Day 5 - Trendy Brooklyn

After the iconic day of yesterday, we are back today with both feet on the ground. Because this December 11th we wake up with the news about a terrorist attack in New York. The largest bus station in Manhattan was the target. Fortunately, the attack failed and there are only some slightly wounded including the terrorist. This is the third attack after 9/11 and the second that we experience when we are in the city. Is it me? ... We were safe in the hotel but it has its consequences for us. The subway that transports about 5 to 6 million passengers daily is partially closed. Our hotel is in Brooklyn, so traveling to Manhattan by subway is not possible on our last day. And the MOMA was on the program.

But let’s take advantage of the situation, because we are in Brooklyn, which is also called the new Manhattan. It is the place of hipsters, where yuppies and young money earners want to live. Manhattan is for old money, for older generations. Brooklyn is a trendy neighborhood with gorgeous townhouses, elegant restaurants, hip bars and more importantly, from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade you have a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline. 

The still amputated skyline, although the prosthesis of the Freedom Tower does its best to let you forget the Twin Towers. Yes, I keep calling him the Freedom Tower because the strength of the building is mainly in the name. I still have difficulties getting used to the new skyline. And I've seen it a number of times now. Our hotel is within walking distance of the Brooklyn Bridge that connects Brooklyn with Lower Manhattan. There is a walking path on top of the suspension bridge. The total length of the bridge is 1825 m so it is ideal for a walk on this cold morning under a blue sky. The sun has returned to New York since yesterday. There is still some snow, but it literally melts like snow under the sun. There is a big crowd on the bridge that is being suspended with an impressive cable construction. 

A walk on the iconic Brooklyn Bridge is a perfect way to end this city trip to New York.

It is to say IF we finish our trip today. The blizzards of New York have so far always prevented me from traveling here during this period of the year, but now it is ironicly the weather conditions in Belgium that might have us end up with an extended stay. Brussels Airport is as good as closed. Yesterday the flight to New York could not depart either and apparently it looks bad for us today. Almost all Brussels Airlines flights are canceled today, except for the flights to Africa and finally also ... the flight to JFK. With a slight delay we land tomorrow in Brussels, ready for the Christmas season. Time to dig up the tree, to get out the decorations  and to put me in front of the television with a glass of eggnog watching Serendipity. Christmas will never be the same again.