A Flordian Lives the NYC Life For A Month With Michel'le Valentin

My guest, Michele Valentine is a Floridian, living in Orlando and heads to Manhattan for work and quickly learns what it really takes to survive NYC in winter: layers, street smarts, and a crash course in the subway that includes wrong trains, getting lost, and figuring out how to move at New York speed without getting swallowed by the crowd. I invited her on the show to get her perspective of New York City as a Floridian and see if it has made an impact on her in any good or bad way.  

Michel'le is no stranger to traveling alone and explains how solo travel started for her with Greece and turned into a life rule: stop waiting for people to join you. As a travel agent focused on solo travel, she breaks down how to start small, what to think about for safety, and where to find free planning resources and travel guides at SolamenteTravel.com.If you’ve ever wanted to travel alone, visit New York City, or just shake yourself out of a routine, this one will light a spark. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review.

Visit Her Website: https://www.solamentetravel.com/

Follow Michel'le on TikTok 

https://www.tiktok.com/@marievalee?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Follow Me, Lizzette Perez on TikTok 

https://www.tiktok.com/@lizzetteandthecity?_r=1&_t=ZT-95KZvqb5NcM

Send me on a retreat with Moms like me who has a child with Special Needs.  Listen to Episode 1 to hear about my journey with my twins who both have Cerebral Palsey and click to support my fundraiser to help lower the cost of the retreat! 

 Besitos to you!  Lizzette Perez

https://labeledandloved.networkforgood.com/projects/263440-lizzette-perez-s-fundraiser?fbclid=IwZnRzaAPeHelleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEehKNOt12egjyNjg4KAL6EKPfuJ1os0hn0016v3gWXC5Yg93wCndPvViV_UBU_aem_-qclcBvRHEHJbL6cQTryVA

Transcript

Welcome And Show Premise

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Besitos to you, I'm your host, Lizette Perez. From Apple to Oranges is a podcast about the New Yorkers that now live in Florida. Real stories, real people, real moments happening in both New York and in Florida. And who knows, maybe one day you'll be a guest on the show too. Because one thing I learned over the years is that when I meet another New Yorker, we can't seem to stop talking about it. And this podcast is gonna get down to all the reasons why. Let's to you, I'm your host, Lizette Perez. From Apple to Oranges is a podcast about the New Yorkers that now live in Florida. Real stories, real people, real moments happening in both New York and in Florida. And who knows, maybe one day you'll be a guest on the show too. Because one thing I learned over the years is that when I meet another New Yorker, we can't seem to stop talking about it. And this podcast is gonna get down to all the reasons why. On this episode, we're switching things up a bit, all right? On this show, we always talk about the New Yorkers that now live in Florida. But what happens when a Floridian gets to go to New York and live that New York City life for an entire month? Today, my guest is a TikTok content creator. She just got back from spending a month in New York City for her day job, for her work. And she was capturing those real life moments that had us all locked in because she took us inside that experience. Plus, she is a travel agent, but focuses on solo travel. Now, have you ever taken a trip out of the country by yourself? Because she has. So my guest today is Michele Valentine. How you doing, mama? Hello, how are you? I'm doing good. Welcome. Thank you for having me. I'm so glad you're here today because I'm kind of breaking format with you, but in a fun way. I mean, I it fits. It fits. At least I believe so.

SPEAKER_00 1:54

How was it? Girl, where do I start? I don't even know where to start. I don't know where to make you start.

SPEAKER_01 1:59

So listen, okay, let's let's talk about your job because it's your job that brought you there. What do you do?

SPEAKER_00 2:04

So I work for a call center in the automotive space. So I work with tons of dealerships across the country. So I had one of them bring me over for a month. They wanted me to help them with some things. And they're like, I we need you to see what these our customers, these New Yorkers who live in Manhattan in the middle of the city, because you're a Floridian and you don't know, we need you here for a month so you could see the whole experience. Oh wow. So that's kind of how it started.

SPEAKER_01 2:28

Okay, technically, you are not from New York, you are a Floridian, correct? You got family that lives in New York, but no family in New York. No family in New York, not currently, not ever.

