Last Train to North America (2026) s01e03 Episode Script
New York - Philadelphia
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] Dawn breaks over New York City,
and the Hudson River
brings us a real-life story.
That of a wonderful city
where immigration has shaped its identity,
creating a cultural diversity
that defines everyday life in New York.
[Martin] I woke up this morning thinking,
staring at all the windows
and the amount of buildings that you see,
all the people that come to the city.
Not now, but from the beginning,
the immigration story of Manhattan.
Exactly, Martin. And this is
the perfect way to start our journey.
I'm taking you to Ellis Island,
where-- that's where
the immigrants would come in.
Remember that New York City
is based out of immigrants, the U.S.,
so we have to know the history.
At least 40% of Americans
can trace back a relative
that came through Ellis Island.
[Martin] With the Statue of Liberty
as a witness to this history,
today, we will discover
the gateway to immigration
in this very special city.
Welcome to a new station.
This is Last Train to North America.
[music concludes]
[theme music playing]
[Martin] Welcome,
this is Last Train to Russia.
And from here, we continue
with Last Train to Qatar.
This is the stadium that will host
the next World Cup final.
[theme music concludes]
[Martin] This is
Last Train to North America.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
We arrive at Ellis Island.
Located in New York Harbor,
it was the country's largest
immigrant entry point
between 1892 and 1954.
This is the dramatic staging point
where over 12 million immigrants
came into New York City
and the majority of them
went into America after that.
After they were inspected
and processed here,
then they went into America.
About 40% of Americans can trace
at least one member of their family
or one grandparent back to Ellis Island
through their lineage,
which is pretty incredible.
Ellis Island was meant to distinguish
between those immigrants
who were desirable
and those who were undesirable,
which is pretty strong language.
But 98% of the immigrants
who came in made it into the country.
So, it was a pretty
dramatic staging area here.
There's a lot of emotional energy
when you go inside this space.
You can really, really feel it.
[gentle instrumental music continues]
[Colin] These are 700,000
of the 12 million immigrants
that came in to Ellis Island.
Uh, people coming from everywhere
like Eastern Europe,
from Ireland, from Italy,
and pretty much all over the world.
If you came in through New York City,
you came through this building.
And these names here
are all memorialized by the relatives
that, um, wanted to put them here
on the grounds of the island itself.
[Martin] Ellis Island is a museum today.
And the plan for this island was to build
a country based on immigrants.
Right now, in the present,
there's another perspective.
There is a big debate
on immigration in this country.
That's why it's so important to be here
learning about the history
of the United States.
[sentimental instrumental music playing]
Martin, for me, it was important
to bring my partner of this trip
right here to Ellis Island,
because this is where it all started.
New York City is a blend of cultures.
And for me, I wouldn't be here
if my family didn't migrate
-through right here.
-Yeah.
It tells you the story
of so many immigrants.
You see New York is a melting pot.
You find people from so many places.
Well, it all started here, right?
It's definitely not easy
having to learn a new language,
a new culture, knowing absolutely nothing,
and starting from scratch.
That takes an insane amount
of courage to even start over
just for the future generations to follow.
[ship horn blares]
[music concludes]
[lively instrumental music playing]
[Martin] There is a close relationship
between the Italian community
and New York.
What began with a massive migration
due to the economic crisis
transformed into
a profound cultural influence
on New York's gastronomy
and popular traditions.
We're gonna go check
on the sauce over there.
All right? I wanna make sure
we do it right, yeah.
-He's doing tomato sauce, huh?
-[cook] Yeah.
-Pancetta, onion, olive oil, tomato.
-[cook] Onion.
The shape changes
the way that the sauce tastes.
Rigatoni,
it holds the sauce a little better.
[Martin] Today we will meet Sabino,
a food influencer with Italian roots,
who is ready to share his customs with us.
-[cook] What do you think?
-[Sabino] Al dente.
[lively instrumental music continues]
[Sabino] I hope you guys are hungry.
-Grande.
-[Chelsea] We are.
-[Martin] Sabino, grazie mille.
-[Chelsea] Grazie.
-[Sabino] Prego. Prego.
-[Martin] Oh, this looks delicious.
-[Sabino] So--
-We start for--
-I'm doing a vodka sauce first.
-Vodka sauce. Okay.
Vodka sauce.
[Sabino] Right now you hear a tarantella
in your head, right?
-You feel like you're at a wedding, right?
-[Martin] Wow.
We have a classic…
-Margherita pizza.
-Yeah.
Mozzarella, tomato, basil.
-You have to do it like this, right?
-Yeah.
-To eat it.
-Yeah, that's it. Look.
-It's not flying down, you know?
-Yeah.
-It's right there.
-[Martin laughs]
The crunch, the dough, the flour,
the sauce, everything is perfect.
[Martin] You go to Asia,
you go to South America,
you go to anywhere in Europe,
-and you have an Italian restaurant.
-That's right.
-[Martin] Why is that?
-It's the best food in the world.
-[Martin laughing]
-It's that simple.
-[Martin] Said by an Italian. [laughs]
-It-- [chuckles] It's very simple.
So, after the primi and secondi,
comes the dolci, no? And, huh…
And I want to take you to the oldest
Italian bakery in America.
What do you think?
Should we go for a little passeggiata?
-[Martin] That sounds great.
-You know, after we eat--
after we eat,
we've got to walk a little bit.
-[Martin] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
-But it's-- it's only a little bit.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
-Hi, my friend. How you doing?
-[chuckles]
What-- What do you sell here?
-Well, we sell bags and we sell scarves.
-[Sabino] Yeah.
-They come by and talk to you.
-[Sabino] Yeah.
-How long have you been here?
-Not too long, maybe 35 years.
-Not too long.
-Not too long.
-[laughs]
-Good luck to you guys.
-[Sabino] Thank you, pal. God bless.
-[Chelsea] Thank you. Thank you.
What's up?
[in Italian] Com'è? Tutto a posto?
-Non ci credo! Bene, bene.
-Come va?
-Da quanto sei qua?
-Un mesetto.
[in English] He's here for one month.
He just came off the boat.
[in Italian] Che bello vedervi!
Non ci credo. Wow.
[Martin, in English] Describe what
do you find in Little Italy?
You find magic.
Here's like, uh, the Italian-American
Disney world, you know?
It's special because it tells
the Italian-American dream.
You know, like when people
from the other side settled here
and they sacrificed everything
to make a better life for their family.
It's important to, like, try to push
the culture to-- to everyone, you know?
[Martin] Today, the state of New York
has the largest Italian population
in the country,
with more than 3 million inhabitants.
[upbeat pop music playing,
Manuel Benati "That's Amore for Me"]
[Martin] A journey to never
stop sharing customs.
Now it's time for dolce.
Le dico subito che un'italiana
Bella come lei ancora qui non c'è ♪
Innamorato di lei ♪
Innamorato di lei ♪
-[Chelsea] Hello.
