About two years ago, I decided it may be a good idea to move back to Ottawa and give the normal adult life and a 9-5 job a second chance. Most people, including some of my closest friends, still seemed to follow the school – full time job – mortgage – marriage cycle and I thought it may be for me too, as it seemed to be fit for everyone else.
Well, turns out I wasn’t cut out for that lifestyle and it didn’t take me long to realize there was no way to blend in with the people back home. Everyone had moved on while I was gone on my world travels, and there was no trace left from the high school and university memories we shared. They had settled down, bought houses, gotten married and were toying with the idea of having kids, while my short-term plans were sailing around the world and driving down from Canada to Brazil in a campervan.
I was living on my own, in a suburb where social life consisted of little chats over coffee breaks at work and maybe some after work beers with colleagues on Fridays. I got back into a somewhat healthy routine, started to sleep and wake up early, go for solo runs on weekends, do yoga, meditate, but I was bored out of my mind regardless.
Arrived in New York, after the endless drive.
Don’t get me wrong, I made an effort to try to date but there is no dating “pool” in Ottawa. Everyone worth having a drink with was either already engaged, married or moved to Toronto. It became obvious that I would have to spend my weekends outside Ottawa if I don’t want to waste my prime years staying home alone. So, I got in the car one Friday afternoon and drove down to NYC, because why catch a flight or a train when you can have a solo road trip? And that is how I learnt to never bring my own car in a big city. I am still not sure if I spent more time going on dates or worrying about getting parking tickets.
Petting some squirrels.
I guess I don’t need to tell you that New York City is a lot of fun! You will find some of the most incredible art and the coolest culture in the world. From artsy cafes, to fancy nightclubs to rooftop bars, the entertainment is absolutely endless. The city is home to some of the best musical shows, live music and stand-up-comedy in the world. You could spend weeks if not months catching a new show every night and never run out of options. And the same goes for the dating scene, and hence explains why most people stay single while the possibilities are limitless.
City skyline from the Edge.
Ottawa to NYC is about eight hours by car. It was October so I totally didn’t mind the drive, surrounded by trees with their bright fall colours, enjoying the beautiful landscape. After sunset and five hours of singing along to Taylor Swift however, I started to debate if I should stop and sleep in the middle of nowheresville and keep driving the next day. Thankfully my friend waiting me in Connecticut kept me motivated about our evening plans so that I could make it there alive and full of energy.
Guess where I am.
Going out on a Friday night in NYC after being stranded in the suburbs for months, felt like new oxygen in my lungs. I felt back in my element, the city was bustling with life, I was over the moon and exactly where I meant to be. Even the smell of garbage and rats everywhere felt pleasant. We partied until sunrise that night and went for a boozy brunch the next day.
I love rooftops.
Now that I know where to go and where not to go, I can tell you that basing yourself in Manhattan is the ideal choice for a short trip. From there you can hop on the metro to visit Brooklyn or catch a ferry to Staten Island. One thing I love about NYC is that it is a very walkable city. Manhattan in particular can be easily navigated by foot, and there is something to see in every little corner of it. You could be burning all the calories you consumed while admiring the street art, definitely a win-win situation. Talking about calories, you must try the famous dollar New York style pizza, the cheesecake, bagel with lox and cream cheese and of course tacos from Los Tacos No.1, just to get your trip started.
Try them, they are good.
It was my birthday week so I drank and ate and shopped with a totally guilt-free mind. I also bought myself some new Apple gear and I highly recommend you check out the Apple store on Fifth Avenue in Midtown. The glass cube structure is very unique and artistic.
Some artsy corner of town.
If it is your first time in the city, you should visit the Edge Observation Deck to get some of the best views of the skyline, they also have a champagne bar on top! The city is dotted with rooftop bars so your biggest struggle will be to pick the best one. I didn’t do much research and mostly followed the events and the right crowd aka finance guys.
Impossible to be bored here with all the cultural stuff going on.
I am only half joking when I say I was there to find a man in Finance, trust fund, 6”5, blue eyes. That was obviously not my first priority and I just wanted a fun birthday week, but it was in the back of my head. If you are a single solo female traveler like myself, a little Google search on the top spots for after work drinks can go a long way. Or you could try looking lost at Whole Foods across the street from the World Financial Center.
Love a good sunset.
I was blessed to have my friend who is basically an NYC expert, flooding me with recommendations, to make sure I was having the best time. I didn’t have to lift a finger and simply enjoyed the sights, the food and the people.
Overall, my trip was a success. I can confirm that New York City lives up to the hype. I connected with some amazing individuals; fashion designers, world class DJs, artists of all kinds, and of course finance guys. There were no Vegas style drunk marriage however, though that would have been a great story.
Little night stroll.
If you are tired of the suburbs and thinking about your next city break, NYC can be the perfect choice. I cannot promise that you will find your perfect date but I can guarantee that you will have an amazing time!
Dating in itself is complicated. Whether you live off-grid or in one of the most densely populated cities in the world, you run into people and problems you never thought existed. Over the years, I came to view romantic relationships more as an adventure and an experiment than something to be found and accomplished overnight. It takes time to discover the world, it also takes time to discover yourself. It is best to enjoy the process, not take any of this too seriously and enjoy the company of whoever you are with, wherever you are. Because as all things in life, this one is also temporary.
Travelling long term is fun but constantly arranging transport & hotels for yourself can be exhausting if you don’t know where to look. I use the following platforms to make my booking process a breeze:
For researching & booking the best flights:
For researching & booking the best buses & trains:
