New York City: The Boroughs
Manhattan
The largest borough in NY, Manhattan sits along the Hudson River facing the New Jersey skyline. You can split Manhattan into 4 general areas – starting at the very bottom, Lower Manhattan. Lower Manhattan houses some big name neighborhoods such as Soho, Greenwich Village, Financial District, Chinatown, and Lower Eastside. This area is always bustling with fashionistas and plenty of food, shopping, nightlife, bars, comedy clubs and more. Moving up to Midtown, this is where you will find the brightest LEDs of your life, Times Square. Want to be a tourist in NYC this is where you start. Midtown is very chaotic, but will give you all the photo-ops you can think of to let your friends, family, and Instagram followers know you were definitely in NYC. We could spend another 125 sentences on Times Square, but we won’t, SO…Upper Manhattan. Upper Manhattan has two sides – Upper East and Upper West. The best way to imagine each side is new money vs old money. Looking for classic New York architecture, chic attire, and ever so slightly slower energy with a walk along Central Park? You are headed to Upper West. Walking across Central Park to Upper East you will find a faster pace with a tighter feel. This is your new money vibe with famous streets like Park Ave, Lexington Ave, Madison Ave, and 5th Ave…the infamous “Ave’s”. We still have 4 more boroughs, so moving on! Lastly, but definitely not least and definitely not less than, you have Harlem. Filled with culture, history, and beautiful brownstones, Harlem gives that urban city energy you loth for sitting directly above Central park. Take a walk around Lenox Ave and 125th street to get a glimpse of Central Harlem, but do not skip on trying local restaurants and bars for great food and contagious high vibrational vibes.
Curacao
It all begins with an idea.
Curacao is known for its bright and vibrate infrastructure. Fun fact: Traditional buildings are colorful due to the use of coral for the primary structure
Curaçao is a beautiful, culturally rich island located 70 miles (113km) south of Aruba and 40 miles (65km) off the Venezuela coast – on a clear day you can see Venezuela from the island. It is the “C” of the infamous ABC islands sitting outside the hurricane belt of the Caribbean leaving room for tranquil weather year-round. Due to its location outside the hurricane belt, they still receive the rainy weather between October-December with October and November being the wettest seasons. Personally, I find the windy season the best time to visit due to the combination of warm weather and a nice breeze to create the perfect tropical balance. You will find Curaçao is windiest during June, February, & March.
The Culture
Curaçao has a strong identity that is very present when interacting with locals and venturing around the island – outside of tourist zones. Historically, Curaçao is a Dutch territory and if you pay close attention you will definitely notice. Depending on who you ask this may be a pro or con. Aside from the Dutch history of Curaçao, you will notice a wide variety of murals depicting women in various lights. On the island women are immensely appreciated for their role and contributions in society and within the home. There are statues across the island that present women as the balance of the home done by local street artists.
The “Sides”
Curaçao is distinctly split between the East and West districts, connected by the famous (and biggest photo op on the island) “Queen Emma Bridge”. The west district is Otrobanda, Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao, and east is Punda. Punda is considered less “touristy” and more of a “true” Curaçao experience than the Otrobanda side (as told by my tour guide). I highly recommend making sure you hit both sides of the bridge.
The 3 main “cities” you will hear about in Curaçao are: Willemstad, Jan Thiel, St Michiel
Where to stay and what’s the difference? No worries, I got you covered!
While in Curaçao, I visited all three – rented an Air BnB in Jan Thiel. Starting with where I stayed, Jan Thiel. Absolutely beautiful area with gorgeous views and estates, very quiet and pulls you away from the hustle and bustle of being in Willemstad. The Dutch have coined Jan Thiel home and they definitely have a strong presence in that area of the island. You will find less Papiemento and more Dutch being spoken. There are a few hotels and all-inclusive stays in Jan Thiel as well with great beach access, but the beaches can become crowded.
Quickly circling back to Willemstad, as mentioned previously, this is the capital of Curaçao and where you will find the most to do in regard to sightseeing, shopping, local restaurants, and bars. Unless staying in St. Michiel, you will drive through Willemstad on the way to Jan Thiel when coming from the airport. The airport is about 20mins from Willemstad.
Looking for more of a relaxing, off the beaten path getaway? St. Michiel is your place to be. Located 15 miles (11.8km) West from the capital you will find beautiful white sandy beaches, golf courses, and breathtaking views. St. Michiel is also a great location for those who love the thrill of diving with dive schools and equipment accessible for use. You will also find the Aquafari excursion located in St. Michiel, which I highly recommend for an additional thrill.
New York
It all begins with an idea.
View of New York Cities famous Central Park located in upper Manhattan. Left, Upper Westside; Right, Upper Eastside; Straight ahead, Harlem
Whether you know it as the concrete jungle, the big apple, the city that never sleeps, or just NYC, one thing for sure, you can live your Sex in the City life, Wolf of Wall Street life, and everything in between. You will land at John F. Kennedy (JFK) or LaGuardia (LGA) and be on your way to living your life like the movies!
New York City 101
New York City is divided into 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Within each of those boroughs you will find some of your dream locations and famous areas. For example, trying to live like Carrie Bradshaw? You can expect to spend the majority of your time in Upper Manhattan along Park Ave and surrounding areas. Thinking more Wolf of Wall of Street vibes? Head all the way down to Lower Manhattan in the Financial District a.k.a FiDi. Music lover? How about Teyana Taylor energy? You’ll find that vibe in Uptown, Harlem area. We will cover each borough individually a little later. In the meantime, let's talk about what to expect from “the city”.
What to Expect
The City is big, bold, and definitely has its unexpected moments and smells at times. Always add 30-40mins to your commute around the city to account for any traffic delays. Wondering how to get around traffic? Take your adventure underground to avoid the gridlock, traffic lights, chaotic drivers, taxis & ubers/lyft fees by utilizing NYCs notorious subway system. Although it might sound daunting, Google Maps makes taking the subway super easy. I promise. Although known as the city that never sleeps, attractions close, some restaurants close during certain hours or open later in the day for dinner, just make sure you’re checking times and making reservations to ensure a smooth trip into the city. Unlike smaller metropolitan areas, you cannot be afraid to step into that speakeasy in the sketchy alley or ignore the non-aesthetic entry way, or bodega, to find some of the best foodie gems! Last piece of advice, DO NOT WALK SLOW. I cannot stress this enough. You will be most hated on the sidewalk if you walk without purpose or stop in the middle of the sidewalk to take that picture. Be aware of your surroundings in every facet (including bikes).
Hop over to “New York City: The Boroughs” to read more on each area