After waiting around for more than two years, I finally gathered enough courage to fly internationally again. New York City was my first stop.   

Day 4 

While admiring the brownstone buildings on my morning stroll, it never occurred to me that I could be in danger. For crying out loud, I was in the West Village, home of several Hollywood celebrities. So, when I confidently passed a group of people clustered on the opposite sidewalk, my fight-or-flight response had no reason to be triggered. In fact, having lived in Manhattan for four years in the late 90s, I knew my way around fairly well and sashayed the sidewalks like I owned the place.  

The first sign of panic came when I heard a woman yelling and pleading. Initially, I picked up my pace without a clear strategy in mind. Having no military training, my options were limited. The screaming had definitely come from the group of people that I had passed minutes earlier. The first gunshot followed almost immediately her high pitch voice. And when I heard the second gunshot, I found myself sprinting away from where the incident was taking place. By the third gunshot, the ten or so people around me were warning pedestrians to turn around and head in the opposite direction.  

As I was overtaking a couple running with their infant strapped to his father’s chest, I heard him say to his partner, “I guess we’ve almost become desensitized.” 

For a Swiss tourist like myself, I would like to point out that there was nothing normal about hearing gunshots. And the expectation of safety still remains a primary concern when choosing a destination.  

Fortunately, the earlier part of my visit was drama-free. 

Day 3 

If you want to get away from the formidable blend of urine and pot smells, nothing beats a short 38-minute ride to Long Island. The LIRR is both environmentally friendly and efficient. Bravo for the e-ticket option! I had only 2 minutes to spare, so validating my ticket as I stepped on the train was just too gnarly for words.  

Manhasset is home to the Americana mall (www.americanamanhasset.com) which includes most high-end stores. For watch lovers, you simply cannot miss checking out the Audemars Piguet store and the London Jewelers Watch Salon. 

Before heading to the mall, start off with a coffee at For Five Coffee Manhasset (www.forfivecoffee.com). It is, hands down, one of the finest cups of coffee I have ever tasted. 

Day 2  

SoHo is one of my favorite places in the city. Besides the countless restaurants, you can easily weave your way through the many stores without feeling overwhelmed. Skyscrapers are great but sometimes you just want to see the sky.  

Regarding food, vegetarian options and outdoor dining were prerequisites in selecting a restaurant. In that respect, it was nice to see that Manhattan had fully adapted to the pandemic way of life. Obviously, there were so many restaurant options in SoHo, but I’m only mentioning food items that stood out. The tiramisu at Nonna Beppa was outstanding (www.nonnabeppa.com). 

And the Carciofo at the Piccola Cucina Osteria Siciliana (www.piccolacucinagroup.com) was heavenly.

 

 

Day 1 

Pre-pandemic travelling seemed like decades ago. Now, suspicious glances are thrown towards any traveler that openly coughs and/or sneezes. That is the new norm. 

Given that the pandemic has cost the lives of more than 14,000 people in Switzerland (population of 8.7 million people), it is only fitting that a few travelers take cautionary measures. And even though Switzerland has lifted all Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, I for one, favor mask wearing and social distancing in public transportation.  

Conveniently, there is an approximately eight-hour direct flight from Geneva to JFK. After the pilot announced reaching our destination, I had only one pressing thought, speed-walking through customs. With bated breath, I waited for the cabin crew to direct us to the exit. It was unbelievably exciting to be back in New York City. My enthusiasm was short-lived, once I saw the crowds of people waiting in line. Whatever happened to the automated passport machines? Spending one hour packed like sardines with the rest of the European population was not my idea of efficiency.   

For those tourists on the fence about whether to visit NY, I still highly recommend it. NY remains one of the most interesting places to visit. And like any other populous place in the world, you need to be vigilant of your surroundings.