Steel, skyline and the unmistakable blur of yellow cabs signalled my arrival in New York the final chapter of my travels. The journey began at street level, weaving through Manhattan traffic as taxis lined the avenues beneath towering buildings, before standing face to face with the Statue of Liberty, proud against the harbour with the city rising behind her. From there, I looked up at the Empire State Building piercing the clouds, its height a reminder of the city’s ambition, before climbing higher still to take in sweeping views across Manhattan’s endless grid and the Hudson beyond. As dusk fell, Times Square flickered to life in striking black and white contrasts, neon screens illuminating the night. Ending beneath those bright lights, New York felt like a fitting finale bold, relentless and unforgettable.