-[Martin] Nice to meet you.
-How are you doing?
-How are you?
-Martin, nice to meet you.
-Hello.
Martin, you have some-- you have
20 dollars that you want to lose?
-Let me teach you.
-I want to learn.
-[woman] You wanna learn?
-Yeah.
[Sabino] This is called Scopa.
-Scopa, yeah.
-Scopa is when you clean the table.
My grandfather taught me
when I was a little kid.
-[Sabino] Espresso.
-[Martin] Espresso.
Espresso, cannolis, and a babà.
I see there, you can feel there's a sense
of friendship, community.
Especially when you know
you always can beat him.
-You know, it's easy.
-[chuckles]
It makes it more fun.
Mario, Martin, Giuseppe.
Mario, Martin.
[Martin] Okay!
-[all cheering]
-[Mario] Bravo!
[Martin] I was waiting for that.
I got a cannoli for you.
-Opa!
-Opa!
That's Napolitan, huh?
This is-- This is my favorite.
This is the best lobster tail
in New York City right here.
-[waiter] Another espresso.
-Grazie.
[Sabino] These are the freshest
cannolis you're ever gonna have.
-Buon appetito.
-[Sabino] Buon appetito. Grazie.
-[Martin] Mm. Mm!
-[Chelsea] Wow!
[Martin] .
-[waiter] Gelato.
-[Sabino] Thank you so much, guys.
[Martin] I love pistachios.
[music concludes]
Food keeps coming.
I don't know when it's going to stop.
-It's not going to stop.
-I mean… It's not going to stop.
Sfogliatella, ice cream, cannoli, coffees…
-[Sabino] Lobster tail.
-…babà.
It's coming and coming and coming.
We're only six people here.
-Salute.
-[woman] Salute.
-Buon appetito. [speaks indistinctly]
-[woman] Buon appetito.
[speaking indistinctly]
[Martin] Despite the great changes
the city has undergone,
there is still a notable sense
of community in this neighborhood.
[Sabino] There he is.
-[Jake] Sabino.
-What's up, my guy? How are you?
-[Jake] How are you?
-Good to see you. How's everything?
-All right.
-Hi, this is my friend Martin.
-[Jake] How are you?
-This is Chelsea.
-Jake.
-Hello, I'm Chelsea.
-Great to meet you.
-You guys are in good hands.
-[Martin] This is the border?
-[Jake] Yes.
-From here starts Chinatown.
-[Jake] That's right.
-You’re ready to cross and enter?
-I am, I am.
[whimsical instrumental music playing]
[Martin] Two neighborhoods,
two communities.
Seven years ago,
it had very distinct boundaries,
but today it is completely mixed.
A cultural and tourist interconnection
that today defines this area of Manhattan.
[Jake] Chinatown's special.
It's really a way to tell the story
of New York in real time.
It's such a great representation
of culture, traditions.
This is also a living neighborhood, right?
It's not just a tourist neighborhood,
a tourist area.
People live here. This is daily life.
Like, this is living, breathing New York.
It's loud, it's noisy,
it's alive, and that's kind
of what makes Chinatown so cool.
[Martin] What can you get here?
Chinatown's really a place
where you can kind of discover
or acquire almost anything.
-Anything you want.
-Anything you want.
But you really do have to be willing to go
and explore in order to find the best.
[Martin] Jake,
our food guide in Chinatown,
seems to know the essential spots
that will make this experience complete.
-[Martin] Oh!
-[Chelsea gasps]
We have xiao long bao,
which is soup dumplings.
So there are two types of soup dumplings.
This one is pork and crab
filled with soup inside.
-And the bottom, pork.
-Oh, there's a secret compartment.
-Exactly. Yes.
-[chuckles]
And these are the bamboo steamers.
So they sit on a bed of water, basically,
that sends steam through
the bamboo to cook the dumplings.
So what I like to do
is tilt it a little away from you.
What you're going to do
is bite a little hole…
-Yes.
-…in the side and suck the soup out.
Remember, slurping is acceptable.
It's cool to make noise. It's okay.
This was something I was going to ask you.
-Yes.
-The sounds are…
-The sounds are appropriate.
-…are okay.
-[Chelsea] Are appropriate.
-Yes, it means you like it. Yes.
-Delicious, incredible.
-Taste of China, right here in New York.
-Absolutely.
-[laughs]
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] In the 1950s,
many Italian families
prospered and moved to the suburbs,
which allowed Chinatown
to absorb much of that territory.
The Asian community expanded,
going from seven populated blocks
to currently 55.
[Jake] What makes this cuisine
a little special and unique and different,
uh, is really that it's a blend,
a beautiful fusion, really,
of some classic Cantonese-style dishes
blended and fused with really influences
from Little Italy…
-Yeah.
-…and the surrounding neighborhoods.
-For example, this is fried rice.
-[Martin] Yes.
Um, instead of the-- the ham that
you might see in a traditional fried rice,
-they use mortadella…
-[Martin] Oh, mortadella.
…which is a really cool
and fun touch, you know?
Uh, the centerpiece is really this duck.
It's super beautiful.
The base is a romesco and hoisin sauce.
This one has olives in it.
-Again, that Mediterranean flavor.
-Mediterranean flavor.
Uh, this last one is,
uh, chili crab noodle.
There's, like,
really strong tomato-based flavor.
This is chef's, again,
-homage to the neighborhood…
-[Martin] Nice.
…and the fusion of these cuisines.
-Get a good noodle pull there.
-Wow.
-Yeah.
-[sniffs] Mm.
Mm.
-Chelsea?
-Yes, please.
-Mortadella.
-Have you ever had mortadella fried rice?
Yeah-- No. Fried rice, never in my life.
The duck is amazing because
it's like the-- the-- the freshness
-of the romesco sauce.
-Yeah.
[Martin] It's so good.
-[Jake] So good, right?
-[Martin] Oh, my god.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] This last stop
perfectly summarizes our story,
when two cultures come together
to create something unique and wonderful.
And that's where the magic
of this city lies,
in that assortment
that makes it so special.
Sons and grandsons of immigrants,
proud of their roots,
but 100% New Yorkers.
Immigration and New York,
a fascinating relationship
that today defines the city.
[music concludes]
[intriguing classical music playing]
Manhattan is undoubtedly
the best connected city
in the United States by train.
On days with sporting events,
there are trains with special schedules
to get people to the stadiums.
From Penn Station,
taking the New Jersey Transit,
you can reach what will be one
of the essential venues
of the next World Cup.
Welcome to the most important stadium
in the next World Cup,
a stadium with experience in finals,
Copa América, Gold Cup,
the Super Bowl, big concerts.
But there's one thing that is missing.
Hosting a World Cup final,
something that is going to happen in 2026.
[music concludes]
[soft instrumental music playing]
-Chris, nice to meet you
-Hello, Martin. Pleasure.
-Hello.
-Hello, pleasure to meet you.
