THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

There have been 9 times that I have the pleasant opportunity to visit NY during different seasons of the year and without doubt, every one of them has something of its own to offer and it is very difficult to decide which would be better to visit. Therefore, I will make a brief description of my personal experience, as well as the pros and cons of each of them. I’ll start with my most recent trip that was at the end of March of this year (2018) to see the matches of my national soccer team (Peru) where the winter was already ending, but the temperatures were around minus 3 degrees Centigrade and days before my arrival had just snowed. The special thing about winter in NYC is ice skating in Central Park or Rockefeller Center. On the other hand, it is a “low” season so there will be fewer people in the streets to go shopping or visit the tourist attractions. Of course, you should be well wrapped because the cold is really intense! And if you plan to go for winter, take advantage of Black Friday in November, where the largest number of stores offer exuberant discounts (and where I particularly do my clothes purchases of the year) up to 70% and also let you be dazzled by the Macy’s Parade (it’s likely to post on this because it’s all an experience) and the traditional Thanksgiving celebration.

Unlike winter,  if you are a sun lover and can not stand the cold, do not worry that NY is an excellent option during the summer (NY is an excellent option always) but you must have certain considerations. Prepare to deal with hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the Big Apple during summer, which is great if you are looking to socialize and meet new people, but terrible if you are looking to tour the attractions like the Empire State where you can take up to 3 hours going all the way up to the observatory !!! Also, the heat can be intense (if you come from a country that does not have such extreme and hot climates) but that makes up for it with the magnificent sunsets that you can see from the Brooklyn Bridge or the observatory of some skyscraper like the Rockefeller, Empire State or the One World Trade Center Observatory. However, if you are looking for a balance between climate, comfort and pleasure (and my favorite season to visit this city) I would recommend autumn or spring. Because the weather is perfect, you have a great view of central park and there are not so many people to enjoy the tourist attractions.

Finally, a key fact is to learn to use the subways, because it is the most efficient and fastest means of transportation I have seen. However, keep in mind to avoid peak hours of entry and exit from work (9am and 5pm) because you will find crowds of New Yorkers. If you want another post where you enter more detail in the tourist attractions and the different experiences offered by this city send me a DM by Instagram! Until the next post!

E R I C K   G O N I

EXPERIENCE ATLANTIS

Hello everyone! In this first post I will share what was my most recent trip to one of the most desired destinations in the world: Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas. Depending on where you are in the world you have different ways and options to get there. The one I took was by boat through a Disney cruise, the Disney Magic cruise line (which I will share in detail in another post) Because it was a cruise I could not spend the night on the Island. However, I was all day exploring the variety of activities offered by this world-class resort. One of the ones I loved the most was swimming with dolphins where you have the opportunity to literally swim and be with the dolphins. If you are an adrenaline junkie you can not miss the opportunity to get on the various aquatic slides at Aquaventure, especially the leap of faith that is a vertical drop of about 60 feet above the iconic Mayan temple!

Another important aspect of the resort and for which I want to return soon is that there is fun and entertainment for all kinds of people. Whether you go as a family, as a couple or with friends. From water activities, various types of restaurants and bars, to gambling in a casino at the same level of Las Vegas! You can have everything in one place! Not to mention that all this is only inside the resort and outside of it you have different options of activities and places to buy free of taxes.

Well, that’s all I’m going to share in this first post. I hope you like it and be aware that great things are coming! To stay in touch, do not forget to follow the official Instagram account as @erick_goni

Until the next post.

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MAGIC AT THE SEA

 

 

As I mentioned in my first post, my last trip, or at least part of it, was to Atlantis. But to experience this journey full of magic and fascinating experiences, take a cruise. Specifically, the Disney Magic Cruise, part of the Disney Cruise Line. The package that my family and I took was a tour of the Bahamas of 3N / 4D.

Boarding starts from the Canaveral Port in Florida. During this first day I took the opportunity to relax in the hotel pools, to take advantage of my stomach in the Canvas buffet located on the deck of the boat (floor 12) then I continued to feed my soul and relax in the Spa (which has an additional cost but it was worth it) and reduce the guilt by training in the gym with an incredible view of the sea watching the sunset, before getting ready to dine at the “Royal Court” a luxury restaurant that combines the best of French cuisine with American where you can not stop trying the brie cheese fingers ! For this, I must point out that every night during the stay on the ship, the restaurant where you had assigned the dinner (which are table service, were included in the package) changed. In the end, you ended up eating at the “Enchanted Garden” a restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles. My recommendation if you ever have the opportunity to take this cruise is to try the lobster ravioli and the tower of tuna with avocado, simply delicious! On the other hand, there was the “Animators Palate” a thematic restaurant with Disney characters that fuses the food of the Pacific islands and the Asian cuisine where the salmon tartar is a definite to try. And if it was not enough and you were still hungry you had the option of Buffet. I must emphasize that all these restaurants had innumerable and delicious vegetarian, vegan and Gluten Free options!

Leaving the food aside, the number of activities to do either inside or outside the boat were countless and did not give time to do everything! Starting with the things to do on the boat, during the day you can attend the Broadway-style theater that the boat has! Refresh in the different pools and slides on the upper deck or relax in the “Senses Spa & Salon” or work out in the Fitness Center. During the afternoon and evening you can participate in different group activities for all ages and separated according to age ranges (although there were many activities for the whole family) from bingos, karaoke, video games, trivia, photos with Disney characters, classes of cooking, magic, and even watching movies (like Coco in my case) in the immense cinema that counts.

If all that seemed enough, out of the ship in the Islands that the ship arrived, the activities were innumerable as well. The first stop we made was in Nassau, Bahamas, where you have the option to explore the island on your own or take tours (like the one my family and I took to Atlantis, which I enter in detail in my first post). Second stop and an exclusivity of the Disney cruise line, is Castaway Key Island, a private island of Disney with different beaches, water games and activities to do. In my case I did parasailing without any doubt I recommend it if you are looking for a bit of adrenaline and at the same time enjoy a beautiful view!

That’s it for this post, I hope you liked it and have an idea of what awaits you if you visit this cruise that in my opinion, you will enjoy it much more if you go with your family or your partner. Until the next post!