She had exactly two days to explore Manhattan off the beaten tourist track. Her friend Jenny had travelled to her family in New Hampshire for exactly these two days and had left Annie her charming little flat in the East Village.
It was already sunny and hot in the morning when she stepped out onto the street, ready to conquer the city (or at least a little bit of it) As Annie enjoyed her morning coffee and an incredibly delicious almond croissant at Café Abraco, she could hardly believe that she was actually here. Alone. Just herself and the city she had been dreaming of for so long.
She took her coffee with her and strolled through the narrow streets of the Village, which is known for its artistic scene and alternative vibes. There was something different and exciting to see on every corner: Street art, murals, installations – Annie absorbed these impressions like a sponge.
As a passionate bookworm, she first stopped at Strand Bookstore, an independent bookshop founded in 1927, which is legendary and has 18 miles of bookshelves to offer. First editions, novels, new indie works and much more – far too much to rummage through in one day, as she realised with a heavy heart and moved on after a long period of exploring.

The ‘Museum of the American Gangster’ was next on Annie’s bucket list. This tiny but fascinating museum is located in a former speakeasy and tells the story of Prohibition and organised crime in New York City.

She then strolled dreamily through the streets to Tompkins Square Park with a bagel from „Tompkins Square Bagels“ in her hand to listen to some local street musicians. She would never have thought that there were so many community gardens in Manhattan and was very impressed about.
Her route next took her north to the Lower East Side, a neighbourhood full of history and cultural diversity. She wondered if she could make it to another museum and, being a history buff, couldn’t resist the Tenement Museum, which gives a unique insight into the lives of the immigrants who once populated the area. She took part in a guided tour of the historic apartments of immigrant and migrant families, which gave her a completely different perspective on the city.

After dinner in one of the many small restaurants, she strolled through the atmospheric streets of Greenwich Village. Of the countless small bars and music clubs, she ended up at „Smalls Jazz Club“, which was a tiny basement club but turned out to be a real highlight and is home to some of the best jazz musicians in the city.

The intimate atmosphere, the relaxed and friendly people around her and the first-class music made it very difficult for Annie to go back to her flat.
After one last cocktail, full of impressions and slightly tipsy but happy, she went back and fell straight into bed. Only now did she realise that she could hardly feel her feet and was dead tired.
The pulsating energy of the city had completely mesmerised her and she later fell asleep very contentedly, dreaming of the adventures she had experienced and would still experience.