Welcome to MetLife Stadium.
[Martin] Due to FIFA regulations that
prohibit the use of commercial names
during the next World Cup,
this venue will bear the official name
of New York-New Jersey Stadium.
How do you feel about having
the World Cup final in your house?
Why do you think
they have chosen the MetLife?
I think the fact
that we are New York, New Jersey,
it's an epicenter for people.
It's a life dream.
[Chelsea] For someone
that's never visited MetLife,
how would you describe
this stadium for the first time?
It's massive.
It's 2.1 million square feet,
almost 25,000
parking spaces on the property.
So it is a massive, massive footprint.
Yet once you get inside, the hospitality,
the way we try to make people feel welcome
and taken care of, I think really
shrinks the experience down
to something that people
are very impressed with.
[lively classical music playing]
[Martin] Home of the New York Jets,
a symbol of a shared
metropolitan identity.
Although the team has physically played
in New Jersey since 1984,
it remains deeply connected
with New York City.
One of the most loyal
and long-suffering fan bases
in the entire NFL.
A stadium with a capacity
of 82,500 spectators.
[Chris]
We're in the VRR control room,
which is on the surface level
of the stadium.
This serves as the nerve center
for everything you could possibly
see when you're a fan
from a fan experience standpoint
in the bowl.
How many people work here? I mean…
It looks like a huge TV control room.
[Chris] It is.
It's a huge TV control room.
More than two dozen people
work in here on game day.
There's a-- a--
I would call it a controlled chaos.
These folks in here are adept at pivoting
and reacting to moments in the game.
In addition, you know, they might be
pushing out prompts for the crowd
to try and help influence
the outcome on the field.
[Martin] In the next World Cup,
this stadium will host eight matches,
five group stage matches,
one round of 32 match,
one round of 16 match,
and the grand finale,
the final match, on July 19th.
So tell me, how do you feel standing here
in a stadium that will become legendary
after the final of the next World Cup?
Martin, this feels electric.
I mean, this stadium holds 80,000 people
and this is where the final
is going to be played for the World Cup.
[Martin] I can sense
that this stadium is ready.
This is where history
is gonna be made, Martin.
[sentimental classical music playing]
[music concludes]
[Martin] Chelsea, when I think
about Philadelphia,
I think of Sly Stallone, Rocky.
I mean, all those images come back to me.
It's so funny you mention
that because I love that movie,
but leave it to me. And actually,
we've been-- we've been traveling around
-to see stadiums, right?
-Yeah.
And Philadelphia is the first
U.S. city to build a sports stadium.
-[Martin] Really?
-[Chelsea] And they're the home
of the Philly cheesesteak,
which we have to try once we get there.
[Martin] Known
as the City of Brotherly Love,
we arrive at the historical epicenter
of the United States.
Welcome to Philadelphia.
And just as our guide anticipated,
this is the home of the most famous
sandwich in this country.
-[Frank O.] Hello, boys.
-[Martin] To get to know Philadelphia,
we must first try its food.
[Frank O.] This meat is beautiful.
Oh, my God.
The invention of the cheesesteak came
when one of the employees got tired
of eating sandwiches
with and without onions.
So one day,
he went down to one of the markets
and he bought some cheese.
And he put the provolone on his sandwich,
and he took a bite.
And one of the customers said,
"Wow, it looks really great."
If you made it for you,
you have to make it for them.
And that was the invention
of the Philly cheesesteak
in 19, like, 32.
I travel extensively,
and I see cheesesteaks in Italy.
I see cheesesteaks in France and England,
and, you know,
and we're doing the thing out in L.A.
Um, it's great to see that, you know,
a sandwich that my family created
has had so much impact
and is so near and dear
to so many different people.
[Martin] Is it difficult to make
a Philly cheesesteak sandwich?
If they can teach me how to make it,
we can teach you how to make it.
-Let's do it, then.
-All right, let's go.
-Wow.
-[Frank O.] Come on in.
-[Chelsea] Thank you.
-[Martin] Thank you.
What type of meat do you use?
So this is imported ribeye
from-- from Australia.
-Wow.
-Yeah.
So we'll see if I'm good
to prepare, during the World Cup,
the famous Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
[cheerful instrumental music playing]
-[Chelsea] Gotta put a little flair.
-[Martin] What is this?
[Frank O.] It's soybean oil.
I tell you something, smells so good.
-I mean…
-Does it?
[Martin] What is the secret? I mean …
The grill's very old,
so it's very seasoned.
There's been over
10,000 pounds per meat a week
-goes on this grill.
-Wow.
No-- No-- No exaggeration.
[Martin] Mm.
So there's no type
of seasoning that goes on this?
-No powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper?
-[Frank O.] No, nothing.
We're letting the meat speak for itself.
-[Martin] Cebolla. Onion.
-[Frank O.] Cebolla.
Okay. I'm going to get in over there.
Woo-hoo. Wow, this is fast, huh?
What type of cheese do you use?
This is Kraft Cheez Whiz.
This is our famous cheese.
So now grab the cheese like this.
-[Martin] I like the color.
-Go like that.
-[Martin] Woo-hoo.
-It's liquid gold.
Beautiful.
-[Frank O.] Cheers.
-Cheers.
Mm. Great combination.
The vinegar cuts through the fat.
-[Martin] Very good.
-[Chelsea] Delicious.
-Am I hired?
-I don't know. I don't think so.
You're much better looking
than I am, so no.
Can I come back for the World Cup
and have another cheesesteak sandwich?
-I'll be waiting in the window for you.
-That sounds like a deal.
-Thank you very much.
-[Frank O.] Thank you.
-[Chelsea] Bye. Nice to meet you.
-[Frank O.] Bye. Nice meeting you.
-Thank you very much.
-I'll see you next year.
-Yes, I will be here. Everything.
-I have a T-shirt and apron for you.
-All right.
-[Chelsea] Bye.
See you. Adios.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] This city is fundamental
to understanding
the history of this country,
the cradle of American democracy.
The Declaration of Independence
and the U.S. Constitution
were signed here.
And in sports,
they are not oblivious to their history.
The connection
with the community is so deep
that their professional teams
operate in a very particular space.
This is an incredible place,
an area that unites
all the important sport activities
here in Philadelphia.
Here is the Phillies Stadium.
Right in front of me,
the Sixers and the Flyers
have their own arena.
And right here, the World Cup stadium,
where the Eagles play here
in Philadelphia.
Here, sports are an expression
of resiliency and local pride,
defined by history
and a strong connection to the community.
That's why
Philadelphia's World Cup Stadium
has a unique initiative
with strong ties to the environment.
[Norman] We bleed green.
We also believe in green.
Sustainability is top of mind here.
We cycle.
Pretty much nothing goes to a landfill.
We have the largest solar power plant
of any stadium in the world.
We produce 40% of our own energy on site.
We purchase 60% recs
to be 100% clean energy in the stadium.
