After checking into our hotel (in New Jersey — little budget hack lol), we went to explore Bryant Park.
And there… total surprise.
Less than a minute away from Times Square — the chaos, the noise, the giant screens — you suddenly stumble upon a little piece of paradise. Bryant Park is a glitch in time. Everything slows down. People lying on the grass, others reading, friends chatting as if they were in their own backyard. But it is still New York, so there is always a bit of spectacle: highly competitive ping-pong matches (like, seriously competitive), chess players who clearly have 20 years of experience, and little food kiosks scattered everywhere.
And then… the bathrooms.
I have to talk about them.
The CLEANEST public bathrooms of my life. No joke. Apparently, they even won a competition for best public restrooms — and honestly, fully deserved. Perfume, music, flowers, an automatic plastic film that changes on the toilet seat… I was in complete shock. Bathrooms in a park like this?? I had never seen anything like it.
Bryant Park is exactly why I love big cities: that contrast between chaos and calm. A little bubble of peace in the middle of madness.
As evening came, we headed to Times Square.
And once again… shock.
A real one.
GIANT screens everywhere, light even in broad daylight, people moving in every direction. Everything moves fast, people talk loud, it lives at 1000 miles an hour. It is chaotic, intense… and I loved it.
A memorable moment: my grandma almost got hit… by a bike. The guy came out of nowhere at full speed, and she was just standing there, completely in awe. A real NYC movie scene.
In Times Square, even just standing still and watching is a spectacle. Street performers, characters, music, energy… nothing is ever normal.
Then we went to try an Irish pub, Connolly’s. The burger arrived… and visually already, it was something. HUGE, like the size of my hand. A real stack: two layers of meat, cheese spilling out everywhere, bacon, sauce, and a massive portion of fries on the side. At first, you’re impressed. You think: “okay wow, this is what America is.” The first bites are genuinely good — rich, generous, very flavorful. But pretty quickly, you also notice a fairly common characteristic of food in the United States: portions are often very large, and dishes are quite rich, with a lot of cheese, meat, and sauces. It is a style of cooking that is fully embraced, focusing on abundance and satisfaction.
And then… my body started saying no.
Result: slow digestion all weekend. Let’s just be real — it was rough lolilol
But in the end, that is also part of traveling: discovering local food habits, trying things, overdoing it a bit, and laughing about it afterward.
We continued with a bit of shopping, including an essential stop at M&M’s World. What an experience. The moment you walk in, it feels like you’ve entered an entirely different universe, completely saturated with color and sugar. There are walls filled with M&M’s sorted by color, machines where you can create your own mix, all kinds of special editions, and merch everywhere: clothes, mugs, plush toys, accessories… it is almost more of an attraction than a store.
But the prices… EXCUSE ME?? You really feel like you are not buying chocolate, but a luxury experience wrapped in sugar. Every small handful suddenly becomes a “careful decision” in your basket. But honestly, we were mostly laughing the whole time. Making jokes, commenting on the most random colors, taking pictures, tasting a few things… It was less about buying and more about experiencing the moment together. It is exactly the kind of ultra-touristic place that is yes, very exaggerated, but becomes funny precisely because everything is over the top: the colors, the prices, the atmosphere, everything.
In the end, this first day of travel with my grandma… it was more than just New York. It was the two of us in a larger-than-life city, laughing for no reason, being amazed by everything, walking without really knowing where we were going but always being in the right moment. And I think that is what stays the most: not just the places we visited, but the way we lived them together.
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