I fly at least twice a year, sometimes four times, rarely more. From the US to Europe and back, often within the US. On these occasions, I sit at the window, if possible, and not only look out the window, but also, if nothing else, take pictures with my phone.

I flew several times in the first half of 2025. On these trips, I took some pictures that I would like to share now.

The center of New York City, Manhattan, is located between 34th and 59th Streets. This area is home to iconic landmarks, including Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center. Midtown is also home to some of the city’s most iconic buildings, including the Chrysler Building, Hudson Yards, United Nations Headquarters, Grand Central Terminal, and Rockefeller Center, as well as numerous prominent tourist destinations. This is what it looks like from the air.

Below is Roosevelt Island, a small island between Manhattan and Queens in the East River. The island has a fascinating history: once home to prisons and hospitals, it was converted into a residential area in the 1970s1. Today, it is home to modern housing, parks, and the Cornell Tech campus. The island is connected to Midtown Manhattan by the famous red cable car “lanovka”, which offers spectacular views of the city.

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, a long-span suspension bridge that connects Brooklyn and Staten Island in New York City, is visible in the background (top of the photo). The bridge opened in 1964 and is named after Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor. The bridge is a vital transportation link, carrying around 200,000 vehicles daily.

Central Park from the air. New York City is situated between the Upper West Side and the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Although it is only the sixth-largest park in the city, it is the most visited urban park in the United States, with an estimated 40 million visitors annually. It is also one of the most filmed locations in the world. The bottom photo shows the eastern part of the city next to the park. 

One of three international airports serving New York City from the air, LaGuardia Airport is located in the borough of Queens, next to the Flushing Bay neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights, and East Elmhurst. It is named after former New York City Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia.

The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination. The concept is deeply rooted in the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity, as outlined in the Declaration of Independence, which states that all people have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

Additionally, the American Dream is also the name of a massive entertainment and shopping complex in New Jersey, featuring an indoor amusement park, water park, and ski resort, offering year-round fun.

Let’s fly south. Miami Beach from the air.

And finally, here’s a foreign shot – an Austrian one, taken at Vienna airport – from an airline I had the pleasure of working with. A long time ago, I worked with Lauda Air.