[Martin] An innovative proposal
for stadiums across the country,
which takes into account
the waste produced at each game.
More than 75 trash sorters
collect and separate waste,
leading the production of nearly
a ton of aluminum per season.
Inaugurated in 2003,
the home of NFL's Philadelphia Eagles
has almost 70,000 seats.
A stadium with advanced technology
and truly remarkable views.
Wow. Very unique and special, this place.
-How would you call it?
-The nest.
-[Martin] The nest?
-Yes.
-[Martin] Nice.
-Get it? Eagles, nest, you know? [laughs]
It makes sense.
It has the shape of a nest.
-And who has access to the nest?
-Corporate partner.
They put their clients in here.
It's a really incredible VIP space
to entertain your clients.
I can imagine the FIFA World Cup here,
-watching the game…
-Yeah.
-…enjoying the atmosphere…
-[Norman] Yeah.
…because you get to see the whole stadium.
-Hook me up, okay? Two seats.
-[laughs]
-Yes, please.
-If I can, I will. [laughs]
[Martin] The Philadelphia Stadium
will host six World Cup matches,
five group stage matches
and one round of 16 match.
[soft instrumental music playing]
Internationally, this city is recognized
for a very special reason,
a story of overcoming adversity
that has marked our relationship
with film and sports.
The movie Rocky,
a boxer from Philadelphia
who despite being a fictional character,
represents the effort
of the local working class,
taking elements from real fighters
like Rocky Marciano
or Chuck Wepner,
who inspired Sylvester Stallone
to develop an epic screenplay.
Today, we walk through the real locations
where those films were shot.
And we remember
the spirit of Philadelphia,
where a persevering fighter
triumphs through effort.
Visiting his gym and meeting real people
in search of a dream makes us reminisce.
[soft instrumental music continues]
[Martin] How big is Philly in terms
-of the development of boxers in the city?
-[Frank K.] Okay.
We had a lot of great champions up here
-and guys that fought for titles.
-[Martin] Why is that?
Because they came in here and worked.
They didn't play around.
In the old days, these were true,
true champions.
[Martin] I see a picture here.
-You're with Stallone here, Frank.
-[Frank K.] Stallone, yes.
-[Martin] What was the situation here?
-He was getting ready to shoot a scene.
So we had a lot of people
sitting on the side over there
and over here and all.
What does it mean for you that Stallone
was right here in your gym?
I thought it was good for the kids.
-It was a special day, was it?
-It was special for the neighborhood.
And, you know, like, they used the gym
because the gym had a good name.
You know, it wasn’t
one of these fly-by-nights.
It was a real gym.
It made the atmosphere of the--
of-- of the film.
[intense hip-hop music playing]
[grunts]
[Martin] Considered
the soul of American boxing,
Philadelphia has a tradition
that dates back
to the bare-knuckle fights
of the 19th century.
Dozens of world champions
in various categories
grew up in these neighborhoods.
And today, that hope remains intact.
-[fighter grunts]
-[Frank K.] Hey, G.
How you doing? Hands are sweaty.
-How are you? All good?
-I'm good. I'm good.
-How you doing?
-Very good.
-Training a little bit?
-A lot a bit.
Actually, this morning, yeah,
kind of busy this morning
for a Sunday morning.
It's cool, though.
It's the name of the game.
Fight with your feet, Swaby.
Fight with your feet.
Let your jab get you out of trouble.
Get around, get around,
get around, get around.
Get away from the ropes.
Too big, too big. Good.
[soft instrumental music playing]
[Martin] How cool is it to--
to work here every single day?
I think I take it for granted sometimes,
because I'm so used to it.
But moments like these remind me
of how special it really is
to be able to come here every day
and train in one
of the most historic gyms,
I think, in the country, if not the world.
It's like a boxing museum.
The first time I ever walked up the steps.
Even coming up the steps,
you notice there's a lot of pictures,
a lot of history.
It brings back a lot of memories,
and mostly a lot of fights
I only heard about when I was young.
So it's very special.
Vito, fight with your feet, Vito.
And keep your head moving.
Small steps, though. Stay relaxed.
Creed attracted the new generations…
-[George] Mm-hmm
-…uh, to boxing.
It did. Uh…
But the hardest thing nowadays
is getting the kids in the gym
because they have so many options,
the phone, you know,
-computer, tablet, distractions.
-Distractions.
So it's very hard getting them in the gym.
Uh, but it definitely
brings a lot of, um, attention
that normally we probably wouldn't get.
And to be honest, it brings a lot
of young professionals into the gym.
The young adult generation
has really taken to the sport in our city.
[lively soul music playing]
[Martin] Walking through this city
invites us to remember various moments,
and characters from the film.
To continue our exchange,
we visited Victor's Café,
Rocky Balboa's Italian restaurant,
known in the film as Adrian's.
Do people that come to this restaurant
know this was part of a Rocky film?
I think once you come in, you realize it.
Because I was, like you,
I thought-- I remember in the movie
it was called Adrian's.
As soon as we came in,
I recognized it from the movie, so.
And there's a painting
of Rocky Balboa in the back.
Right. I would say there's Rocky
and Apollo back there, yeah.
What was the impact of the film
for young boxers?
It made every young Italian boy
want to be a boxer.
Once they saw Rocky,
it's like the American dream.
A guy, you wouldn't say he came
from nothing,
but he came from basically being
a nobody as a fighter to getting a shot,
and he made the most
of his opportunity.
So it meant a lot. It's-- It's…
You know, it's inspirational.
[music concludes]
[intriguing instrumental music playing]
We couldn't leave Philadelphia
without visiting its iconic steps,
one of the most emblematic
cinematic sites in the world.
The city's Museum of Art is located here,
and it has become a meeting point
for the community and tourists alike.
[Chelsea] What do these steps
signify for a Philadelphian?
-[George] Tired thighs. [chuckles]
-[Chelsea laughing]
No, but honestly, it's like everybody
wants to run the stairs.
It's a tough run because the idea
is you're supposed to touch every step.
Every tourist kind of,
I wouldn't say dreams about doing it,
they look forward to doing it
once they come to the city.
The movie is actually about relationships.
A lot of the relationships he built
are the reason he kept pushing forward.
When you get knocked down to get back up,
you need some type of motivation,
whether it's family, um, legacy.
That's definitely what defines
Philadelphia as a whole.
[Martin] I love to get to know this city
from the perspective of its character,
because that's what Rocky shows,
-how the people in Philadelphia are.
-You're right.
By that movie, we were able to see
how resilient Philadelphians were.
By just seeing a movie
and him putting Philadelphia on the map.
Yes, the city is city of many firsts
and very important to American history.
The first hospital, first post office,
murals, statues.
It has a lot of great things.
But now internationally,
you have people traveling
wanting to know more
about the city because of that movie.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] With this feeling and this view,
we say goodbye to Philly.
This was Last Train to North America.
See you at the next stop.
