Exploring the Big Apple

CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS IS LIKE JOBURG'S SMALL STREET MALL OR TSHWANE'S MARABASTAD ON STEROIDS

- Sibusiso Mkhwanazi

Depending on who you ask, New York City (NYC), a city populated by about 8.5 million people packed into 780km², is either the most exhilarating or exhausting metropolis, but one thing most visitors and residents will agree on is that the Big Apple has something to offer for everyone.

Your first taste of the world-famous NYC experience depends on which of the three airports you land at. My last trip last month to the city that never sleeps saw me land at JFK International Airport, which has been in need of a major overhaul for years now.

Dated amenities, inefficient layouts, an unappealing interior and unnecessarily long wait times for absolutely everything have consistently ensured JFK remains on the list of worst airports in the world. Luckily, a R342 billion redevelopment that will conclude in 2026, is well underway. Till then, only opt for JFK if you are a fan of impossible traffic.

Because I value my sanity, my previous trip in June this year saw me land at Newark Liberty International Airport, despite it being in New Jersey, just a 45-minute bus ride away from NYC.

Although it is just as dated as JFK, at least Newarkers know what great service is supposed to look like. This is thanks to helpful Transportation Security Administration employees who take the time to approach passengers and inform them of the quickest ways to process passports, why the train is better than an Uber to NYC, where the best coffee is sold at the airport and which terminal has the cleanest toilets.

I am an arts and culture enthusiast, so my first stop was always going to be Broadway, where theatre shows like The Lion King, Hamilton, Hell's Kitchen and others continue to thrill hundreds of audiences, over and over.

What I did not know was that there are productions that seem to never leave, as they are huge hits with theatregoers.