New York City isn't USA capital, but without any doubt
it's one of the world capitals. It's one the world business,
fashion, cinema, theatre centers. New York is called "the
Big Apple". This term was invented in the 1920s by a sportswriter
John Fitzgerald. He named his column about NYC's racetracks "Around
the Big Apple." Since that big apple is the symbol
of the city.
New York City has a population of 8 millions and it's
the largest USA city. New York attracts more than 35 millions
of visitors a year. Most of them are Americans but the
amount of international tourists is also considerable.
New York is divided into 5 big parts, called boroughs
- the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens,
and Staten Island. Each of them can be considered
as a separate city with its own life style, traditions
and atmosphere.
Manhattan is the most prestigious one. Many
people think than New York and Manhattan are synonyms.
Some call it Manhattan-centrism. Manhattan is a large island
in the middle of the Hudson River. There are concentrated
the best hotels, the highest skyscrapers, the most famous
theatres, the Central Park and the Empire State building.
But Manhattan isn't only this beautiful picture. It's also
Harlem and everlasting traffic jams. There are a huge amount
taxies on Manhattan. Why? It's because only taxies can
park on Manhattan. If you go in your own car you'll have
to cross Manhattan without any stop.
Manhattan has a lot of landmarks you shouldn't miss while
visiting New York.
102-story Empire State Building is a very popular
stop for visitors to the City. It's no longer the world's
tallest skyscraper, but one the most beautiful structures.
Built in 1931, Empire State Building has an exterior observatory
on the 86th floor from which visitors can see up to 80
miles away on a clear day.
Rockefeller Center is the famous
mid-town complex with huge underground shopping mall with
over 300 shops, and the golden statue of Prometheus and
the Channel Gardens.
Central Park was the first urban landscaped
park in the United States. It's an ideal place for walks
an in weekends. Today, the park is home to numerous restaurants,
playgrounds, the Metropolitan Museum, the Central Park
Zoo, and Wollman Rink.
Metropolitan Museum of Art is really gigantic.
It possesses the art masterpieces from every part of the
world. Ancient and modern works - all are represented here.
Times Square is the heart of New York City. Sometimes
it's called "Crossroads of the world" and it's
worthy this name. On this square you can find almost everything - prestigious
shops and hotels, theatres and museums.
The Statue of Liberty is one of the symbols of
New York. It's the first thing that people see when coming
to New York by ocean. The statue was a gift from France
to a young American state. The trip to Liberty Island where
the Statue of Liberty stands takes 15 minutes.
Other boroughs are mostly residential area, but each of
these boroughs also has something interesting to watch
on. In Queens you'll find Queens Museum of Art,
Queens Theatre in the Park, Queens Wildlife Center, located
in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
The Bronx is home to a world-renowned zoo, the
New York Botanical Gardens, some of the oldest private
homes in New York City, and more.
Brooklyn has
a lot to offer, including Prospect Park, the Botanical
Garden, the Conservatory of Music, the Brooklyn Museum
of Art and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Staten
Island is the least populated of the five
boroughs and the most separated one. It's not connected
to Manhattan by any direct tunnel, bridge, or subway.
