Don't even know how to explain this...
Honestly, I do not even know where to start. I have only been living there for 1 year and it has been absolutely amazing.
Yes, there are rats, cockroaches, the subway smells terrible and it is terribly hot in the summertime even waiting for the subway only, you feel like in a hot yoga place but without the relaxation. Living and going out is expensive (but hey it is NYC and you will find affordable tasty places and shops!) but as a waitress, your tips will pay for it. It is also THE place in the western world where I saw way too many Homeless people on the streets of Manhattan. If you look closely they are at every corner in the city. However, after all these negative comments, I can't deny that I absolutely fell in love with the city and I have spectacular memories of my year there. Of course I wanted to stay longer but as every other foreigner knows, the visa is just a pain in the ass to get. I was more then grateful for having the chance to live there. Another reason why I couldn't stay, didn't get another Visa.
I started my journey in Harlem staying at a friends place (Love you guys!). Honestly it is quite a cool place and getting more hip and more expensive too. It has a pretty good connection with the subway into city. So if you're ever consider living there, anything starting Central Park north 110st station until up to 135 Street West is good to stay.
But my favorite is actually where my second place was, Astoria in Queens. I lived on 34th street and 31st avenue.
With Sweet Afton Bar right at the corner of 34th and 30th avenue and Bareburger down the block on 31st avenue. Both my love to go places! There is also this excellent bagel places that my housemate showed me and it's awesome!! Perfect for hungovers! It is called Brookly Bagel & Coffee, even though they have no outlets in Brooklyn! 3 in Astoria and 1 in Manhattan. DELICIOUS! Astoria is great! I am pretty sure the other boroughs of NYC are great too but you know the feeling when you just connect to your neighborhood. You find little shops that you like and know where to go etc. Lots of Greeks over there and obviously Latinos but they are all over NYC anyway :)
One thing I loved about NYC was that you would never ever get bored. Either you can stay at home and watch your favorite TV show, order in or you can do anything else you want! So many eateries, bars, places to shop, museums, great parks or just wander around and walk over the Brooklyn bridge and take a look at that amazing view. I saw once this Quote at a Train station and it said "Something's happening here, if you're bored in New York, it's your own fault."
Going to NYC was always one of my dreams and I would do it all over again. I gained friends, bit of weight as you always do when you move to the States, experiences dramatic passionate Love, amazing memories with friends and lived all four seasons. In October '12 I met Sandy, a not so lovely Hurricane that made quite a mess. More to Sandy and my experience click here.
I absolutely recommend living for a bit or longer in NYC if you can. Either way, even if you don't like it that much, it will give you unforgettable moments. I shall keep them to myself :)
My favorite tall Building of the City is the Rockefeller Center. In NYC they say you either love the iconic Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building or the Rockefeller Center. I personally think that the view from the Rockefeller Center is incredible and you can look right at the Empire State Building and have a 360 degree view over the entire city. Love it! During Christmas time of course who doesn't know the famous Christmas tree that is build next to the ice skating ring and light up via countdown. Christmas in NYC is anyway so pretty! Lights and decorations everywhere and if you are lucky enough it will snow. Trust me though, it is very, very cold. I refused to stand outside all night on New Year's Eve.
A Bar that I highly recommend, not necessarily because of Service or Drinks, it's because of the view and the ambiance during summer time. It's called 230 Fifth hence the address 230 Fifth Av. of corner of 27th Street. So, so worth it during Summertime for a couple of drinks and amazing view especially if you have visitors around. A place worth mentioning but probably more because of endless nights of drinking and eating with my colleagues after work is PJ Clark's across Lincoln Center. Very friendly service (sit at the Bar!), good comfort food and delicious oysters even after midnight. I am pretty sure I have been there so many times, some of them I might not even remember (my friend Tequila, his fault).
My favorite Part of my working day was walking through Central Park. Yes, the biggest Park in NYC and so beautiful in each season of the year. NYC is naturally loud, fast and happening. Once you enter Central Park, it becomes so much quieter and you stare into the park, surrounded by all the tall Buildings, thinking "Wow, I am in New York City...". This also happened if you have a little something to smoke after work and stare into the night, just saying! Usually this feeling overcame me also at the most hated place of all real New Yorkers, TIMES SQUARE. Honestly, I love it there! While every New Yorker is more like "Oh god let's not meet at Times Square, so crowded, too many tourists, too loud, etc." Well, it's true but seeing it only in the movies and then finally with my own eyes stunned me.
As you can read, I LOVE NYC. So please, leave me your comments on what you think about this great City or not. I hope I get to see you soon NYC.
K
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