The longer story.

A Perfect NYC Day: Friends, Ferries, and Iconic Sights

Exploring New York City is amazing, but it’s just so much nicer when you have friends to show you around. Having locals guide the way means zero stress for the family — you just get to look up, relax, and actually take in those massive, iconic buildings without worrying about navigating!

Brooklyn and the Bridge

We kicked off the day catching the NYC Ferry over to Brooklyn. The Manhattan skyline views from the water are unbeatable!

Before heading back across the river, we stopped by the beautiful glass-enclosed Jane’s Carousel right on the waterfront.

Then it was time for the main event: walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge is obviously amazing, but being on it really gives you a sense of just how huge everything in this city is.

Once we made it to the other side, we caught a group of street gymnasts pulling off some insane acrobatic moves. It was the perfect New York moment.

Lady Liberty and Wall Street

Next up was the Staten Island Ferry for a breezy, front-row view of the Statue of Liberty. We cruised right past Lady Liberty and took in the harbor before heading back to grab some classic New York pizza (a must, obviously!).

Fueled up, we wandered down Wall Street to see the famous Charging Bull, which was buzzing with energy. Just up the street, the historic Trinity Church looks incredible standing right next to all those modern skyscrapers.

The World Trade Center

We finished this part of our adventure at the World Trade Center. Visiting the 9/11 Memorial is a deeply moving experience, and the massive reflecting pools are truly something you have to see in person.

Right next door is The Oculus. It’s this stunning transit hub and mall that looks like a giant white bird taking flight from the middle of the city.

It was a jam-packed, unforgettable day, made even better by having great friends lead the way!

Our first evening in New York City

Our first day in New York City is coming to a close. We landed around 40 minutes behind schedule — due in at about quarter to twelve, but touching down closer to 12:30. Customs was not too bad, and we were fast-tracked because Samuel was with us, although it still took almost an hour from leaving the plane to getting through.

The airport felt surprisingly familiar: somewhere between Cape Town International and O.R. Tambo. It did not feel overwhelmingly big, although that may simply be because we only saw one part of it. Ryno met us with Dunkin’ Donuts and cappuccinos — and their smallest coffee is basically the size of one of our largest.

From the airport, we took the train, then the subway, and eventually a red bus to Roosevelt Island and the apartment building. After unpacking and catching up properly, we went for a lovely walk around the island later in the afternoon.

It is hot and humid here — over 30°C, with the kind of summer weather that brings Durban to mind. The subway platforms are especially warm, but the trains themselves are air-conditioned, which is a welcome relief.

It is now quarter past eight and only just heading towards sunset. It is very cool to finally be in America and to start taking it all in. Tomorrow’s plan is Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, the ferry, and hopefully a look at the Statue of Liberty.

Air France vs Delta

For the second leg, the trip became a surprisingly useful airline comparison. Air France had the better aeroplane: the Airbus A350 felt roomier, with four seats in the middle and three on either side. Delta’s Boeing 767-400 was a tighter layout, with three middle seats and two on each side, so we ended up sitting in the middle.

But Delta won where it mattered most. The service was much better and the food was a clear step up. It was a good reminder of how much the little details can shape a long flight.

Entertainment went firmly to Delta too: roughly 250 movies versus about 50 on Air France. The trade-off was smaller screens and no Bluetooth audio. For the return journey, a small Bluetooth receiver might be a worthwhile travel hack.

Overall, Air France had the better aircraft and seating setup; Delta had the better service, food and movie selection. If I had to choose, I’d take Delta.

Touchdown in Paris

We’ve just landed in Paris after a good flight overall. Sleeping was a challenge, though I’m not sure how much sleep I actually managed to get. Samuel, on the other hand, slept well enough for all three of us. The main disappointment was the food. The low-fat options — and even the children’s meals — didn’t look particularly appetising. The chocolate mousse dessert was not bad, but it had an odd strawberry addition that made it feel less like the proper rich chocolate mousse one expects. Charles de Gaulle Airport immediately feels much bigger and more modern than O.R. Tambo. We had to use a train-bus transfer between sections of the airport, which was surprisingly bumpy. For something at an airport of this scale, I expected a smoother, more automated experience — but it felt as though the driver was still mastering acceleration and braking. We have about a three-and-a-half-hour layover before continuing with Delta Airlines. Franli found the service on this flight disappointing, especially compared with previous experiences where food arrived faster and was better. I did not have a benchmark, so it did not bother me as much. It will be interesting to compare the service as we fly with different airlines throughout the trip. A small win: free airport Wi-Fi. My first international purchase has also been made — a small deodorant for €6. A bit excessive, but when in Rome… or, in this case, Paris.

The day finally arrived

After all the planning, the day is finally here. Looking back, the whole process has actually been very cool — even with a few bumps along the way. First came the passports. We could not get the online bookings to cooperate, so Home Affairs in Maitland became the plan. On my first visit, they were only taking the first ten walk-ins and I arrived too late. The next time, I was there at six in the morning with my camp chair — first in line. Once they opened, it was surprisingly quick: about forty-five minutes and we were sorted. Three days later, our passports were ready. Then came the visas. The online forms were a bit of a mission and timed out once, which meant starting over, but the actual process was shockingly quick. Having our little boy with us helped too, and we were assisted very quickly. Today, Godwin took us to the airport at around 2pm. We arrived almost four hours before the flight, just to be safe, but everything has been wonderfully smooth — from check-in and bag drop to boarding gates and passport control. Right now, we are about to step onto the biggest aeroplane I have ever flown on: an Airbus A350. America, here we come.