Sleep no more at McKittrick Hotel

Booooh…!
Sleep no more at McKittrick Hotel.

Yes, we had the chance to experience one of the craziest Halloween parties in NYC at the famous McKittrick Hotel. Listed as one of the top five places to go during Halloween in the city, I can tell that we had loads of fun!

After hours and hours of preparation (including creepy make-up made by our professional Halloween make-up artist Emilia) we entered this crazy place which was decorated like a haunted house, with several floors and little tunnels. ThReady for Halloween.e people inside the hotel were supposed to lose each other and the organizers of the event did a great job since our group of almost fifteen people totally split up because the place was so confusing. Really scary and I felt like in a movie. Draculas and ghosts were dancing above our heads while the guests were swinging their skeletons to groovy beats. It was hard to capture the ambiance in pictures but this here gives at least a little bit of an idea. And for all of you who got curious – just go there next year and check it out on your own, it’s worth it !

Taste of New Paltz 2016

14389845_10206794873583658_1353558867_nHi everyone!

This Sunday was the annual Ulster County Fair of “Taste of New Paltz”, so Barbara, Martha, Ruth and I went there to have some lunch and try local products and restaurants.

We had to take a cab to get there because it´s impossible to go by walking because they are repairing the bridge. We arrived after 10 minutes and it was a big open field place full of trees and stands with a lot of food, wine, beer and local products such as jewelry and clothes.

The place was really nice and a local band was playing so the music was really good and enjoyable, but the weather was hot and cloudy.

There w14407508_10206794871263600_1183850351_nas a lot of food options but we decided to eat tacos and meat, then we all went to a Mexican stand where we bought fresh water. Ruth and Baby ordered “jamaica” and I ordered “horchata”, but my water was different from the one I drink in Mexico, because this one had chopped nuts and cantaloupes but it was good.

14384110_10206794871423604_960733355_nWhen we finished eating we went to a photo booth  and they had a table with funny hats, mustaches, etc. The man who was in charge of it was really nice because the machine usually gives you 2 copies, but he printed out 4 copies so everyone can have their own.

Later we got back to town and we went to the Water Street Market, which is really nice. We took a lot of pictures and walked to the Bakery for a dessert and a frapuccino.

Thanks for reading!!

 

 

 

Push Your Limits!

What are “normaPicsArt_1446238979271l” people doing if they don’t have to work on a Saturday morning at 6:30am? Exactly, they sleep! Usually, I would do the same, but not last Saturday. For me, it was “boot camp time” on the Brooklyn Bridge – also known as one of New York’s toughest workouts.

Three years ago I saw a German TV documentary about the Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp that has been founded by the German, Ariane Hundt. Since then, it was my dream to participate in one of her Brooklyn Bridge workouts and to enjoy the unforgettable backdrop, the New York skyline.

As we moved to New York two weeks ago I remembered the chance of getting a new running experience. Hence, I googled the Boot Camp website and I was hooked by Ariane Hundt’s statements:

“CHANGE YOUR BODY IN 5 SESSIONS.
Challenge yourself like never before! Define your abs,
slim your hips and thighs, lift your butt and burn about 800 calories!”

Spontaneously, I signed up for the Brooklyn Bridge workout at 8:00am last Saturday, what meant that I had to get up at 6:30am. I know, I am crazy; however, it was definitely worth it!20151024_080035

As I left the subway station “Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall” the panorama with the Brooklyn Bridge and the World Trade Center were super inspirational. At this time only a few tourists but many runners were enjoying the amazing views.

Meeting point was the ramp at the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge. We have been a group of 10 people. After a short introduction and warm up, the workout started directly towards the bridge. From that moment, there were no times for excuses anymore 😉

It was high-intensity-interval-training, consisting of running sessions and strength trainings. Usually, I used the bench for relaxing but during the boot camp the benches and the free spaces on the bridge got a new meaning for exercises such as step ups, pushups, tricep dips, lunges or wall sits. I had less time to breathe but a lot of fun. The tourists on the bridge were not disturbing, in fact rather the opposite, I was motivated by them to do my best.

