SocialMaharaj Technology, Travel, Food et al
Related Articles
They say you can’t fully experience New York without walking across the Brooklyn Bridge or exploring the trendy Dumbo neighbourhood. For me, someone who has seen FRIENDS reruns more times than I can remember and sang along to every song from Kal Ho Na Ho, these locations held an even deeper significance.
So when Maharaj travelled to New York last year, crossing off the Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo from my NYC bucket list wasn’t just about sightseeing – it was a pilgrimage of sorts. This blog post will give you a glimpse into my journey of finally living out those iconic pop culture moments against the backdrop of two of New York’s most beautiful and photographed spots.
Brooklyn Bridge
Since 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge has stood the test of time on the East River. This historic suspension bridge was the longest of its kind in the world when completed, stretching an impressive 1,595 feet to connect the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The bridge’s construction was an incredible feat of engineering that overcame immense challenges and tragic setbacks. Today, it remains a beloved symbol of New York City’s grandeur and perseverance.
While the Manhattan Bridge right opposite gets overshadowed, it too holds significance as one of the city’s key bridges across the East River after opening in 1909. However, the Brooklyn Bridge’s grandiose architecture with its Gothic Revival arches and distinctive cables render it the most visually striking and photographed bridge in New York.
Dumbo
“Down Under The Manhattan Bridge Overpass” – that’s what Dumbo is an acronym for! How many of you knew about this? It is a tiny waterfront neighbourhood that has emerged as one of Brooklyn’s trendiest hotspots. Once an industrial district lined with factories and warehouses, Dumbo has been revitalised into a flourishing arts and tech hub filled with galleries, boutiques, and upscale restaurants.
The cobblestone streets are surrounded by red brick buildings giving it a trendy look. The crowning jewel is the Instagram-famous spot on Washington Street where the Manhattan Bridge towers overhead, creating a unique urban backdrop framed by the historic buildings. And Maharaj was here to get clicked too!
But Dumbo isn’t just about this spot. There’s the Brooklyn Park and the famous Jane’s Carousel that are wonderful places to be. If you’re a foodie, there’s the timeout food court that has amazing food joints and bars. Some of the bars give you one of the best views of the Manhattan skyline.
Walking Tour Of Dumbo and Brooklyn Bridge
It was fairly early in the morning when I had my breakfast in my hotel at the Marriott Residence Inn in Queens and headed to the metro station. Since I had the unlimited weekly metro pass, I made full use of it. I took the metro from Queens, changed one and got down at Canal Street coming down from the “6” number metro.
Getting out of the station, I started my walking tour first walking through Walker Street and finding a Chinese neighbourhood. There were a lot of seafood stores along with fashion and accessory stores. Since it was early in the morning, not all the shops were one.
I soon reached the massive arch to the bridge, well this was a Manhattan bridge and not Brooklyn. But that’s when I realised that you cannot take a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge when you’re on it ! So this was the right decision.
I walked across the bridge and reached the end, from where I navigated my way to the famous Washington Street. As I started reaching closer to Dumbo, I noticed a lot of beautiful street art on the walls amidst a street of cobbled stones. I passed across a lot of restaurants and slowly started seeing a lot of crowds.
As I reached closer, I got the iconic frame of the Manhattan Bridge from Dumbo. The iconic 1900s bridge in the backdrop, the red brick buildings and cobblestone streets were quite a frame. No wonder it’s one of the most Instagrammable spots in New York.
And then from Dumbo, I crossed the famous Timeout market and came over to the iconic bridge. The wooden walking path made noises with each step I took. The huge cables rose on both sides, showing how massive and well-built the bridge is.
As I walked further, I could slowly see more and more of the famous Manhattan skyline across the East River. The tall skyscrapers looked so beautiful shining in the sun. I even spotted the Statue of Liberty standing proudly in the distance. I kept stopping to take in the incredible views all around me. The sights, the sounds, the feeling of walking in such an iconic place – it’s an experience I’ll never forget.
All along the Brooklyn Bridge you’ll find a lot of small souvenir shops that sell everything from caps and t-shirts to magnets and photos. There are also people with the 360-degree photo machine that will give you a great photo. You wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of pre-wedding shoots happening on the bridge.
Most Famous Photo Spots in New York
Every nook and corner of New York City is Instagrammable, there’s no doubt about it. However, both these places are special. One is one of the most iconic engineering marvels in the history of humanity while the other is an artsy street where people show their talents whilst providing a great frame.
I remember walking a lot that day, though the temperatures were low, I was sweating, but I won’t complain, it was a photographic walking tour of the neighbourhood. If you’re in New York ever, do try to do this tour and capture some amazing photos.
That’s about it for this blog post, do let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet to me at @Atulmaharaj, DM @Atulmaharaj on Instagram or Get In Touch.
