There is always a fascinating story to discover in New York
Friends, Girls, Sex and the City, Pretend it's a city, Manhattan, Something to remember... There are many series and movies that we can blame for our everlasting love for New York , the ones that have made us fantasize a thousand times about living in it.
The Spanish emilio perez he has achieved it. In fact, he has been living in the city that never sleeps for almost eight years. "My professional field, architecture , I was a bit stuck at the time (to use a benevolent term) and I decided to take the leap and try to use my training and experience in a new place, "he tells Traveler.es." A city like New York is quite demanding and competitive , but with such a dynamic economy, the truth is that it also offers many opportunities for those willing to accept its challenges".
Already in 2014, Pérez premiered his podcast, A minute in New York in which he speaks, and he speaks, about everything that catches his attention in the capital of the world. "The motivation to deal with one topic or another generally comes from simple observations or ideas that come when I walk through the streets, enter for some reason in a building that I did not know or visit one of the city's museums", explains the architect.
"These are things and places that catch my attention and inspire me to want to investigate a little more about their meaning and origin. An example of this could be the episode dedicated to street vendors of Christmas trees that we are used to seeing every year on the streets of the city. Discovering that these are people who, in some cases, came and went from far away to dedicate themselves to this type of sale during the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas, motivated me to investigate more about them and discover curious stories about their lives".
The SantaCon, the city's famous water tanks, the story of the Valencian architect who shaped several New York icons, the usual dirtiness of the city, bicycle theft , the most decorated neighborhood during the holidays, the secrets of Korea Town, the atmosphere of election nights... the topics covered in A minute in... cover a multitude of aspects and curiosities about the city.
It is also possible to find chapters on history - How did NY become a safe city? Why is the Singer Building Manhattan's Lost Skyscraper? -, comments on especially important news such as heavy snowfalls or demonstrations and even information on the best places to eat, drink and party . In short, everything that you have ever wondered about the city that never sleeps -and that which had not even occurred to you to think that it could exist- is in its almost 200 podcasts of him.
**IS IT REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET BORED LIVING IN NEW YORK? **
The large number of topics covered by the program gives us an idea of what fiction has always led us to suspect: it is impossible to get bored in New York. Pérez confirms that this is the case: "Let's be in the season of the year, it's not hard to find a reason to get out of the house and do something different every week, or even every day , if you have enough time and energy after attending to your daily obligations. There is always a neighborhood where you have been told that there is a good pizzeria, or a pleasant cafe where you can meet a friend, an exhibition, a park to visit or a beach where you can go for a walk on a sunny day", he tells us .
That is, in fact, one of the things that the architect likes most about the city. What less? "On the negative side -although this is in the DNA of the inhabitant of New York- I would place that, being such a large city, it is necessary to plan your trips well, especially if you are going to use public transport , as it is important to know the optimal combinations so as not to spend more time on it than is strictly necessary for your journey, or come across an unexpected change in the metro or bus service".
EXPERT TIPS FOR VISITING NEW YORK
Precisely in order not to waste time on public transport, Pérez considers it essential "to use one of the mobile applications that provide you with the real-time status of public transport , and even have an app like Uber or similar handy for when you go out at night and want to get back to your accommodation quickly."
The advice goes to any traveler spending time in the city, but if it's your first time in New York, here are a few more: " For a first visit, five or six days would be the minimum. Also, I would recommend making the trip in the months of may or june , which are the ones that have the best relationship between pleasant temperatures and hours of sunlight".
When you arrive, "it would be unfair to exclude the iconic places that we all know and that, at least once, should be seen, such as the Empire State Building , Midtown Manhattan or the Financial District of lower Manhattan," says Pérez. "But I would also recommend not limiting yourself exclusively or spending too much time in these places considered 'typical' and, perhaps, set aside a day to delve into the different more purely residential neighborhoods of Manhattan, as Chelsea, Greenwich Village or the Upper West Side".
"I wouldn't limit myself to just exploring Manhattan (which is actually only a fifth of New York City), but would also recommend getting to know some of the other boroughs like Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Williamsburg or Greenpoint and even, queens (a generally very unknown borough), with its very accessible area, from Grand Central Terminal, Long Island City and its wonderful parks on the East River, with direct views of midtown," says Pérez, who tells us that, this summer, the atmosphere that is breathed in the city is "of generalized reopening".
2021: NEW YORK IS WAITING FOR US
"The summer of 2020 was very particular and, to some extent, strange, with the city at minimum occupancy levels and its residents trying to make the most of its parks and beaches with outdoor gatherings and impromptu picnics, which were the best way to reconnect with friends after the harsh spring months of this year. There was also meetings on the terraces and outdoor kiosks created by the bars and restaurants within the municipal policy of Open Restaurants that filled, and still continue to fill this year, many areas normally dedicated to vehicle parking on many streets", recalls Pérez.
This year, the city is once again looking forward to to welcome its hitherto thriving tourism . Joe Biden, president of the United States, has stated that it is a matter of days before air traffic between Europe and his country is restored. "It is easily noticeable in the most typical tourist areas, such as the surroundings of Times Square, where you can see many new stores and establishments almost ready to open," concludes the specialist.