After the workout I re20151024_090119alized that I don’t need any gym to get into shape. My body is all I need but using the own body weight can be the biggest challenge that needs to be overcome. However, for anyone who is interested in an intense workout, running, being outside should definitely sign up for this classes. Outside classes will also be offered in Upper East Side, Brooklyn and in the Central Park. So, check out the Bootcamp’s website for more information and deals (http://brooklynbridgebootcamp.com/).

If you are thinking about kicking your butt and burning mega body fat outside, one tip for you: leave all unnecessary things at home, except a water bottle, because there is no possibility to change clothes or lock valuables.

Get ready for the new experience and push your limits, you won’t regret it! I already signed up for a another workout session 😉

Expect the unexpected – An amazing day in New York City

This day should be different than all other days before – going to New York, conducting the first two job interviews and experiencing the Macy’s Fashion Show. Feeling the freedom and the diversity of New York City as well as getting in touch with the American Business Culture for the first time was an unforgettable experience. Already, as I left the Port Authority Bus Terminal, theDSC05337 difference between the life in New Paltz and New York City was noticeable. I have been overwhelmed by all the impressions and I realized that this feeling is the reason why I am taking part in this international program – to experience diversity. This feeling was a big motivation to do my best during the job interviews. Both interviews were totally different regarding company’s location, the building (outer facade), the interior and the people working for the company. I was impressed by both companies and its various working environment. All interviews have rather been an informal conversation than a formal communication which created a comfortable discussion.

After successful conducted interviews, Karina and I rewarded us by going to the Macy’s Fashion Show – “Macy’s Presents Fashion’s Front Row” – in the theatre at Madison Square Garden in order to gain valuable inspirations for our internships in the fashion industry 😉 Watching the season’s latest fashion and listen to the hottest music by Nate Ruess and Jason Derulo was an unforgettable experience. The show was definitely worth the money because of the show and Macy’s commitment to the awareness and prevention of HIV/Aids.

Even after the show the dayPicsArt_1444764398953 didn’t end. The day was still young and Karina convinced me to go for a last drink in the rooftop bar in the Hyatt Hotel (http://timessquare.hyatt.com/en/hotel/activities/hotel-activities/rooftoplounge.html). Without expecting anything Karina and I ordered a cocktail and enjoyed the beautiful view. Suddenly, one man was walking towards our table and talked to us in German. In the first moment I did not realized that he was a friend from Germany because I did not expect him at all. He told me that he was in New York for one week with his girlfriend. I knew before that Germans are everywhere but I never expect that I would meet a friend from my hometown at the rooftop bar of the Hyatt Hotel, approximately 3.800 miles away from Germany. All of us were surprised but we were very happy to meet each other incidentally. Unfortunately, it was only time for one drink because we had to take the last bus home to New Paltz. However, I was really happy of unexpectedly meeting friends. It felt like home.

It was an exciting and amazing day with a perfect final. Sometimes the unexpected can result into a really positive surprise. I like unexpected surprises like this. Thus, open your eyes and look around you, probably your home might be closer than you expect. Great experience!

Two weeks left to the premiere for the New York Rangers

Ever since Peter Forsberg made the final goal for Sweden in the shot out during the Olympic final 1994 in Lillehammer I have loved hockey. By that time I was just a little kid and I was told that Peter Forsberg didn’t play in the Swedish hockey league but in a much better league, called NHL in North America. All the best players in the world are playing in NHL and many of them are actually Swedish, for example, the Sedin twins, Backstrom, Zetterberg and, maybe the biggest star of them all, Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist plays for Rangers and has got the nickname “The king of New York” after all his outstanding performances for the club. Wednesday the 7th is the official premiere in the NHL and guess who’s going to sit next to the TV and watch the game?! Later when we move to NYC I will make a dream come true and switch the TV against a real ticket and experience the best hockey in the world live. Just let me know if you guys want to join me!