SPEAKER_00 2:37

Well, let's see. Um, my dad or my sperm dominor, whatever you want to call him. He's he's originally from Brooklyn, but I mean, I don't even know where he's at now. But I just know that he's from there. But I don't have any family there. It's it was just work-related, strictly. Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

And you're a content creator too. I found you on TikTok with TikTok friends. Yes, yes. So I brought you on because I saw your content and I thought it was so fun. So when I found out you were there for a month, I was like, you know what? That could be an episode.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

Yes, no, yeah, it was it was definitely an experience. I loved it.

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Let's start with day one. I want to know day one when you got off the airport. What was it like for you stepping into the city?

SPEAKER_00 3:12

Well, I think it started on the plane because the minute the clouds like you know, the plane starts descending, and I finally get a look at the city, I'm like, oh my god, what is this? Um it was flat. I mean, I mean, Florida's flat, but it was white. I've I've never really seen snow before. I saw flurries maybe like 10 years ago, but it was completely white. I saw like frozen lakes and it was and then just a bunch of buildings and it was just gray. So no sun. That was a little shocking in the beginning because I'm just, you know, you're used to sun. Sunshine stage. Sunshine and and warmth and this. So it was already like kind of like uh crazy to just see that initially, and then stepping off the plane, and I'm already cold and I have four layers on. I I came prepared with layers in Florida. I have one hoodie that I survived the entire winter. So I had to go shopping for like a whole wardrobe while you were there or what? No, prior, because I knew that the cold was gonna be serious, and I do not like the cold. So I Googled like a micro capsule where I could buy like four colored shirts, four pants, and just make a bunch of outfits from it. So but yeah, I would say it was shocking already just looking out the window, and then the airport is huge. Well, I walked, I think, like 20 minutes just to be able to get my bags.

SPEAKER_01 4:21

Where did you fly into? Because there's a few airports.

SPEAKER_00 4:23

Oh my god, I picked the wrong airport. JFK, I think everybody goes into La Guardia. So JFK, and then I was going to take the train because I heard it was three dollars, but I had a month's worth of luggage, so that wasn't gonna work. Uh so I took a hundred and like thirty dollar Uber to the city, so that was a nice welcoming.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

Oh my gosh. Yeah, you know, I have tried, you know, just for for you maybe to feel a little better about that decision. I have gotten adventurous and go, okay, from I think it was from JFK as well. I'm gonna take the bus to the this train and the train to I did that. I was planning that. You know what? And it was cheaper, but when I did it, it took me like four hours. Wow. And it was wasting my day, and I was pissed. Wow. And uh, so yeah, from now on, I'm like, you know what? I don't care how much an Uber costs, if it's the same or even more expensive than the flight, it's kind of um better that you did it that way.

Subway Survival And City Pace

SPEAKER_00 5:21

I agree because my first experience with the subway was a little traumatizing.

SPEAKER_01 5:25

So it wouldn't be the best with like 10 suitcases. So yeah, well, so what was that story like? Because I know when the trip I'm just telling you that I got adventurous trying to take the bus and the train into the city. Yeah, I was welcomed by a crackhead. Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

So it's just it's scary. So, I mean, the first three days that I was there, I had the company I was with, they settled me over at Wall Street. And the dealership that I was going to was on 57th Street, and I had to take two trains. So Google Maps became my best friend. Okay. But I got lost every single day for the first week, and the first three days hopped on the wrong train. So it was it was a little frustrating, but it was it's what I like about when I travel. It's it's learning how to live in in somewhere new. It's figuring out how to figure yourself out and how to maneuver in the city where you don't know anybody, you don't know where you're going. But it was difficult. I got greeted by a crackhead as well, slumped over, butt naked. Just things that I am will always have in the back of my head, probably until I die. But nobody's faced by it, which is even crazier. I was walking, there's like a maybe like a 12-year-old girl who was by herself. I was like, Where are her parents? Completely unbothered. Everybody's just moving, everybody's moving fast. And it's like if you're walking slow, they get frustrated, they move around you. It's like with attitude. Yeah. Yeah, like and they don't mean it. I'm just like, dang, I'm moving too slow. I gotta I gotta either step to the side or or walk fast. So it's it's definitely, you know, something to ease yourself in and kind of you have to have all eyes open too, know where you're going, know who's behind you, knew, know who's on the side, know where you're sitting, because you could sit and there's a pile of pea or that th of pee. Yes. So it's it's a lot of learning to do the those first two weeks, I would say.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

So when you got there, your first impression was just Well, when I when I got there, it was good.

