Vanderbilt YMCA in NYC (1985)
My first travel abroad is the United States in March 1985. At that time, it was my first time to know the famous guidebook, “Chikyu no arukikata”. I was surprised at the book which focused on how to travel with a tight budget, rather than a tour guide. Then I had gone out because I could do it. At that time, many more young people were going abroad than now.
I arrived in New York, which was my first town abroad. The first night, I stayed at the good hotel I booked in advance. The next day, I moved to the YMCA. That is the Vanderbilt YMCA. It was about US$12 for a single room, with a shared bathroom. I was impressed there was a TV in the room even though it was a cheap hotel.
I stayed four weeks in the U.S., then my style of traveling abroad was made on this trip. It started at the YMCA in New York.
