August 1: New York City to Newport

It’s around 9 am in New York, and time to start my road trip along the North East coast. It will be the first time I visit that region, and I am excited, especially about visiting the Atlantic provinces in Canada.

Leaving New York is quite easy on this beautiful morning. Following my brother’s recommendation, I take the Hutchinson River Parkway, which becomes the Merritt Parkway when entering Connecticut. It’s a beautiful road in the middle of the forest.

Soon enough, I arrive in New Haven, home of Yale University. There’s not a lot of students, probably because it’s the holiday season, but I cross a lot of Asian tourists. I wander in the streets, surrounded by the old university buildings.

There’s a Shake Shack close to the campus, and after a failed attempt at the one in Time Square in New York a week ago — it was so crowded I moved away — I give this one a try. As I am waiting for my order to be ready, I meet Joe, a young accountant who lives 20 minutes away from downtown. His commute can go up to 45 minutes when there’s snow in the winter. He likes the city but complains about the amount of road work and construction everywhere. He also confesses that there’s quite a lot of crime in the city, and acknowledges the university brings money and some stability in the city, “it keeps it together,” he says.

After I finish my lunch, it’s time to hit the road. A couple of hours later, I reach Newport, a charming, wealthy city. Full of tourists. Most of them come to visit the huge mansions located in the South of the city. Those are the kind of houses that are in The Great Gatsby with Leonardo Di Caprio. I don’t like this sort of tourist crowds, so I decide to drive Ocean Avenue, which goes along the South shore and offers gorgeous views of beautiful houses and the Atlantic ocean.

The night is coming and time to get some rest. I find a cheap motel in Middleton, a small city minutes from Newport, and not as wealthy. That’ll do it.