SPEAKER_00 7:10

It was cold, but I was wrapped up. It was good. I would say when I got out, we went in the subway and we got out. I felt like I was in a Spider-Man movie. And I told this to everybody. They're like, How is it so far? And I'm like, I feel like I'm in Spider-Man. And they're laughing at me, obviously, because I'm a Floridian, I don't even know what I'm talking about. But it's just like that. You you know, the tall buildings, the cold, the the the fast paced, the people kind of moving quick. So it was good. Overall, good. It was just, I would say the learning curve of figuring out the transportation system was my biggest learning point.

SPEAKER_01 7:43

So it was overwhelming. Yeah. Day one, especially was was that the day you was most overwhelmed, or did something else happen later on?

SPEAKER_00 7:50

I would say day two was most overwhelming because day one was a Sunday. I flew in the day prior so I can get settled in. And then my work week was Monday through Friday, uh, nine to about five. So if I didn't miss any stops, it would be about 40 minutes. But I was leaving at least an hour ahead. Yeah. Just in case I got off the wrong spot.

SPEAKER_01 8:07

Okay, so day two was because you was really happy.

SPEAKER_00 8:10

Yeah, day two, day three, day four, day five. I would say they were they were the the toughest. Because it's me learning how to get to where I need to go. And then not only that, okay, so I work remotely here in Orlando. I'm so blessed, but I'm sitting all the time, which is pretty bad. I'm not a gym girly. I am now, which thanks to New York I am, because now I'm going to the gym. Okay. But over there I was walking 20,000 steps a day. Yeah. And I was out of breath. I was out of breath because there's like little hills and stuff. True. And I'm like, oh my God, like this is great because I'm finally moving and my blood fl my blood is flowing. So I I enjoyed that. There, there's, you know, good in in moving around. So now I'm going to the gym every day. Because I'm like, if I could go over there and move around, why can't I do it here? So I say that's super positive. Something I'm doing different now, actually, because of it. So this might be personal, but did you lose weight while you're there?

SPEAKER_01 8:58

Every time I go back, I lose some weight.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Yes, yes, yes. And that and now I'm in my fitness journey because of it. Okay. I'm so instant. Now I'm like, I was I because me, I'm just so lazy to get up and go to the gym. But now that I spent a month walking every day, five times a week, twice a day, you know, going back and forth. And if I wanted to go out later, you know, now I'm more active. I'm so stoked about it.

SPEAKER_01 9:18

And let me tell you, that's one thing we talk about a lot on the show, the walkability there and how when you come here, we're kind of stuck on our couches, stuck in our houses. And especially with the heat, you want to go outside, you know, this our heat, you're as a Floridian, you're used to it. I'm used to it to a certain extent. But I hate it. Like, I hate the heat here. I can't, I prefer the winter, but you know, I say that because I haven't lived there in so many years. And I haven't done it before.

SPEAKER_00 9:46

You were there with the blizzard. I I my first my first time seeing snow and I get a blizzard, it was actually kind of kind of awesome because, you know, I obviously went back inside. But sometimes the cold for me was so unbearable. I would go to sleep hungry. Wow. I would not even go out.

SPEAKER_01 10:00

You're like, forget this.

SPEAKER_00 10:01

Because I wasn't, I wasn't, no. I just I won't, I was like, I'm going to sleep, and I'll just get some food on my way to work. It was, it was, it was unbearable. Like my face, I would be completely covered up. My face would feel like it was burning because I don't know, it would just burn. I was like, oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_01 10:17

That's why we say it's brick outside. It feels like a brick's hitting you, and and and like see, and now all of it is making sense.

SPEAKER_00 10:24

The the concrete jungle phrase I'm understanding, the New York minute, everybody's like quick, and then those little things I'm starting to pick up, and I'm like, you know what? I I I c I get it now.

