Notes from my trip to America

In this article, I will share notes from my short but eventful trip to America:

Visa:

To travel to America, you first need a passport and a valid US visa. You can obtain your visa in person at the US Embassy for a fee of $165 USD. Alternatively, you can fill out an online form, print out the cover page, and attend a visa interview with your passport, a photograph, and this printout. The US requires visas for all passports, including green passports, and these visas are typically valid for 10 years.

Journey:

We arrived in New York from Istanbul in just over 10 hours. I definitely recommend using Turkish Airlines; their in-flight entertainment system and meals are excellent. Window and middle seats can be problematic for occasional movement or going to the restroom, so I recommend an aisle seat. We departed from Atatürk Airport in Istanbul; if you have 1-2 hours before your flight, using the lounges will be to your advantage. With buffet meals, drinks, TV, etc., you can forget you're waiting at the airport. In New York, we landed at John F. Kennedy Airport. The airport is so large that there's an internal train line between terminals. The passport control queue is 15 minutes at the Turkish exit and 45 minutes at the American entrance.

Car rental:

I highly recommend renting a car for traveling within America, as using public transportation can lead to missing out on many attractions. Large shopping malls, parks, and must-see tourist sites are often located in areas inaccessible by public transport. The average daily rental cost for a sedan is around $50, and considering a full tank costs $40, it's actually quite an affordable mode of transportation. The roads in America are wide, the parking lots are spacious, and the cars are spacious – in short, America is a fantastic place to travel by car.

Traffic in America:

Keep your eyes open and pay attention to the signs throughout the journey, as necessary warnings are constantly displayed. Lane usage is very important in America; random lane changes and not turning into the designated lane are not tolerated. There are directional signs on the road indicating lanes, such as "Right Lane Must Turn Right," so once you enter a right lane, you have no choice but to turn right. Drivers are incredibly respectful of each other, maintaining a safe following distance, giving way when reversing out of parking lots, etc. Traffic lights are not located where your car stops, as in Türkiye, but in the middle of the intersection opposite where your car stops, so you can clearly see the light without having to look down. When you see the light, you stop at the stop line, not right at the light. Speed limits vary depending on the road; generally, you can go between 50-60 mph, but I haven't seen speeds exceeding 60 mph even on the highway. Some highways are 6 lanes in each direction, but they are divided into 3 lanes each, with buses, trucks, and cars using separate lanes. As long as you follow the rules, you can have an incredibly safe drive. Almost all the radio stations you'll hear on the road play popular English songs. Americans love driving big cars; many suburban cars can overtake you at the same time. All the shops, shopping malls, and restaurants have huge parking lots in front of them, so parking is never a problem here. The highways have an automated toll collection system called EZ-Toll; having an EZ-Toll card in your car is important because at some toll booths there isn't even a cashier to pay at, and you'll get a fine, so having the card is absolutely essential. The roads are well-maintained and clean; even if there's roadwork, incredible safety precautions are taken, and you're informed miles in advance that the lane will narrow and that there will be roadwork.

Regarding city transportation, I can definitively say that you should absolutely not drive into downtown New York City; it's incredibly crowded and the traffic is very congested. However, based on my experience in Philadelphia, you can easily drive within the city. The important thing here is parking. Generally, there are free parking spaces marked with special colors and signs along the roadside, but these are usually full, so you'll need to use paid, covered parking garages. I paid $14 a day to park in Philadelphia, while in New York it costs $12 an hour. Many parking garages also have electric vehicle parking areas, so your electric vehicle can charge throughout the day.

Finally, if you are a foreigner, you absolutely need to travel with navigation software, as missing turns on highways can make it very difficult to find your way back. Before I left, I installed Nokia Here Maps on my phone and downloaded the necessary maps, allowing me to use completely free navigation in America without needing the internet.

Food in America:

Food was a serious problem for me in America; the options were so limited that I could only eat hamburgers and pizza. The streets with lots of restaurants in Philadelphia smelled incredibly foul; it would take a person with no stomach to go there and eat. Turkey, beef, and fish are consumed in abundance, but they use so many spices and foul-smelling oils that you just don't want to eat them. A hamburger or pizza menu costs around $8-10, and you get unlimited soda with your meal.

The American People:

This is how I interpret the American lifestyle:

They set off for work at 6:00 a.m.

They have a strong work ethic and spend their working hours in the most efficient way possible.

They drive large, spacious, high-engine-capacity, luxurious, fully equipped cars.

They generally live luxuriously in single-story houses with gardens.

They have no financial worries; they can buy whatever they want without even looking at the price tag.

Especially on Friday and Saturday nights, most people spend the nights out.

They don't enjoy cooking; they prefer to eat simple, quick meals and get on with their lives.

They have become a society that has immense respect for one another, loves its state and government, and strictly adheres to all the rules.

People who don't want to work or can't work live on the streets as homeless.

The healthcare system is entirely based on money and is ruthless.

Almost all daily jobs are done by Black people.

Places to see in Philadelphia:

Philadelphia is a large city nestled in greenery, situated by the sea. Historically, it's known as the city where the American War of Independence began. Huge skyscrapers, wide and orderly streets, and numerous multi-story parking garages have transformed the city into a working-class hub. Due to limited time, I only managed to visit a park in the city center called Love Park. In truth, this park isn't anything special; it just has a 2.5-meter-high "Love" sign in the middle, surrounded by young people skating and doing somersaults – that's all.

I also had the opportunity to visit Longwood Gardens, a botanical garden located a little outside the city. It's a truly beautiful garden, and if you're a nature lover, you absolutely must see it. There's an entrance fee, I think we paid around $10. The interior is quite extensive, and you navigate with a map. Americans are excellent at providing directions and information; everywhere is full of signs, making it easy to explore. We visited a large greenhouse that houses different climates, where numerous plant species are grown incredibly healthily. There are also several lakes within the grounds. You stroll among 20-meter-tall trees, in wonderfully maintained lawns, accompanied by the sounds of birds. Apparently, they offer annual subscriptions; if I lived in Philadelphia, I would definitely get a yearly membership and take my children there.

Shopping in America:

Yes, shopping in America is possible; it's possible to find both cheap and high-quality goods. If you do some good research, you can find clothing, accessories, electronics, food, and drinks at really reasonable prices. Shopping in shopping malls, which consist of single-story shops spread over a large area, is very enjoyable. Electronic devices are generally sold at prices similar to those in Türkiye.

The New York Experience:

Having been to Istanbul and Rome, I can say that I've never seen such chaotic, such heavy traffic in my life (I'm talking about Manhattan). Moreover, finding parking is very difficult and expensive. Traffic flows from all over the city, above and below ground; the main streets are wide and orderly, but the side streets are complete chaos. My advice is to find a parking lot near your destination and leave your car there before exploring; parking on the roadside is prohibited and dangerous.

New York is a wonderful city, vibrant, exciting, and fast-paced. The moment you step onto its main street, the crowds draw you in; there are giant screens everywhere and a bustling atmosphere. Exploring and shopping in New York is a pleasure; it's a must-see. On one side, a Muslim is praying, on the other, a Jew is reading the Torah; everyone respects each other, and there's an incredibly strong state authority.

Be sure to visit Times Square, the heart of New York, stroll along Broadway, and pose with the Statue of Liberty; New York is an indescribably beautiful city.