The Macombs Dam Bridge led right across from West 155th St. in Harlem to the Bronx. The bridge was tricky to get to. But soon, we crossed a congested intersection, found the pedestrian path, and eventually got to the other side. Yankee stadium lay just beyond it, and a few miles further, Rose Hill.

The bridge held us firm as we took yet another step toward our goal: to walk from Lincoln Center to Rose Hill on foot. New York evokes thoughts of skyscrapers, the hustle and bustle of the streets, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. But what this journey highlighted was the full spectrum of Manhattan and the Bronx, and the neighborhoods in between.

Once we began to spend more time in the city together, we both realized that an idiosyncratic challenge lingered inside our minds: crossing the 10 miles between our two campuses. As avid runners and walkers, our excitement for this challenge only grew as we did our research. Google Maps estimated three hours and 25 minutes of travel time; we knew we could do it faster. The physical challenge that it represented, the opportunity of seeing new places, and, of course, the bragging rights: We needed to do it. 

Oct. 6 was the big day. After completing our pre-departure checklist, which included water, sunscreen, breakfast and a quick chat with Public Safety, we set out before 1 p.m. 

Our route, which began at Lowenstein, consisted of slight deviations from a straight path to see landmarks along the way. The first leg wove its way through Central Park. The weather was perfect; there was barely a cloud in the sky, and the constant breeze kept us cool. The inner streets of Central Park were busy as could be, with the typical horse-drawn carriages, runners, walkers and families getting out of each other’s way. 

As we went up north, the beauty and personality of Central Park began to quiet down a little. It was no longer accompanied by the familiar background noise common in the hallways of Lincoln Center or in the streets of Manhattan, but infused with a peaceful silence. 

Gallery • 9 Photos

CARLOS ORTIZ DE LA PENA GOMEZ URQUIZA/THE OBSERVER

Carlos Ortiz de la Pena Gomez Urquiza (left) and Nicolas Nunes (right) traveled the 10 miles between Fordham’s Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses, documenting their experience

Soon, we were leaving Central Park on 110th St. and stepping into Harlem. It felt like arriving at a different city than the one on 60th St. Frederick Douglass Blvd, which runs along the same pavement as Eighth Avenue, was wide and sparse. The buildings here were far smaller; most were no more than six or seven stories tall, and they had railroad-style facades. The broad palette of colors common in midtown Manhattan was exchanged for shades of browns and reds. Most establishments were closed — it was Sunday — and the streets were relatively quiet and empty.

The rows of apartments were relatively uniform for forty-four streets, but eventually it came time to cross the Macombs Dam Bridge. This was a point that we were both looking forward to. When we were planning our route a few days earlier, there were two options: the Macombs Dam Bridge or the 145th St. Bridge. The second bridge seemed easier to cross, but Macombs led right up to Yankee Stadium, a bucket list landmark for us.

The first scene after crossing the bridge for any pedestrian, was the area around Yankee Stadium. It was silent compared to a typical Yankee game-day. There was little to see other than the stadium’s tall and extensive exterior. But a few blocks away, the environment became far more lively. People filled the sidewalks as they shopped through the markets. Families, young and old, blasted Latin music in the parks as they watched the children play soccer. 

Once we made it to Webster Avenue, it was a straight shot to Rose Hill. We could now see One Fordham Plaza — for our Lincoln Center readers, that is the mall with all the little shops. It was still a couple of miles away, and its distant appearance made us sigh in exasperation. But we kept moving. At last, Walsh Library came into view, and our exhaustion was replaced with excitement. We picked up our pace, crossed Fordham Road, pulled out our IDs, and, without a hint of hesitation, we took the final steps of our journey through the Webster Avenue gate of the Rose Hill campus. 

10.09 miles; 18,512 steps; two hours, 43 minutes, and 52 seconds — 41 minutes and eight seconds ahead of schedule. A sense of accomplishment filled our consciousness as we made our way from the gate to the new dining hall at McShane. We proved ourselves up to the challenge that we set out to accomplish, and upon seeing the familiar sight of the towering American Elm trees, we knew we earned our bragging rights. 

We immediately started reflecting on our journey, as if we were talking about something that happened years ago, as we arrived at the cafeteria for a well-deserved dinner. After all, we each burned about 1,000 calories. 

The dining hall had been recently renovated. Everything seemed big and easy to navigate, as if the hall had adapted to its surroundings. Similarly, we had also evolved. 

We were once again in the university we called home, yet we had expanded our previous vision into a more complete New York. Now, we saw past the hundred story buildings and cramped streets, through tranquil Harlem and into the lively Bronx. All these places we encountered along the way were integral for grasping the distinct ways of living in New York City, a city for everyone and any style of living: the capital of the world.