[music concludes]
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[music concludes]
[Martin] Dawn breaks over New York City,
and the Hudson River
brings us a real-life story.
That of a wonderful city
where immigration has shaped its identity,
creating a cultural diversity
that defines everyday life in New York.
[Martin] I woke up this morning thinking,
staring at all the windows
and the amount of buildings that you see,
all the people that come to the city.
Not now, but from the beginning,
the immigration story of Manhattan.
Exactly, Martin. And this is
the perfect way to start our journey.
I'm taking you to Ellis Island,
where-- that's where
the immigrants would come in.
Remember that New York City
is based out of immigrants, the U.S.,
so we have to know the history.
At least 40% of Americans
can trace back a relative
that came through Ellis Island.
[Martin] With the Statue of Liberty
as a witness to this history,
today, we will discover
the gateway to immigration
in this very special city.
Welcome to a new station.
This is Last Train to North America.
[music concludes]
[theme music playing]
[Martin] Welcome,
this is Last Train to Russia.
And from here, we continue
with Last Train to Qatar.
This is the stadium that will host
the next World Cup final.
[theme music concludes]
[Martin] This is
Last Train to North America.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
We arrive at Ellis Island.
Located in New York Harbor,
it was the country's largest
immigrant entry point
between 1892 and 1954.
This is the dramatic staging point
where over 12 million immigrants
came into New York City
and the majority of them
went into America after that.
After they were inspected
and processed here,
then they went into America.
About 40% of Americans can trace
at least one member of their family
or one grandparent back to Ellis Island
through their lineage,
which is pretty incredible.
Ellis Island was meant to distinguish
between those immigrants
who were desirable
and those who were undesirable,
which is pretty strong language.
But 98% of the immigrants
who came in made it into the country.
So, it was a pretty
dramatic staging area here.
There's a lot of emotional energy
when you go inside this space.
You can really, really feel it.
[gentle instrumental music continues]
[Colin] These are 700,000
of the 12 million immigrants
that came in to Ellis Island.
Uh, people coming from everywhere
like Eastern Europe,
from Ireland, from Italy,
and pretty much all over the world.
If you came in through New York City,
you came through this building.
And these names here
are all memorialized by the relatives
that, um, wanted to put them here
on the grounds of the island itself.
[Martin] Ellis Island is a museum today.
And the plan for this island was to build
a country based on immigrants.
Right now, in the present,
there's another perspective.
There is a big debate
on immigration in this country.
That's why it's so important to be here
learning about the history
of the United States.
[sentimental instrumental music playing]
Martin, for me, it was important
to bring my partner of this trip
right here to Ellis Island,
because this is where it all started.
New York City is a blend of cultures.
And for me, I wouldn't be here
if my family didn't migrate
-through right here.
-Yeah.
It tells you the story
of so many immigrants.
You see New York is a melting pot.
You find people from so many places.
Well, it all started here, right?
It's definitely not easy
having to learn a new language,
a new culture, knowing absolutely nothing,
and starting from scratch.
That takes an insane amount
of courage to even start over
just for the future generations to follow.
[ship horn blares]
[music concludes]
[lively instrumental music playing]
[Martin] There is a close relationship
between the Italian community
and New York.
What began with a massive migration
due to the economic crisis
transformed into
a profound cultural influence
on New York's gastronomy
and popular traditions.
We're gonna go check
on the sauce over there.
All right? I wanna make sure
we do it right, yeah.
-He's doing tomato sauce, huh?
-[cook] Yeah.
-Pancetta, onion, olive oil, tomato.
-[cook] Onion.
The shape changes
the way that the sauce tastes.
Rigatoni,
it holds the sauce a little better.
[Martin] Today we will meet Sabino,
a food influencer with Italian roots,
who is ready to share his customs with us.
-[cook] What do you think?
-[Sabino] Al dente.
[lively instrumental music continues]
[Sabino] I hope you guys are hungry.
-Grande.
-[Chelsea] We are.
-[Martin] Sabino, grazie mille.
-[Chelsea] Grazie.
-[Sabino] Prego. Prego.
-[Martin] Oh, this looks delicious.
-[Sabino] So--
-We start for--
-I'm doing a vodka sauce first.
-Vodka sauce. Okay.
Vodka sauce.
[Sabino] Right now you hear a tarantella
in your head, right?
-You feel like you're at a wedding, right?
-[Martin] Wow.
We have a classic…
-Margherita pizza.
-Yeah.
Mozzarella, tomato, basil.
-You have to do it like this, right?
-Yeah.
-To eat it.
-Yeah, that's it. Look.
-It's not flying down, you know?
-Yeah.
-It's right there.
-[Martin laughs]
The crunch, the dough, the flour,
the sauce, everything is perfect.
[Martin] You go to Asia,
you go to South America,
you go to anywhere in Europe,
-and you have an Italian restaurant.
-That's right.
-[Martin] Why is that?
-It's the best food in the world.
-[Martin laughing]
-It's that simple.
-[Martin] Said by an Italian. [laughs]
-It-- [chuckles] It's very simple.
So, after the primi and secondi,
comes the dolci, no? And, huh…
And I want to take you to the oldest
Italian bakery in America.
What do you think?
Should we go for a little passeggiata?
-[Martin] That sounds great.
-You know, after we eat--
after we eat,
we've got to walk a little bit.
-[Martin] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
-But it's-- it's only a little bit.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
-Hi, my friend. How you doing?
-[chuckles]
What-- What do you sell here?
-Well, we sell bags and we sell scarves.
-[Sabino] Yeah.
-They come by and talk to you.
-[Sabino] Yeah.
-How long have you been here?
-Not too long, maybe 35 years.
-Not too long.
-Not too long.
-[laughs]
-Good luck to you guys.
-[Sabino] Thank you, pal. God bless.
-[Chelsea] Thank you. Thank you.
What's up?
[in Italian] Com'è? Tutto a posto?
-Non ci credo! Bene, bene.
-Come va?
-Da quanto sei qua?
-Un mesetto.
[in English] He's here for one month.
He just came off the boat.
[in Italian] Che bello vedervi!
Non ci credo. Wow.
[Martin, in English] Describe what
do you find in Little Italy?
You find magic.
Here's like, uh, the Italian-American
Disney world, you know?
It's special because it tells
the Italian-American dream.
You know, like when people
from the other side settled here
and they sacrificed everything
to make a better life for their family.
It's important to, like, try to push
the culture to-- to everyone, you know?
[Martin] Today, the state of New York
has the largest Italian population
in the country,
with more than 3 million inhabitants.
[upbeat pop music playing,
Manuel Benati "That's Amore for Me"]
[Martin] A journey to never
stop sharing customs.
Now it's time for dolce.
Le dico subito che un'italiana
Bella come lei ancora qui non c'è ♪
Innamorato di lei ♪
Innamorato di lei ♪
-[Chelsea] Hello.
-[Martin] Nice to meet you.
