We had spent an amazing six days in New York City, but we intentionally saved a few nearby attractions for our last day. After the usual morning chaos of packing, getting ready, and having breakfast, we walked toward Grand Central Terminal. Located in Midtown Manhattan at 42nd Street and Park Avenue (close to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt), it is one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks and one of the busiest train stations in the world.
Exploring the Iconic Grand Central Terminal
Opened in 1913, the terminal serves as a major transportation hub and is famous for its grand architecture, sweeping staircases, and elegant interiors. The central information booth features a stunning four-faced opal clock valued at millions of dollars. The terminal houses more than 60 shops and a wide variety of restaurants. Visitors can also opt for a detailed guided tour to learn about its history and hidden secrets. It has appeared in hundreds of movies and TV shows.
We wanted to see its famous hallways and admire the architecture, so we spent around 20–30 minutes exploring. Yuven was surprised to see all the mythological figures carved on the terminal’s façade. Even the surrounding buildings add to the magical atmosphere.
Visiting the New York Public Library
Our next stop was the New York Public Library. The NYPL is one of the largest and most iconic library systems in the world. Founded in 1895, it welcomes millions of visitors every year and has 92 locations across New York City. Its main branch, located on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, is the most famous. It is known for its grand architecture, the two marble lion statues, and its massive reading and study halls. The library offers access to millions of books, digital resources, and research materials. The main reading room alone is nearly the size of a football field.
Upon entering, we headed straight to the visitor/information center. Visitor access is limited in certain areas to maintain the privacy of those using the space for study or research. There was a comic exhibition on the 2nd floor. The library hosts both permanent and temporary exhibitions throughout the year. We spent a little over an hour there, but since we had to leave for the airport, we couldn’t do it complete justice. The entire building is exceptionally well-maintained and has multiple elevators, a visitor center, and a gift shop.
After our brief visit to the library, we stopped by a nearby bakery to pick up some snacks for the journey. We then returned to the hotel, packed our remaining belongings, and bid adieu with lots of beautiful memories of the city.
Heading to JFK Airport
This time, we asked the person at the reception about taxi options. Following their suggestion, we checked app-based cab fares and found them to be almost double the usual rates. So, we requested the hotel to arrange a yellow taxi with sufficient luggage space at a fixed price to JFK Airport. After an hour-long ride, we reached JFK. The driver then asked for extra money, citing an additional toll, but we insisted that it wasn’t mentioned anywhere, not even on the rules and regulations card displayed in the taxi. Eventually, he agreed, and we paid $85 as quoted.
A Journey to Remember
Check-in and security took about an hour, and everything was running on schedule. We boarded the plane on time. But just as the aircraft was about to taxi, a thunderstorm hit the city, and the runways were shut down. Our flight was delayed by three hours, and my biggest fear came true—we missed our connecting flight in Paris. Throughout our stay in New York, we checked the weather every day and thanked God for the clear skies, but the weather caught up with us on the departure day.
When we landed in Paris, we received a message with our new flight schedule, rerouted via Dubai. Air France automatically assigned the new flights and sent a notification by email, but we couldn’t download the boarding passes. At the Paris airport, we joined the long queue of passengers in the same situation, but the line was moving very slowly, and we feared we might miss the new connection as well.
Mihir decided to approach the staff behind the counter, and thankfully, one helpful person assisted us in getting our passes quickly. We finally made it onto the Dubai flight. At Dubai airport, we had to complete the process of getting the boarding passes for the Dubai to Mumbai flight and diverting our luggage. The ground staff guided us well, although the airline crew wasn’t very helpful.
Just when we thought the journey was almost over, another delay occurred. After boarding the flight to Mumbai and preparing for takeoff, a passenger experienced a medical emergency and had to be deboarded. The crew then had to locate and remove that passenger’s luggage and confirm all cabin bags with the remaining passengers for everyone’s safety. The entire process took nearly two hours.
All in all, our 19-hour journey turned into a 30+ hour marathon. It was truly a one-of-a-kind travel experience—stressful, unpredictable, but definitely memorable.
With this, our New York chapter comes to an end. But before we move on, I’ll be adding one more short blog— practical tips which can be used to make itinerary planning easier and more memorable.
Read how we spent our previous day exploring Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History, and ended the day with a sunset ferry ride…
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