New York is a city where it’s a bit sad to be a tourist, to stay in a hotel, to take a tour with a guide, to turn in a mega bus and so on. One of the most interesting and intriguing aspects of being able to stay in the Big Apple is to imitate the lifestyle of New Yorkers.
I’ve always wanted to live in one of those condominiums in Manhattan, with doormen at the entrance that will deliver you the mail, gym, swimming pool, common areas etc …
Desire granted.
Finding a home exchange for Manhattan was not easy. Brooklyn or Harlem are much Easier even with beautiful town houses. Then, finally, I met Shawn on the site http://www.scambiocasa.com, a wonderful 50-year-old separated with two children, a Yoga teacher. She moved to Florence for about 20 days in July and I stayed with my kids in her wonderful apartment for 15 days in August.
Upon our arrival in New York, the mother of Shawn, Norma, a kind and elegant lady, welcomes us to explain the operation of the house: air conditioning, Wi-Fi, washing machine, gigantic, as for all Americans, etc … and insert me in the “system”, so with the name, surname and passport I can enter and exit the condominium. Without this procedure it would not be possible, for safety reasons.
The Condominium is located in the Financial District. And it is beyond my expectations.
The apartment on the 22nd floor has a breathtaking view of New York, living room with “American” kitchen, three bedrooms each with its own bathroom.
Shawn leaves written to us the rules of the house, such as leaving the shoes outside the front door and eating exclusively in the kitchen. Rules that are more than shareable. Shawn was a perfect host when she stayed in my apartment in Florence and I will follow her directions carefully.
But it is on the 30th floor of the skyscraper / condominium that there is the final surprise. Terrace with bar overlooking the city and great music, gym, swimming pool, games room, yoga room and common areas where you can connect and even work.
Residents love absolute silence. In common areas you need to speak with very low volume and without disturbing others. They do not like to socialize much. Except for some exceptions, of course. In the elevator is not used sai HEllo or good morfina and everyone goes hastily on his way. We immediately adjusted, after all the mother of Shawn, Norma, had warned me of the uses of the condominium, laughing and describing them as excessively snobbish!
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