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!

Hot, hot, hot with melting cables

Over heating on the tube/subway stations and water shortages and restrictions, are familiar in London.
Temperatures in NY today were  40degrees! (103F) - it gets hotter when you add the humidty into the mix.
It's so hot that electric cables are melting and the electric company have issued guidance on using less electricity, short showers and run the dishwasher only at night.

But more importantly they've advised people not to go outside into these temperatures unless you really need to - a 'Heat advisory' -I've only ever heard this about cold weather! Who knew..

New Yorker ways..

We finally have the keys and bought the basic furniture for our new home, and we move in officially on Friday :) happy days! We will move from the very noisy neighbourhood of the Lower East side, and up by the park in the Upper West!!
Though I will need to live without my creature comforts like a dishwasher (I guess I am spoiled) and even a washing machine in the house. I'm gonna have to go to the base of our building to get it done... feels a bit like a student. So instead of boring you with my week of waiting for furniture to arrive and buying mattresses and other such exciting events I thought I'd include some of the things I've noticed that are culturally different, sometimes traffic conscious, sometimes funny, sometimes fashion focused....

Crossing the street

London-
Wait on the pavement for the green man to show when it's time to cross.
Or leg it quickly with a decent gap in the traffic.
New York-
Walk into a road, where traffic is coming thick and fast, straight past you one option is to wait for the 'white man' signal (I've no idea what else to call it -we call it red and green man!) and cross safely.
Another is to stand in the road- literally the road- even if the flashing red hand is going-walk across anyway, and if there is a car coming then wave it away with your hand (as if this is going to stop a hunk of metal crashing into you) whilst finishing with a run- I saw someone do this- the shock stopped me from getting my camera out in time.

But it has to be said with the traffic rule of it being 'OK to turn right on a red', Car's will not always adhere to giving way to the pedestrians, so you need to kinda stand in their way- I saw a man get nudged by a van the other day..

Messages on the Tube/Subway
London-We have posters that say please mind the gap between the train and the platform or announce 'Mind the gap'
New York- Have a poster that says 'Stay stylish, stay aware.. no matter what your footwear is, step over the gap' such a fashion conscious city, not really warning you of getting mangeled between the train and the platform, but first order of the day is to 'stay stylish ;)'

Bars
London- You sit with you mates and have a few Beers enjoy the evening bantering with your group, get hammered, you go home.
New York- You might start sitting with your mates, then start chatting to the table next to you, then perhaps the whole bar (if right layout) and have a great laugh with total strangers. You'll also add a dollar to every drink you buy to 'tip' the barman to kinda do his job, but on the plus side he'll buy you drinks back if you're at the bar long enough, and that's a nice few free beers..you get hammered, you go home.

I'm sure I'll be adding to this! more pictures to follow..

A little get away to Nantucket and the beer drinking Squirrel

To ease our transition and to get more acclimatised, the boyfriend suggested we take a long weekend down to Nantucket. Amazing dosen't even begin to describe it.

It's tranquil, idyllic and peaceful. People are friendly and the isle being only 14miles wide make it small enough to while away the time just looking onto the horizon.

In case you had more in mind to get you going you have that option too, hire mopeds or a Jeep as we did and drive up along the sand road in a 4 wheel drive, the mopeds took us up to trails, and the Jeep took us into the beach, where Seals were swimming just meters from us just as curious about us as we were about them, and then more amazing scencs of wildlife surrounds you birds nesting and Hare's running around, horse shoe crabs and snapper head turtles.


Course we were there when FIGAWE was happening, a boat race for 200 miles from Hyannis - a nearby port to Nantucket and back, the race is over three days so particpants arrive into Nantucket Saturday night get truly bevvied up.. well plastered is more like it, to return on the Monday, and the tranquil island turns into party island, people are in great spirits and really friendly, we were at a bar downing a few beers and fried jalapeno rings- who knew you could fry the little rings into batter- when a nice lively group came in and were encouraged by our bar maid to do a dance of the 'squirrel', he said he'd do it when he was more drunk, but she persuaded him by changing the music and a tad jeering from his mates, and well pretty much the whole bar.. then course, he showed everyone his squirrel- that'd be yes, the squirrel in his pants! Thank heaven the bar was quite high up where we were sitting, so I got away with no visuals, though it put me off those Jalapenos!

Week Three the Cuban contingent

Well, for the main part of this week I have been in Miami, doing some errands for the flat there and picking up stuff, whilst also having a fellow journo stay, which was great as we talked incessantly about everything and nothing and connected.
On the way over I was accosted by this lovely 70 year old Cuban man, sat next to me on the plane because his seat was broken, who told me my country had let 'the enemy in' and that we needed to 'kill them all, before they come kill you in your sleep' he was referring to the Iranians, Pakistani's and Afghanistan people that reside in the UK- I know because he said so, very loudly, as if announcement to the entire plane. That he hates Labour because they had socialist policies and he knew all about that from the good ol Fidel Castro. Clearly he thought it was the same thing. Although not sure if Tony Blair or Gordon Brown would have been able to carry off the cap.