-How are you doing?
-How are you?
-Martin, nice to meet you.
-Hello.
Martin, you have some-- you have
20 dollars that you want to lose?
-Let me teach you.
-I want to learn.
-[woman] You wanna learn?
-Yeah.
[Sabino] This is called Scopa.
-Scopa, yeah.
-Scopa is when you clean the table.
My grandfather taught me
when I was a little kid.
-[Sabino] Espresso.
-[Martin] Espresso.
Espresso, cannolis, and a babà.
I see there, you can feel there's a sense
of friendship, community.
Especially when you know
you always can beat him.
-You know, it's easy.
-[chuckles]
It makes it more fun.
Mario, Martin, Giuseppe.
Mario, Martin.
[Martin] Okay!
-[all cheering]
-[Mario] Bravo!
[Martin] I was waiting for that.
I got a cannoli for you.
-Opa!
-Opa!
That's Napolitan, huh?
This is-- This is my favorite.
This is the best lobster tail
in New York City right here.
-[waiter] Another espresso.
-Grazie.
[Sabino] These are the freshest
cannolis you're ever gonna have.
-Buon appetito.
-[Sabino] Buon appetito. Grazie.
-[Martin] Mm. Mm!
-[Chelsea] Wow!
[Martin] .
-[waiter] Gelato.
-[Sabino] Thank you so much, guys.
[Martin] I love pistachios.
[music concludes]
Food keeps coming.
I don't know when it's going to stop.
-It's not going to stop.
-I mean… It's not going to stop.
Sfogliatella, ice cream, cannoli, coffees…
-[Sabino] Lobster tail.
-…babà.
It's coming and coming and coming.
We're only six people here.
-Salute.
-[woman] Salute.
-Buon appetito. [speaks indistinctly]
-[woman] Buon appetito.
[speaking indistinctly]
[Martin] Despite the great changes
the city has undergone,
there is still a notable sense
of community in this neighborhood.
[Sabino] There he is.
-[Jake] Sabino.
-What's up, my guy? How are you?
-[Jake] How are you?
-Good to see you. How's everything?
-All right.
-Hi, this is my friend Martin.
-[Jake] How are you?
-This is Chelsea.
-Jake.
-Hello, I'm Chelsea.
-Great to meet you.
-You guys are in good hands.
-[Martin] This is the border?
-[Jake] Yes.
-From here starts Chinatown.
-[Jake] That's right.
-You’re ready to cross and enter?
-I am, I am.
[whimsical instrumental music playing]
[Martin] Two neighborhoods,
two communities.
Seven years ago,
it had very distinct boundaries,
but today it is completely mixed.
A cultural and tourist interconnection
that today defines this area of Manhattan.
[Jake] Chinatown's special.
It's really a way to tell the story
of New York in real time.
It's such a great representation
of culture, traditions.
This is also a living neighborhood, right?
It's not just a tourist neighborhood,
a tourist area.
People live here. This is daily life.
Like, this is living, breathing New York.
It's loud, it's noisy,
it's alive, and that's kind
of what makes Chinatown so cool.
[Martin] What can you get here?
Chinatown's really a place
where you can kind of discover
or acquire almost anything.
-Anything you want.
-Anything you want.
But you really do have to be willing to go
and explore in order to find the best.
[Martin] Jake,
our food guide in Chinatown,
seems to know the essential spots
that will make this experience complete.
-[Martin] Oh!
-[Chelsea gasps]
We have xiao long bao,
which is soup dumplings.
So there are two types of soup dumplings.
This one is pork and crab
filled with soup inside.
-And the bottom, pork.
-Oh, there's a secret compartment.
-Exactly. Yes.
-[chuckles]
And these are the bamboo steamers.
So they sit on a bed of water, basically,
that sends steam through
the bamboo to cook the dumplings.
So what I like to do
is tilt it a little away from you.
What you're going to do
is bite a little hole…
-Yes.
-…in the side and suck the soup out.
Remember, slurping is acceptable.
It's cool to make noise. It's okay.
This was something I was going to ask you.
-Yes.
-The sounds are…
-The sounds are appropriate.
-…are okay.
-[Chelsea] Are appropriate.
-Yes, it means you like it. Yes.
-Delicious, incredible.
-Taste of China, right here in New York.
-Absolutely.
-[laughs]
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] In the 1950s,
many Italian families
prospered and moved to the suburbs,
which allowed Chinatown
to absorb much of that territory.
The Asian community expanded,
going from seven populated blocks
to currently 55.
[Jake] What makes this cuisine
a little special and unique and different,
uh, is really that it's a blend,
a beautiful fusion, really,
of some classic Cantonese-style dishes
blended and fused with really influences
from Little Italy…
-Yeah.
-…and the surrounding neighborhoods.
-For example, this is fried rice.
-[Martin] Yes.
Um, instead of the-- the ham that
you might see in a traditional fried rice,
-they use mortadella…
-[Martin] Oh, mortadella.
…which is a really cool
and fun touch, you know?
Uh, the centerpiece is really this duck.
It's super beautiful.
The base is a romesco and hoisin sauce.
This one has olives in it.
-Again, that Mediterranean flavor.
-Mediterranean flavor.
Uh, this last one is,
uh, chili crab noodle.
There's, like,
really strong tomato-based flavor.
This is chef's, again,
-homage to the neighborhood…
-[Martin] Nice.
…and the fusion of these cuisines.
-Get a good noodle pull there.
-Wow.
-Yeah.
-[sniffs] Mm.
Mm.
-Chelsea?
-Yes, please.
-Mortadella.
-Have you ever had mortadella fried rice?
Yeah-- No. Fried rice, never in my life.
The duck is amazing because
it's like the-- the-- the freshness
-of the romesco sauce.
-Yeah.
[Martin] It's so good.
-[Jake] So good, right?
-[Martin] Oh, my god.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] This last stop
perfectly summarizes our story,
when two cultures come together
to create something unique and wonderful.
And that's where the magic
of this city lies,
in that assortment
that makes it so special.
Sons and grandsons of immigrants,
proud of their roots,
but 100% New Yorkers.
Immigration and New York,
a fascinating relationship
that today defines the city.
[music concludes]
[intriguing classical music playing]
Manhattan is undoubtedly
the best connected city
in the United States by train.
On days with sporting events,
there are trains with special schedules
to get people to the stadiums.
From Penn Station,
taking the New Jersey Transit,
you can reach what will be one
of the essential venues
of the next World Cup.
Welcome to the most important stadium
in the next World Cup,
a stadium with experience in finals,
Copa América, Gold Cup,
the Super Bowl, big concerts.
But there's one thing that is missing.
Hosting a World Cup final,
something that is going to happen in 2026.
[music concludes]
[soft instrumental music playing]
-Chris, nice to meet you
-Hello, Martin. Pleasure.
-Hello.
-Hello, pleasure to meet you.
Welcome to MetLife Stadium.
