London and NYC, love hearts and stats...

As if made just for this blog, the people at  expedia.co.uk have been gathering sources from all over the shop and have come up with a list comparing the two wonderful metropolises, suggesting you might 'heart' one of them more...humm, is it possible?

My NYC blog ebook is very close to being published, and will be free to all my blog readers, so join up to the blog- or drop me your email, meanwhile I thought it was worth examining the list...

• NYC has more people per sq mile and London being bigger than NYC, is able to spread more people out.

When you live on Manhattan Island it's clear you live on a little Island, and there will be pretty much no street that you're on alone any time of the day.

Then the obvious -

• NYC enjoys warmer temperatures in the Summer, but much colder winters, and wetter months.

• Public transport is cheaper in the Big Apple including Taxi's. NYC so much more affordable than London in this respect, and you can go much further on less money.

• Shopping if you're so inclined, is not surprisingly widely available in both cities, and with the pound not so strong, it's not so much a bargain anymore for UK shoppers. Besides there's so much more to do in both cities culturally, artistically and to eat and drink than shopping..just flick through this blog.

• London clearly has more green spaces and parks, easily taken for granted till you live in NY and see the kids playgrounds one called 'Diana Ross Park' inside Central Park near 84th West playing with a concrete floor, very unimaginative and a bit depressing in winter...
• Still I disagree with the list, it misses out my fave park in London- Primrose Hill, wonderful views and fab atmosphere chilling out in the summer sunshine, with Camden Lock Market just down the hill

In my opinion in NYC the best park by far, and I'm talking Manhattan here, is Central Park, no contest. See my posts. So many different areas to explore, a zoo, a theater, a boathouse lake with a restaurant and bar, any season and this place is amazing and accessible- they even sweep the paths in the snow. Then there's the absolutely amazing wildlife- raccoons, hawks, turtles, not to mention over a quarter of all the bird species found in the United States have been seen in Central Park and the squirrels have fearless attitude, one jumped down to press my open handed glove, searching me for food.

• As for pictures... I think skylines of both cities are much more snapped up, because they're ubiquitous. Especially in NYC because as a tourist or a resident, lets face it, you're going to be inside a tall building at some point in your day, and the view will probably be amazing...

Let me know which city you 'heart' more and why, or why you love them both and refuse to choose, comments below...

more thoughts of the people and lifestyle in NYC

Okay so given that 'thoughts of the people of NYC' was never meant to be an exhaustive post/list, I thought it was high time I did a part two of this post!

It's been one of the most popular read posts on this blog, and 'Ella's' comment from that post, has inspired me to update my experience now that we've been here a almost year now! Time flies!

In a year, I've had some great 'people experiences' both making friends and chatting to strangers, I've detailed this in subsequent posts.
I love that everyone is from everywhere here, you never feel like you're foreign!
I still feel NYC is very different from anywhere else in the US, this city is intense and it changes you, as a move anywhere will I guess.
Working hours are long, and holiday allocation is short- two weeks, we get five in Europe.
There is no EU to protect working hours. Sometimes that's their own ambition (like in London, I know), sometimes it's expected, sometimes necessity warrants it, but it's kinda the norm, work/life balance can be ignored, or at least messed with sometimes- this can happen in any big city, I know, London is the same for some, it just feels much more intense here.

Eat out or order in/get delivery, don't cook-space is a commodity and kitchens are tiny- a sort of afterthought-in most apartments, shopping and cooking fresh food is difficult and more expensive. Great thing here is that the supermarket will deliver your food after you have shopped for it, for about $8! No more lugging 4 or 5 plastic bags on the bus home, and they even put it into bags for you.
Washing clothes, is usually in your own home in London, but in NYC you usually drop them off to the Launderette or such service or do them in the Laundry room in the basement of your building like I do.

Of course you know how apartments are really small in Manhattan from the shock in my earlier blog posts. Noise in Manhattan is ubiquitous, all hours of the day, even in Central park.

I learned that many people have a place outside Manhattan to retreat to, else they plan on being here for a while, to establish themselves, to take what they want and need from the vibrancy that exists in a city that never sleeps, then move elsewhere, like greater New York, to settle or have kids much like Monica and Chandler in Friends. (Sorry for being cheesy-It's the closest example I could think of!) again, London is, of course, the same for some. Space and house prices being at a premium, true city tradition.

So with such intensity, I guess it is natural that some people will feel the need to let off steam, or talk loud to draw attention, or loose some politeness to just get through their day. Paitence here is a commodity.
Even if you're not looking to live here, a native New Yorker offers some advice to would-be tourists via some firm dont's in her post!  She's very sweet really:)
 
That said, I have to say, you do get used to it, I'm determined to stay a kind, civil human being, but I am no longer averse to matching someones arrogance or rudeness.
It pays off, and people seem to accept and respect it and I no longer get as offended as I used to.
I've finally found my rhythm here, I feel lucky to have this experience. The subway and buses are great to get around, it's a great city, exciting with neighbourhoods with their own distinctive persona's, much like London does.
I do enjoy the mix of people, and accessibility of things and of course.. Central Park is somewhere I couldn't be without!