New York, I love you

As I am writing these lines, I find myself in Washington Square Park thinking about all that we’ve been through in the last six months.

This park is very special to me because I lived in this area for a while, and it became common in my daily life and on my everyday walks. Besides the obvious importance of this park for New York City. Historically, it is known that this area has always been a bohemian neighborhood that has built a large community of artists, writers, and intellectuals. It has been the usual place for the start of marches or demonstrations, which has led us to noticing changes in the world over time.

For me, New York City is like a diamond that amplifies and embellishes every thought we have, both good and bad, which allows us to grow and learn. Undoubtedly, these last months have brought dramatic changes that generated new and valuable teachings.

For example, one of the most emotional and sensitive moments for me was when, as a gesture of gratitude to all the doctors, we all went out to our balconies or windows to applaud and thank them for everything they did and continue to do for all of us. I remember that, I always tried to take a pan and a wooden spoon to make even more noise. For me, that moment of applause was a moment to remind us that, even in the hardest times, we are always supporting each other, and that together we can do more.

During these lockdown days, I remember leaving my house at night, walking and seeing the Empire State illuminated red, the shops closed, no one on the street, something surreal and unthinkable for a city like New York.

Until that moment I discovered what it was like to ride a bicycle around the city, since the street were empty, it was easier for me to travel around, and that is how I got to go to Central Park all the way from Washington Square Park. It took me just twenty minutes, and then I would go back to my house along Fifth Avenue or Park Avenue. These routes fascinated me and allowed me to enjoy the city’s architecture.Whitney Museum of American ArtM

 Also, I would like to point out that this week is very special for the city, since three large museums are reopening their doors on the following days:

Museum of Modern Art- August 27

The Metropolitan Museum – August 29.

Whitney Museum of American Art – September 3

In addition, galleries and restaurants also begin to reopen gradually.

If there is one thing I admire about this city, among its many virtues, it is its ability to remain present and not living in the past, which motivates us to keep going forward and evolve. That is, in a way, it's resilience, which inevitably leads us to think of our own. If a city like New York, one of the world’s financial and cultural center, did not allow itself to be overcome by this situation, nor should we.

We can raise, we can thrive, just like New York city did.

New York city has begun, and for the city and for the love we have for it, we must help it too. How can we help? Simply by consuming the local, supporting restaurants, museums, small business, galleries, parks, that is, simply by living the city, reintegrating it to our daily lives. However, we must remember to be responsible, not because we’ve started to go out, we should forget any safety or health measures. Because by taking care of ourselves, we are taking care of others, of the city and consequently, we take care of our life and our daily life.