SPEAKER_01 10:34

So you went there to work for a month. So did you get to interact with a lot of people, or were you still kind of on your own as you were there? I I know you were working, but I just don't know how involved were people, like how you would do it.

SPEAKER_00 10:46

So I would say I wasn't too involved because I kind of went over there for like a consulting job. Okay. So it's kind of overseeing, watching a lot of stuff happen. So the people that I was working with were already kind of closed off because you know, they don't want to let me in. And I'm like, is this the New York side? Or is this because it was a it was a luxury dealership? Or is it because it's luxury? Because, you know, sometimes luxury dealerships, they're a little, you know, standoffish sometimes. But I didn't interact with a lot of people. I was on my own and I noticed people, they were friendly, but they were to themselves also. So it was like, you know, don't bother me unless you have to bother me.

New Yorkers: Kind Not Nice

SPEAKER_01 11:19

So what's your first impressions of New Yorkers in general? I mean, I know you know the New Yorkan versions out here and the Florida versions of us New Yorkers that are out here that have been here now decades. A lot of us have been anyway. So your first impression, you could be honest.

SPEAKER_00 11:33

Well, I have thick skin. I've I've grown in the auto industry with men, you know, all day, every day. So it doesn't take a lot for me to get offended or anything. I overall thought people were nice. The thing is, they're a different type of nice. They're like, they might cuss you out, but they're gonna leave, they're gonna help you. Like if you're lost, they're probably gonna cuss you out, but then they're gonna help you go where you need to go.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:54

So, like, overall, they they they're more of like thick skin, but they're gonna watch out for you too. You know, I was looking for recommendations on, you know, places to go, and they were like, sure, I got you. You're gonna go here, you're gonna go here, you're gonna go here. So once they opened up, you know, they're they're they're cool people, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:10

Okay. I'm glad you had that experience because that's how I feel about them, you know. There is a saying, and I might be saying this in reverse. There's a saying that New Yorkers are not nice, but they are kind. I think that's the right way to say it. Where I've heard in reverse, Floridians are nice, but they're not kind. I hope I'm saying it right. Anyway, when I go back, you know, I I've been in Orlando now a couple decades or more. So it's one of those things where, you know, I have the New York that I remember and the New York that is now. And I love both versions, I gotta be honest. Like I get it. And I'm glad you get it. But you know, yeah, you you probably got that thick skin too, because you're Latina. What can I ask what's your background is? Yep, I'm Puerto Rican. Okay, you're Puerto Rican, you see. So yeah. So it's not too, you know, you you kinda know. You kind of know.

SPEAKER_00 12:59

Yeah, but my best friend is also from New York. So what's crazy is, and she thought this was hilarious. I'm only used to one New Yorker in my life. She's from the Bronx, you know, so she's got that. She's she's you know, that that flavor, right? And then when I go there, everybody is like that. Not from the Bronx, but everybody's a New Yorker. So I'm like, oh my god, her name's Ashley. I'm like, Ashley, there's like a thousand I'm surrounded by just you here. It's hilarious. So I just she she thought it was funny, but it's just so crazy how you go from like your norm and now you're in somebody else's world. Yeah, you know, and you're it's you're the one that's on the outside. Not everybody's like you here. So it was definitely eye-opening, but just so interesting to see how people move and just the fashion. I went, listen to this craziness. I went thinking. So here you get and where I work, you know, you get dressed every day, you're dressed up, heels, head to toe, whatever. Over there, I thought I was going to work with heels every single day. I thought. But I realized you don't travel in heels. And I I'm telling you, I tried to prepare, I got the the thick cut, the the comfortable shoes. I was not able to do it. So I'm looking, and you know, they're they're bringing their shoes in a bag, you know, they're they're walking in in sneakers, like fashion sneakers, and they're like more business casual, like fashionable. And I'm like, okay, okay. So I little by little I start changing my wardrobe like throughout my journey. The first outfit I wore there and the last one completely different. I bet. Completely different, but it makes sense, it makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 14:27

So let me ask you this: how long did it take you from like day one when you know you was kind of lost, you're trying to figure it out? When did you start to settle in? You know, like like in the sense of- I'm gonna be honest.