 

The birthday girl!

Hello folks!

It seems like yesterday that I landed in New York, full of hopes and excited to start this new and breathtaking experience…. But time goes by and it goes so fast.

The first month in New Paltz is over and just another one left to go… Then we’ll move to the “City”, where every dream can come true, no matter how big it is!

Many things have happened these past 30 days and among the craziness of a brand new life I had the chance to meet fascinating and surprising people and spend some valuable time with them.

Less than a week ago, it was my 25th Birthday and I decided to celebrate it in class, simply by eating a piece of cake with my international mates and asking everybody to wear some beautiful “Happy Birthday” crowns as a reminder of this busy but still important day! That seemed enough for me, though.

So, after a long day spent attending my courses at the University, I headed back home by walking. After a few steps, I started feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances… I was so tired, had no chance to hear from my parents and friends in Italy the all day, and missed home so badly.

I was deep in my thoughts when I arrived at the motel and approached to enter my room… It was closed from the inside… :-/

I imagined that my roomie was in there, maybe sleeping and didn’t want to be bothered…. But then, someone came to open the door and…

SURPRISE!!!!

My crazy, fabulous, sweet like sugar and affectionate Italian girls had prepared an amazing intimate party in my honor.
My room was dark and lighted just by tens of candles strewn all over the place…. Chocolate cupcakes on my desk… Random pictures of my life posted above my bed on the wall… and beautiful, stunning roses sent from Italy by my boyfriend!

I was the birthday girl.

And I felt home again.

Thank you all for making my birthday so memorable!

Hugs and Kisses.
Gaia.

25th annual Taste of New Paltz.

All began during a sad afternoon at our motel. Everyone were busy, someone studied in their room someone else in the library and three girls were doing kayaking. In my mind there was only one word: STUDY, but it was a beautiful Saturday, last summer weekend, it was hot and there weren’t clouds in the sky. Okay, I can’t spend my time here.. I want go out!During the week, I saw many posters about an annual festival in New Paltz: Taste of New Paltz. I was so curious … so I called a cab and decided to spend one hour there with one of my friends, before start to study. In less than 10 minutes we arrived in a unknown part of the city; there were many beautiful houses, among km of wheat fields and sunflowers and then.. a huge green lawn, many families with children running around on the grass. It was a wonderful scene!

It was the 25th year that New Paltz organised this event and we could not miss it. After paid $10 to enter, my friend Gaia and I started to taste every kind of food. Wasn’t that the purpose of the fair?! We started with a strange fried empanadas with beef, I discovered that this is one of the typical dishes in Jamaica.. It was delicious! The next stand prepared, however, a special kind of corn with cheese, curry and paprika, but the best taste of this incredible afternoon was a amazing pizza cooked with wood-oven, as the Italian tradition. Everything about the pizza reminded me of my country. At the end, as a real lunch, we bought an exquisite mini chocolate cupcake. After about an hour, at the end of our tour, I realized that there were many activities to raise awareness of their food and products to the citizens of New Paltz .. Wow, this was great! In this way, I was able to try dishes from restaurants that I didn’t know before and certainly I’ll try after this experience.

It was a really good afternoon spent with my friend! Beautiful place, nice people, good music and new food. Now, are you asking why the symbol of this fair is an apple? Try to get out of this fair without tasting a dish in which there was the apple! It’s impossible, trust me.

Visit also:

www.newpaltzchamber.org

Facebook: Tast of New Paltz

THE SKY IS "AZZURRO" IN NEW YORK TODAY!

This post is a “Pre-recorded Broadcast” ;-)… but enjoy it!!!