It was clearly pointless to argue with the old man, and surely he meant well enough- as though giving me advice to take back home next time I popped into number 10, but he was so loud about it all. I tried my hardest to be polite and British, and explain that it wasn't like that over there at all, but that religious tollerance and freedom of faith and worship was something that made us Brits very proud of our country. That perhaps he should get on a plane and visit, see it for himself... surprise, surprise he was having none of it. And then the captain told us that take off was delayed for and hour and we would be sitting on the tarmac.... a woman (lil me) was screaming in my head!
Luckily in the row in front was a 20 year old medical student from NYU who jumped into the conversation, the universe was kind because he was of Cuban origin and had just got back from living in the UK for four months and loved traveling around Europe and loved London. Phew, even though it probably hurt his neck, he twisted and talked to us both, he also said stuff in Spanish, which made the guy next to me less domineering.. still I did the polite thing and smiled even though he'd just slated my country and it's politics to the entire plane.

Back in New York mid week and again taking it easy.. the estate agent, otherwise known as 'Broker' had been replaced and we finally had an apartment, things are looking good.

Hairy adventuring in week one

Okay so hairy expedition this week, deep into the lower east side, looking for some 'drug store' or a chemist type Boot's placey for those of the English persuasion for some ibuprofen for the boyfriend who has become a bit poorly, probably from all the stress of the move and then having to hit the ground running at work.
So, I walk into the depths of this neighbourhood, where people constantly seem to be shouting at each other, but perhaps this is just the charm of New York, I find that what should be a 10 minute run as according to our guide book- provided by the corporate apartment people- turns into 45 minutes. Not only this but I walk into a grotty area, complete with brand new flip flops which start to blister my feet... then pass a gun shop. I only know that this is a gun shop because it brazenly has a three dimensional gun hanging from it's shop front!! I thought you only see this stuff in movies!!
In the window are detailed drawings of exactly where your bullet should aim for a deer for instance, there were probably other animals detailed but I rushed on by, looking for the 'Rite Aid'.
Next I come across a man with a rag strapped to his head with what look like are elastic bands yelling at a rather nicely dressed woman as 'Baby!' When she fails to turn to his attention... she quickly becomes the 'hellish *itch' and he's getting irate.
I am now praying that after walking 200yrds the wrong way or 2 blocks, that I will see this Rite Aid soon, and my feet are begining to hurt.
It occurs to me to ask someone for directions would be insane.
And I muster on following the numbers that will surely lead me to my destination, after all it's in this bloomin corporate guide!
I pass what Americans refer to as 'the projects' we'd probably call them council housing estates in the north, Burnley for example. I adopt my London of keep your head down and look like you know where you're going...my feet are really not liking these flip flops any more and the flip flops start to tear into them...
Right at the edge of turning back, I see this woman and she looks okay, glasses, back pack, and suddenly I'm surrounded by a neighbourhood that feels less busy- but a bit eerie and deserted.
I decide to ask her for directions... but before I have a chance to finish my question.. she has placed her hands in the air, and says in a accent other than American that she has never been here before.. and scurry's past me... now I'm thinking perhaps it's me who looks like the scarey one, but thank heaven I persisted because I see it!!
I buy my ibuprofen and other nic nacks- it's been a long walk!and walk home as though I've really achieved something, really accomplished something...I made it through!! But you can bet I wasn't walking the same way back!
I moved up a block to a street that looked a little more leafy, and to my surprise I was stopped by a woman asking me directions! Wow, been here two weeks and people think I look New Yorker enough to as me directions, I was flatterd, but I'd forgotten my map and of no help.
I felt very wistful for her when I passed the street she was looking for in the opposite direction to the way she was walking.

I finally made my way back up what was now newly known to me as my grotty street, to the park side to hear an exchange between two local men about holding the baby correctly, and the other responding 'you better shut yo mouth'.. at this point it was full immersion to the American or New York psyche, I have yet to find out... but I dont rember experiences quite like this in California...
For the rest of this week, I'm taking it easy....adventure and exploration can wait....

Landed

Well, this is my first blog entry, I've touched down into JFK, and pulled aside by immigration asking why I'm staying so long.. when I told them I may move here with my boyfriend permanently they told me to 'get him to give you a ring!' Bless em.
Now even immigration approve of my potential nuptuials!

So we are in our temporary flat which is nicely if not plainly furnished with a amazing view of the Empire State, the Chrysler and another tall nicely sculpted building of which I have yet to find the name of.
I soon found out that we are staying in the Lower East side, which is full of bars, restaurants and clubs, great to go out in.. not so great to sleep, when you're jet lagged and dealing with 'emotional moving syndrome' the fire trucks, the police cars and ambulances all dutifully come past with their sirens all times of the day and night which seem to be right below the window despite being on the eleventh floor.
But add to this the yellow Taxi's and even the normal cars adding their horns as if it were going out of fashion..let me know... I have arrived in New York...