SPEAKER_00 14:38

I I I kind of knew this just I'm terrible with directions already. It wasn't until I would say the third week, like mid-third week, where every day I started with Google Maps, but I was able to get to a point where I wasn't opening it until I transitioned between trains. And the only reason I did was to just to make sure I was right. Yeah. But that took three weeks.

SPEAKER_01 14:56

Three weeks. Three weeks.

SPEAKER_00 14:58

And it was just because confusing because the the like Google Maps will tell you to get on this number and then it'll have like these streets, but it doesn't match identically. So I'm like, okay, so am I on the right one? I was just confused all the time.

SPEAKER_01 15:10

Well, now I wish I checked in with you more because there is the MTA app that could have helped you, and there's other apps like walking apps that you could have used. Don't feel bad because I went back and there was this one year I went back and my Wi-Fi wouldn't kick in, so my Google Maps wasn't working, and then I didn't realize my vision was like off and I needed new contact.

SPEAKER_00 15:32

And it's like by the time I'm like, okay, it is it, the doors closed. Yeah. And the doors closed on me one time and I got yelled at. I was like, oh my goodness. Yes, I did. Wow. I have a battle scar. I had a I had a bruise and everything. They they're they're tough to open. Oh, I think I saw you. You posted about that. Yep, I did.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

I did see that on TikTok. I did. Give them me a TikTok handle.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

It's at Marivales or M-A-R-I-E V A L E E.

SPEAKER_01 15:58

What did you find shocking about the city?

SPEAKER_00 16:00

Let me tell you something that I was shocked about. But there is an entire city underground. I didn't realize how much movement happens on the ground. Like I swear it's it's another city. I'm going on the ground and there's there's a market. So there's a I used to get off on, I believe it was 50, I think it's 57th Street. I don't know. There's literally a market called Underground Market, and it's almost like a flea market style market underground. Like you can go get ramen, you can go get jewelry, there's shops underneath the ground in the subway stores while you're going to the train.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:36

So it's just so incredible. There's people playing instruments, there's people, you know, preaching about God. There's so much that happens under there that you wouldn't even know if you're above ground. So that I would say that was probably one of the most shocking things is you don't realize how much movement there is down there. And that's why, you know, I always kept my my things in front. If I had a trench coat, my purse was, you know, inside because there's so much movement. People are bumping into each other. It was just amazing to see that. How people even build that in the train system. The way the train system is built, and you look at a map, I don't know how they don't crash into each other. Like somebody was smart enough to to make them work perfectly, but it is it is shocking. So even though it was difficult to maneuver through, I would say New York has that's that's a win for them. The way that you don't need a car, and I could get to anywhere that I wanted to by just taking the train. As much as you know, I might have not liked it sometimes, it was it was a blessing. It was I didn't have to run a car, it was amazing, it was amazing to see.

SPEAKER_01 17:34

So let's um talk really quick about your content because again, that's how I decided I'm gonna have this girl on my show. So, like, okay, you're nervous, you're going through it. When did you start making the content? Day one?

SPEAKER_00 17:47

Were you like no? So before, so I like to just make content about just traveling and just inspiring people to just get around. So I was like, you know what? I'm gonna do, I'm gonna challenge myself to post throughout this experience. Because I see a lot of people do like day one, you know, taking a solo cruise, day two, you know, and I'm like, I think people would be interested in seeing what it's like a month there if they're not from there. So I wanted to post more. I wanted to try every day, but just with work and it was rough. So I posted as much as I could, but it was my goal initially before I got there to do that.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

What was the first thing, if you could remember? The first thing other than you know the fact that, you know, you might have saw a crackhead first and you were trying to navigate around the city the first couple weeks, especially. What was the first moment that you felt like getting over it? Were you over it before you started to enjoy it at any point?