Yesterday was an ordinary day for me.
I was in New York with a friend of mine and my only concern was to find the right shoes at Macy’s rather than the right Jacket at Zara store….Then, something happened.
Rumors came from the street and I surprisingly found out that Roberta Vinci, a 33 years old unseeded Italian veteran, playing in her first Grand Slam semifinal, had defeated Serena Williams, considered by many the best female tennis player in History.
WOOOOW… Let me say it, a day to forget for the great Serena!… But that wasn’t the biggest News!
The second finalist who had to “fight for the crown” with Vinci, in the Grand Slam final, was another Italian girl, Flavia Pennetta.
Thus, to sum up: Two girls, not only from Italy but also from my beloved Puglia… One Grand Slam final… The US Open 2015… and no one (NO ONE) could have ever imagined it!
How could I miss the opportunity to watch this entirely Italian, Live and Epic One-Time Event???
Well, I couldn’t! So, my day became a race against time to find this one GOLD ticket for the final match… And after a while I found it!!!! 😉
The next day, I went back to NYC, took the train from Penn Station to the Arthur Ashe Stadium which is incredible by the way, and reached my craved destination.
I was by myself but too excited to feel lonely!!!
People from all around the world were there to see the match and I felt the adrenaline running into my body as never before!
The game started and the few Italians that luckily were there didn’t know who to cheer for! So, everyone started cheering and whooping and hollering for both the Italian girls that actually knew each other since childhood… and it was amazing.
At the end, Flavia Pennetta won but that was a victory for Roberta Vinci as well because they will both be remembered as the two Italian girls who left America speechless!
When I thought it was enough for one day, another crazy thing happened. After winning the US Open 2015, Pennetta announced her retirement in front of the entire world…
… and I realized that, one day, THAT moment would have become an adventure worth telling to my grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends!

Hope you loved the story as I loved living it!!!
Hugs and Kisses.
Gaia.

A FUNNY MOVIE NIGHT AT SUNY NEW PALTZ UNIVERSITY

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We almost come to the end of the fourth week of our “adventure” here in the US, and we haven’t lived yet the real life of a Suny New Paltz student. So we decided to take part at one of the various activities organized by the Center for Student Development: the movie night.
For me it was a totally new and exciting experience, especially because Italian universities usually don’t organize events like this. Indeed, we don’t have a real campus where students live and do activities together also during the evening.
And it’s a pity because, through campus entertainment events and activities, students can get involved in campus life, and this is a further opportunity to meet new people and mingle, getting the most during college education.
So, me and other girls decided to spend our Saturday night like a real American student, first having dinner at the Dining Hall and then watching a movie in one of the classrooms at the Lecture Center. Was our chance to meet other incoming Fall 2015 students and networking with them, after all it’s never too early to start making connections.

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During this totally free event, we were offered popcorn and drinks, with the chance to participate to the raffle drawing at the end of the weekly movie, Jurassic World.

The organizers were able to recreate the atmosphere of the cinema, putting at their ease those students who decided to participate.

During the show, it seemed to be in our bedroom surrounded by our friends, each of them was rejoicing and clapping with us during the most exciting scenes.
Little by little we surrendered to that familiar and funny atmosphere, finding ourselves commenting out loud along with everyone else.

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Although it wasn’t one of my favorite, the level of involvement created in the room made this movie one of the most pleasant and beautiful I’ve ever seen.

 

The plot in a nutshell: Isla Nublar opens the gates: the dream of John Hammond to create a theme park with regenerated and cloned dinosaurs is now reality. The reptiles, now devoid of mystery and anxiety, are downgraded to almost circus animals in the service of multinationals and genetic experiments, the result of which is the most ferocious dinosaur ever: the “Indominus Rex”. Soon, however, the managers of “Jurassic World” will have to deal with their terrible creature.

Overall it was an enjoyable evening that I can not wait to repeat.

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 The next movie event will be on Saturday, October 3 at the Lecture Center.

To keep up with the many activities offered by Suny New Paltz University, click like on this Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/SUNYNewPaltzClassof2019?fref=ts