[Martin] Due to FIFA regulations that
prohibit the use of commercial names
during the next World Cup,
this venue will bear the official name
of New York-New Jersey Stadium.
How do you feel about having
the World Cup final in your house?
Why do you think
they have chosen the MetLife?
I think the fact
that we are New York, New Jersey,
it's an epicenter for people.
It's a life dream.
[Chelsea] For someone
that's never visited MetLife,
how would you describe
this stadium for the first time?
It's massive.
It's 2.1 million square feet,
almost 25,000
parking spaces on the property.
So it is a massive, massive footprint.
Yet once you get inside, the hospitality,
the way we try to make people feel welcome
and taken care of, I think really
shrinks the experience down
to something that people
are very impressed with.
[lively classical music playing]
[Martin] Home of the New York Jets,
a symbol of a shared
metropolitan identity.
Although the team has physically played
in New Jersey since 1984,
it remains deeply connected
with New York City.
One of the most loyal
and long-suffering fan bases
in the entire NFL.
A stadium with a capacity
of 82,500 spectators.
[Chris]
We're in the VRR control room,
which is on the surface level
of the stadium.
This serves as the nerve center
for everything you could possibly
see when you're a fan
from a fan experience standpoint
in the bowl.
How many people work here? I mean…
It looks like a huge TV control room.
[Chris] It is.
It's a huge TV control room.
More than two dozen people
work in here on game day.
There's a-- a--
I would call it a controlled chaos.
These folks in here are adept at pivoting
and reacting to moments in the game.
In addition, you know, they might be
pushing out prompts for the crowd
to try and help influence
the outcome on the field.
[Martin] In the next World Cup,
this stadium will host eight matches,
five group stage matches,
one round of 32 match,
one round of 16 match,
and the grand finale,
the final match, on July 19th.
So tell me, how do you feel standing here
in a stadium that will become legendary
after the final of the next World Cup?
Martin, this feels electric.
I mean, this stadium holds 80,000 people
and this is where the final
is going to be played for the World Cup.
[Martin] I can sense
that this stadium is ready.
This is where history
is gonna be made, Martin.
[sentimental classical music playing]
[music concludes]
[Martin] Chelsea, when I think
about Philadelphia,
I think of Sly Stallone, Rocky.
I mean, all those images come back to me.
It's so funny you mention
that because I love that movie,
but leave it to me. And actually,
we've been-- we've been traveling around
-to see stadiums, right?
-Yeah.
And Philadelphia is the first
U.S. city to build a sports stadium.
-[Martin] Really?
-[Chelsea] And they're the home
of the Philly cheesesteak,
which we have to try once we get there.
[Martin] Known
as the City of Brotherly Love,
we arrive at the historical epicenter
of the United States.
Welcome to Philadelphia.
And just as our guide anticipated,
this is the home of the most famous
sandwich in this country.
-[Frank O.] Hello, boys.
-[Martin] To get to know Philadelphia,
we must first try its food.
[Frank O.] This meat is beautiful.
Oh, my God.
The invention of the cheesesteak came
when one of the employees got tired
of eating sandwiches
with and without onions.
So one day,
he went down to one of the markets
and he bought some cheese.
And he put the provolone on his sandwich,
and he took a bite.
And one of the customers said,
"Wow, it looks really great."
If you made it for you,
you have to make it for them.
And that was the invention
of the Philly cheesesteak
in 19, like, 32.
I travel extensively,
and I see cheesesteaks in Italy.
I see cheesesteaks in France and England,
and, you know,
and we're doing the thing out in L.A.
Um, it's great to see that, you know,
a sandwich that my family created
has had so much impact
and is so near and dear
to so many different people.
[Martin] Is it difficult to make
a Philly cheesesteak sandwich?
If they can teach me how to make it,
we can teach you how to make it.
-Let's do it, then.
-All right, let's go.
-Wow.
-[Frank O.] Come on in.
-[Chelsea] Thank you.
-[Martin] Thank you.
What type of meat do you use?
So this is imported ribeye
from-- from Australia.
-Wow.
-Yeah.
So we'll see if I'm good
to prepare, during the World Cup,
the famous Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
[cheerful instrumental music playing]
-[Chelsea] Gotta put a little flair.
-[Martin] What is this?
[Frank O.] It's soybean oil.
I tell you something, smells so good.
-I mean…
-Does it?
[Martin] What is the secret? I mean …
The grill's very old,
so it's very seasoned.
There's been over
10,000 pounds per meat a week
-goes on this grill.
-Wow.
No-- No-- No exaggeration.
[Martin] Mm.
So there's no type
of seasoning that goes on this?
-No powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper?
-[Frank O.] No, nothing.
We're letting the meat speak for itself.
-[Martin] Cebolla. Onion.
-[Frank O.] Cebolla.
Okay. I'm going to get in over there.
Woo-hoo. Wow, this is fast, huh?
What type of cheese do you use?
This is Kraft Cheez Whiz.
This is our famous cheese.
So now grab the cheese like this.
-[Martin] I like the color.
-Go like that.
-[Martin] Woo-hoo.
-It's liquid gold.
Beautiful.
-[Frank O.] Cheers.
-Cheers.
Mm. Great combination.
The vinegar cuts through the fat.
-[Martin] Very good.
-[Chelsea] Delicious.
-Am I hired?
-I don't know. I don't think so.
You're much better looking
than I am, so no.
Can I come back for the World Cup
and have another cheesesteak sandwich?
-I'll be waiting in the window for you.
-That sounds like a deal.
-Thank you very much.
-[Frank O.] Thank you.
-[Chelsea] Bye. Nice to meet you.
-[Frank O.] Bye. Nice meeting you.
-Thank you very much.
-I'll see you next year.
-Yes, I will be here. Everything.
-I have a T-shirt and apron for you.
-All right.
-[Chelsea] Bye.
See you. Adios.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] This city is fundamental
to understanding
the history of this country,
the cradle of American democracy.
The Declaration of Independence
and the U.S. Constitution
were signed here.
And in sports,
they are not oblivious to their history.
The connection
with the community is so deep
that their professional teams
operate in a very particular space.
This is an incredible place,
an area that unites
all the important sport activities
here in Philadelphia.
Here is the Phillies Stadium.
Right in front of me,
the Sixers and the Flyers
have their own arena.
And right here, the World Cup stadium,
where the Eagles play here
in Philadelphia.
Here, sports are an expression
of resiliency and local pride,
defined by history
and a strong connection to the community.
That's why
Philadelphia's World Cup Stadium
has a unique initiative
with strong ties to the environment.
[Norman] We bleed green.
We also believe in green.
Sustainability is top of mind here.
We cycle.
Pretty much nothing goes to a landfill.
We have the largest solar power plant
of any stadium in the world.
We produce 40% of our own energy on site.
We purchase 60% recs
to be 100% clean energy in the stadium.