SPEAKER_00 18:41

No, I started enjoying it like the times that I would force myself out, because I I work and then I just want to be home all day. But I'm like, you know what? I'm in a new city, I need to get out. I feel like once I started going outside of work and discovering, you know, little nooks here, or even I would say the ferry. A lot of people don't, as a tourist, you know, they don't know that they can take a ferry from Brooklyn to to Manhattan, which is what I did. And it was some of the best views. So I found little things like that made me cherish the experience so much more.

SPEAKER_01 19:12

Yeah.

Content Creation While Living The Trip

SPEAKER_00 19:13

So stuff like that. The I think there it's the Roosevelt tram, like the three dollar step. I didn't even go, I wasn't even planning to stay there. I just wanted to write it. Right it uh I did it at like 11 o'clock at night, and it's just so it's just so the city's beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 19:28

It like really is, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:29

Like there's that concrete jungle. I'm used to seeing like palm trees and and stuff, but sometimes different perspectives and different things you see that are outside of your nose just make you appreciate that so much more. Did you feel the energy that the city has? Uh yes. It's such an intense, it's it's it's almost indescribable. It's fast paced, it's intense, but it's like people trying to make it, people hustling, you know, it's people on the grind, always, you know, even these the people on on they do Uber Eats on bikes, and it's like negative six degrees outside, and they got their their mitts, their heated, you know, gloves, and they're just they're making it, they're doing so. I appreciated that as well. It seems it's a city where you know where you you go out for a dream and you you do whatever you can to make it happen. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

So inspiring too.

SPEAKER_00 20:16

Yes, very, very inspiring.

SPEAKER_01 20:18

Very. So, you as a solo traveler, did you get brave and go into some of the boroughs? Did you get go in deep a little bit? Like, did you go into the Bronx and check out your best friend's old hood?

SPEAKER_00 20:28

No, I didn't. I feel like so the cold, I'm telling you, freaked me out so much to where the majority of time I stayed in. It didn't start warming up until the last couple days, and maybe one day during like the first half. It was so that kind of kept me in. I was like, I I cannot do this. And then I also was kind of scared because I I went, they took me out for dinner to kind of like settle me in, and um, I had to take the subway. It was like 10:30 at night. So I'm like, okay, I'll just take it. But then I you realize that this the trains come less and less at night. And then I missed one, and it took 20 minutes for it to get there, and it's only like you and three other people. So I was like cautious about going out after at night. But I ventured into Brooklyn a little bit. I loved it. Anytime I Googled like places to go eat, because I don't like to always go off of what people like TikTokers tell you to go try this. I try to discover it on my own, and I found a couple places. I always ended up in Brooklyn. Always ended up there. So over there was nice. I I tried some food and it was amazing.

Surprise Moments And Near Alicia Keys

SPEAKER_01 21:30

I grew up in the Bronx and you know, I was young, I was a kid. We didn't go into the city as much. Like I really loved going into the city when I was a kid. And I feel like when we moved here, I I didn't finish New York. Like I hadn't had enough of it. So anytime I go back, you know, if I'm staying in the Bronx or if I'm staying with my cousin in Brooklyn, you know, I always try to have a day or two in the city. Because living here, you know, you you see New York on TV a lot. Yes. So it's like, oh, I want to go there. Oh, I feel like I I I could almost imagine. Imagine me being there. So anytime I go back, I do have to spend a little time in the city doing anything. I don't care. I love getting lost, walking through the city. Yes. I love that. I don't I I go back to my old block and all that, but I do love getting lost in the city and finding little moments. That's my favorite thing.

SPEAKER_00 22:16

Yes, I'll I'll plan like half of the trip. I'll be like, I need to go to these spots, but then I let the vibe and whatever's going on kind of take me. And and I always end up discovering something, always end up somewhere where I always like remember after.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

So did you go to any of the regular touristy spots? Like Times Square?

SPEAKER_00 22:34

I I briefly passed by there because I went to Summit on my last day.

