FALLING IN LOVE WITH NEW YORK + on a budget

Yes, it’s true, I left Miami during it’s prime time — smooove Spring Break — and took the first steps to accepting my college admission to the Borough of Manhattan Community College at the City University of New York.

Originally planning the trip was pretty easy until I realized one major hitch — I’m broke af.

But I needed to visit the city and my campus before I could decide if I wanted to start a new life there. So, I began to research.

First: transportation.

There’s nothing easier (or cheaper) than taking your own whip across state lines for a little adventure. With my momma and best friend next to me, we drove 20 hours from Miami to NYC — non stop. A nuisance, for sure. But with gas being $200, the three of us spent together what we would spend on one plane ticket.

But my favorite part about driving were the hour-long jam sessions and how much closer we got, especially since I might not see either of them as often as I do now when I move. It was definitely worth the long ass ride.

If you’d rather get there quicker for a weekend vacation, per say, plane tickets can be cheap if you plan ahead. Because we planned a couple days ahead, we didn’t have a lot of inexpensive choices. With a two-three month advance, you can find air fare tickets for around $100.

Once you’re in New York, getting around is easy. We did have to park. That was another $140 for 4 nights but you could easily find street parking in some areas for an hourly rate. It’s not as secure but nothing is really ever secure in the city if you think about it. You have to be positive and daring and live like nothing is gonna happen for nothing to happen.

A week’s subway pass was around $20 but if you’re in a rush or late to something, you can use an up-and-coming car service called “via.” Because it’s so new, they have a crazy ton of promotions and deals that often even give you free rides. We never paid a dime because all three of us had $10 intro credits.  You gotta be quick though. The promo will probably last until the app blows up like Uber.

But my advice is to walk as much as possible. It was really what made me feel like a real New Yorker. You get to see so much more at a pedestrian pace and on the ground.

2. Accommodations:

I knew from the start I wanted to rent with Airbnb. After hearing amazing stories from friends and folks that had tried it before, I realized this trip and New York would be the perfect opportunity to try it ourselves.

To begin, the rates were insanely affordable. To stay in a grand and pricey hotel or to stay in an antique and scrappy apartment I will probably be living in by the end of August? I think you know my answer.

We scored a pretty spacious studio apartment on the Lower East Side with a view of the Empire State Building from the courtyard and a short 3 block walk to Chinatown for $72 a night. Not only was our host beyond accommodating and open-minded — he waited hours past his normal check in because we were driving straight through — but the neighborhood was friendly, too. During our visit we met and got to briefly know a few unbelievably free-spirited locals happy to share their space and knowledge of NYC. We already have our own realtor, spiritualist and a barista who makes real cortaditos (but with Puerto Rican coffee, which is almost as good). They gave me their cards and told me to reach out to them as soon as I settled into the city. Boom. Instant friends.

Mainly occupied by low-income minority families, a couple weirdly interesting (in a good way) neighbors stood out to us the most. We were introduced to the supremely pious first-floor tenant and “heir of the building” at 1 am when we were boldly exploring the neighborhood after hours and he was picking up cigarette butts and empty bottles thrown around the courtyard. Hesitant, at first, we were unsure if his window shrine of bible verses and Sagrado Corazon de Jesus candles were a sign of disapproving judgment. But he ended up being the nicest guy, welcoming us with open arms to his “father’s building” and offering us any assistance we needed throughout our stay. We didn’t need any but it was nice knowing we could go to someone with concerns if we had.

Another elderly woman (easily in her 90’s) was pushing her grocery cart home around the same time — for whatever reason —  and vigorously waved hello to us with a fat smile on her face. She proceeded to pull her cart up the stairs, proud that she could do it herself, and when she finally got securely inside, she waved again goodbye to us through the window glass. She didn’t have to do that but she wanted to.

The whole reason for the trip was to figure out what it was like to live like a true New Yorker. I had always dreamed of it since my 9-year-old Carrie Bradshaw worshiping, Gossip Girl following, Rachel Berry wannabe ah. And while I’m definitely the room service type-of-gal, there wouldn’t be any for a long time once I moved there anyway. Especially with housing being so expensive.

(Plus these days we have Postmates.)

I won’t deny I felt apprehensive at first. I literally tripped out over any dude walking alone after dark. And I swear I saw Spiderman the first night.

But strangers smile towards you and say hello. Baristas talk to you like if you’ve known them you’re whole life. And once you walk around a little you start to know the streets like you grew up in them. It’s really easy to fall into the hustle and bustle of the city but sometimes you’ll find yourself floating around and slowly absorbing the culture and ambient and extreme diversity.

3. Expenses:

Yup. $1 pizza slices are real. And one of the best things to happen to this country.

A lot of people can discourage you from traveling to New York simply because they think the expenses will destroy your budget. And they can.

But hiding in between 5-star Italian restaurants and, sometimes, on the second floor of an office building, you can find two slices of pizza and a drink for $2.50 or The Golden Unicorn, home to the best dim sum ever.

The trip’s purpose also didn’t serve as a sight-seeing tour. I wanted to live like a New Yorker and I promise none of them visit the Empire State Building very often… unless it’s for work. I wanted to see the parks and ride the subway and visit the obscurest record stores and antique shops.

There are also some hidden attractions, like the Anthology Film Archives, that often exhibits independent, experimental and avant-garde films and isn’t as much of a tourist trap. Tickets usually start at $11 but students can get in for $9. And you can still visit some touristy things on a budget: The Roosevelt tram, which offers stunning panoramic views, is $4, a look at the Brooklyn Bridge, Carrie Bradshaw’s walk up in the Village, Monica Geller’s apartment building and Biggie’s old Bed Stuy neighborhood are all free and the Ground Zero memorial is free after 5 pm on Tuesdays.

After being there for a mere 3 days and 4 nights, I realized my 9 year-old-self had been right all along: I belong there.

But it wasn’t only about friendly eclectics and fast living, antique stores and people-watching, Rachel Berry and the Golden Unicorn. It was about how it felt. It was about how I felt. Warm in 30 degree weather. Certain surrounded by unpredictability. Invincible in a dangerous place.

Georgia O’Keeffe once said “One can’t paint New York as it is, but rather as it felt.”