[Martin] An innovative proposal
for stadiums across the country,
which takes into account
the waste produced at each game.
More than 75 trash sorters
collect and separate waste,
leading the production of nearly
a ton of aluminum per season.
Inaugurated in 2003,
the home of NFL's Philadelphia Eagles
has almost 70,000 seats.
A stadium with advanced technology
and truly remarkable views.
Wow. Very unique and special, this place.
-How would you call it?
-The nest.
-[Martin] The nest?
-Yes.
-[Martin] Nice.
-Get it? Eagles, nest, you know? [laughs]
It makes sense.
It has the shape of a nest.
-And who has access to the nest?
-Corporate partner.
They put their clients in here.
It's a really incredible VIP space
to entertain your clients.
I can imagine the FIFA World Cup here,
-watching the game…
-Yeah.
-…enjoying the atmosphere…
-[Norman] Yeah.
…because you get to see the whole stadium.
-Hook me up, okay? Two seats.
-[laughs]
-Yes, please.
-If I can, I will. [laughs]
[Martin] The Philadelphia Stadium
will host six World Cup matches,
five group stage matches
and one round of 16 match.
[soft instrumental music playing]
Internationally, this city is recognized
for a very special reason,
a story of overcoming adversity
that has marked our relationship
with film and sports.
The movie Rocky,
a boxer from Philadelphia
who despite being a fictional character,
represents the effort
of the local working class,
taking elements from real fighters
like Rocky Marciano
or Chuck Wepner,
who inspired Sylvester Stallone
to develop an epic screenplay.
Today, we walk through the real locations
where those films were shot.
And we remember
the spirit of Philadelphia,
where a persevering fighter
triumphs through effort.
Visiting his gym and meeting real people
in search of a dream makes us reminisce.
[soft instrumental music continues]
[Martin] How big is Philly in terms
-of the development of boxers in the city?
-[Frank K.] Okay.
We had a lot of great champions up here
-and guys that fought for titles.
-[Martin] Why is that?
Because they came in here and worked.
They didn't play around.
In the old days, these were true,
true champions.
[Martin] I see a picture here.
-You're with Stallone here, Frank.
-[Frank K.] Stallone, yes.
-[Martin] What was the situation here?
-He was getting ready to shoot a scene.
So we had a lot of people
sitting on the side over there
and over here and all.
What does it mean for you that Stallone
was right here in your gym?
I thought it was good for the kids.
-It was a special day, was it?
-It was special for the neighborhood.
And, you know, like, they used the gym
because the gym had a good name.
You know, it wasn’t
one of these fly-by-nights.
It was a real gym.
It made the atmosphere of the--
of-- of the film.
[intense hip-hop music playing]
[grunts]
[Martin] Considered
the soul of American boxing,
Philadelphia has a tradition
that dates back
to the bare-knuckle fights
of the 19th century.
Dozens of world champions
in various categories
grew up in these neighborhoods.
And today, that hope remains intact.
-[fighter grunts]
-[Frank K.] Hey, G.
How you doing? Hands are sweaty.
-How are you? All good?
-I'm good. I'm good.
-How you doing?
-Very good.
-Training a little bit?
-A lot a bit.
Actually, this morning, yeah,
kind of busy this morning
for a Sunday morning.
It's cool, though.
It's the name of the game.
Fight with your feet, Swaby.
Fight with your feet.
Let your jab get you out of trouble.
Get around, get around,
get around, get around.
Get away from the ropes.
Too big, too big. Good.
[soft instrumental music playing]
[Martin] How cool is it to--
to work here every single day?
I think I take it for granted sometimes,
because I'm so used to it.
But moments like these remind me
of how special it really is
to be able to come here every day
and train in one
of the most historic gyms,
I think, in the country, if not the world.
It's like a boxing museum.
The first time I ever walked up the steps.
Even coming up the steps,
you notice there's a lot of pictures,
a lot of history.
It brings back a lot of memories,
and mostly a lot of fights
I only heard about when I was young.
So it's very special.
Vito, fight with your feet, Vito.
And keep your head moving.
Small steps, though. Stay relaxed.
Creed attracted the new generations…
-[George] Mm-hmm
-…uh, to boxing.
It did. Uh…
But the hardest thing nowadays
is getting the kids in the gym
because they have so many options,
the phone, you know,
-computer, tablet, distractions.
-Distractions.
So it's very hard getting them in the gym.
Uh, but it definitely
brings a lot of, um, attention
that normally we probably wouldn't get.
And to be honest, it brings a lot
of young professionals into the gym.
The young adult generation
has really taken to the sport in our city.
[lively soul music playing]
[Martin] Walking through this city
invites us to remember various moments,
and characters from the film.
To continue our exchange,
we visited Victor's Café,
Rocky Balboa's Italian restaurant,
known in the film as Adrian's.
Do people that come to this restaurant
know this was part of a Rocky film?
I think once you come in, you realize it.
Because I was, like you,
I thought-- I remember in the movie
it was called Adrian's.
As soon as we came in,
I recognized it from the movie, so.
And there's a painting
of Rocky Balboa in the back.
Right. I would say there's Rocky
and Apollo back there, yeah.
What was the impact of the film
for young boxers?
It made every young Italian boy
want to be a boxer.
Once they saw Rocky,
it's like the American dream.
A guy, you wouldn't say he came
from nothing,
but he came from basically being
a nobody as a fighter to getting a shot,
and he made the most
of his opportunity.
So it meant a lot. It's-- It's…
You know, it's inspirational.
[music concludes]
[intriguing instrumental music playing]
We couldn't leave Philadelphia
without visiting its iconic steps,
one of the most emblematic
cinematic sites in the world.
The city's Museum of Art is located here,
and it has become a meeting point
for the community and tourists alike.
[Chelsea] What do these steps
signify for a Philadelphian?
-[George] Tired thighs. [chuckles]
-[Chelsea laughing]
No, but honestly, it's like everybody
wants to run the stairs.
It's a tough run because the idea
is you're supposed to touch every step.
Every tourist kind of,
I wouldn't say dreams about doing it,
they look forward to doing it
once they come to the city.
The movie is actually about relationships.
A lot of the relationships he built
are the reason he kept pushing forward.
When you get knocked down to get back up,
you need some type of motivation,
whether it's family, um, legacy.
That's definitely what defines
Philadelphia as a whole.
[Martin] I love to get to know this city
from the perspective of its character,
because that's what Rocky shows,
-how the people in Philadelphia are.
-You're right.
By that movie, we were able to see
how resilient Philadelphians were.
By just seeing a movie
and him putting Philadelphia on the map.
Yes, the city is city of many firsts
and very important to American history.
The first hospital, first post office,
murals, statues.
It has a lot of great things.
But now internationally,
you have people traveling
wanting to know more
about the city because of that movie.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] With this feeling and this view,
we say goodbye to Philly.
This was Last Train to North America.
See you at the next stop.
[music concludes]
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[music concludes]