SPEAKER_01 22:39

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 22:40

Girl, and when I tell you what happened to me, so I ended up, I left my bags. I had till four o'clock before I had to be back to the airport. And I'm like, you know what? It's warm enough. I'm gonna explore the entire day. I took myself out to breakfast and then I'm like, I'm gonna go to Summit one. I took the train to Grand Central Station. Oh my god, I felt like I was in a Harry Potter movie. Or or the other Spider-Man scene where I don't know which one it is, but I'm just like, I always feel like I'm in a movie scene. Yeah. Or like whenever I'd go to the bars, I felt like I was on an episode of Friends. It's just, it's it's just so cool. But so I ended up there and I see like movimiento, like, like people are moving a certain way, like something's about to happen. But my reservation for summit is an hour is in an hour. And I'm like, so I post about it. I'm like, guys, something is about to happen here. I can tell. I just don't know what it is. And then there's the people, the Apple employees, they all have like, they're all dressed the same, they're all walking around. There's a stage, there's a piano, it's there's pink lighting.

SPEAKER_01 23:34

Don't tell me you were there when Alicia. I was there one hour before it happened.

SPEAKER_00 23:40

Before it happened, right? And then I filmed, I was filming my like good, I did like a goodbye TikTok video where I would transition with with a song. And I did the the song that she sang, Empire's day of mine. Yes. I did the transitions, I posted it to that song, and while I'm in the summit, which I loved, but that wasn't that I loved by the way, she's downstairs singing.

SPEAKER_01 24:00

I can't believe you were there for that. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 24:03

Believe it. Wow. And I was like, I would have stayed, but because I literally had like two or three hours left in the day, I was like, I don't know if whatever's gonna happen is not till tonight. Like I didn't, I didn't know. So I was just like, I could have, I would have balled my eyes out if I would have but it was yeah, free concert. It was, I believe, Apple's uh 50th anniversary. And they brought her over. She sang, and it was I saw the videos while I'm in the airport.

SPEAKER_01 24:25

That must that must have been it hurt. Yeah, I was gonna say that was so sad for you.

SPEAKER_00 24:30

Like it was that would have been like the the closing to this journey. It would have been beautiful. But I mean, I could say it was there just right now. Yeah, that's great.

SPEAKER_01 24:37

That's amazing. Oh my gosh. That is so fun. You see, that's one thing I love about New York. I'm gonna share a story with you that like when I go back home and I visit, I feel like all these amazing things can happen when I'm there. And the funny thing is, I was in Times Square waiting to meet my cousin. And this is a crazy Florida New York story because I was waiting for like 30, 45 minutes for my cousin to come. And I see this guy walk by. Every time I'm in New York, I feel like I'm gonna run into someone that I know. I'm like, that's the beauty of being back home. Um when I'm there, I'm like, I'm gonna see someone. I feel it, I can feel it. So I'm just waiting on people watching. I'm like, oh, I'm in Times Square. Oh, look at everyone, oh, look at the it feels so good. So I see this one particular guy that walks by me and I'm like, he looks so familiar. And I'm like, but I don't know him. I'm like, how do I know him, but I don't know him? And he was like in uniform. He worked like at one of the little places right there. He walked by again, and I got tempted to be like, excuse me, but I didn't. And then, you know, I forgot about him. My cousin is hitting me up. I'm almost there. I'm like, all right, I'm looking out for my cousin. Then boom, I see him one last time. I said, it's meant for me to ask him, how the hell do I know you? Because I don't know you. I know my people. So who the hell are you that I'm recognizing? So I stopped him. I'm like, excuse me, I know this sounds crazy. I'm like, but by any chance, have you ever lived in Florida? Because I know I don't know him from New York. I know that much. And he's like, no, but I got family and friends there, and I was there last summer for my birthday. And then I looked at him. And it was kind of coming to me, but it was coming to me, it was coming to me really slow. But I felt it like, whoa, that must be it. And I looked at him and he looked at me. And then all of a sudden he goes, Berez? And I was like, What? So what had happened was when he mentioned that it was his birthday when he was in Florida, that's when it was kicking in. He was like, I was there for my birthday. We went to the club. You were hosting, you was giving me birthday shout-outs one night. So yeah, that was crazy. That I went from Florida all the way to Times Square, New York, to see a face that I didn't know, and it happened to be a face I saw in Florida, only to come to New York to run into him, and it was somebody I didn't even really know. Those are the things that happened to me when I go to New York.

SPEAKER_00 26:44

I definitely did feel that feeling too. I'm like, I all felt like anything. I walked by and they were filming a show. And yeah, they had like signs when I went to Central Park. Oh my gosh. And there was like on Monday, clear, you can't park here because we'll be filming a show and then it listed. I'm like, wow, stuff here is just you can just walk into just anything here. So it's kind of like just that element of surprise. Like, there's always something going on. And and there was like a pop-up at Central Park and a guy just randomly set up his like DJ stuff and threw like a techno thing. So it's just cool that there's so many events, there's so many things happening, and and I really, really like that. There's always something to do. I couldn't even keep track of the amount of things that were happening while I was there.

SPEAKER_01 27:24

Did you catch any of the showtime on the train, any of the performers, the street performers?

SPEAKER_00 27:29

No, I didn't. Surprisingly. Wow. No.

SPEAKER_01 27:32

Oh, you missed the treat.

SPEAKER_00 27:33

Yeah, surprisingly, no, I didn't. But what was scary is I think while I was there that month, I think I saw on the news like five different times where there was like people pushing people off the platforms. Oh my god. So I'm like, okay, so that means I'm standing against the wall. Until that train stops, um, I'm not going up. So a lot of street smarts that you need to to have. So I was just always with four eyes open, kind of just seeing how people react and just kind of knowing what to do when. Because you know, I was there mostly solo.

Food Finds And Brooklyn Reflection

SPEAKER_01 28:02

You definitely develop an awareness that we don't need to have here, you know. So what about the food? What did you enjoy out there? Did you I mean, did you really find a good slice of pizza?

SPEAKER_00 28:12

Like, I did. I did, and you know what? Is this gonna sound even crazier? It was through Uber. Like it was I ordered a pizza through Uber and it still tasted good when I ate it.

SPEAKER_01 28:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:22

And it was like 30 minutes to deliver. I've ordered pizza here and it's trash. It tastes like cardboard, but even through Uber, the pizza was good. But I I found an amazing Greek spot that I ate five or six times. I went to a Mediterranean place in Brooklyn that I told you about. I went to another Jamaican spot. It it there's such a you know cultural shift in all these different cuisines, and I just I loved it. Yeah, I loved it. There was a lot of Irish bars. Yeah. Irish I went to bars a lot. I I I enjoy a good bar. And if it's a dive bar, there was a dive bar next to Wall Street where I was at, and the guy was selling like three, four dollar beers in like 32 ounce containers. Like, wow, this is my type of place. I don't drink beer, but yeah, just a good old dive bar is is always nice.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

Did you get any bakery treats?

SPEAKER_00 29:06

Like I'm not a sweets person, so I didn't do sweets, but I I did go to I think it's called bagel, uh the bagel market to try a bacon, egg, and cheese. Oof, the cheese pull on that bacon, egg, and cheese. I posted that too because I was just like, the world needs to see this. It was really good.

SPEAKER_01 29:23

Yeah. The food is amazing. You go you definitely gotta know some spots, but a lot of times you find good food without even looking. So that's one thing I love about New York. I go back and I become a foodie, especially when I take my husband, you know.

SPEAKER_00 29:35

And the chicken over rice, uh, the that these these little like the halal car?

SPEAKER_01 29:39

Yes, the halal car.

SPEAKER_00 29:40

Oh, I love halal food and just any chicken over rice is good to me. It was it was good. Yes. So the food scene there is spectacular.

SPEAKER_01 29:48

Yeah. Did you have another favorite moment that will always stick with you other than like what happened at Grand Central?

SPEAKER_00 29:53

Let's see. Oh, yes, yes, yes. So I took the train to Brooklyn because I wanted to take that famous picture in front of the bridge, of course. So I took the picture and then we just kept walking and I ended up at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Oh, I just sat there, I think, in the cold. I sat there for an hour, just sitting and just observing. Because it was just it, you just can't put in into words. It's beautiful. You got the water, the bridge. I did the whole Brooklyn, the Manhattan to Brooklyn Bridge walk. Amazing. It was took about an hour, I think. Yeah, it takes a while to go. Yeah, but it was it was you're you're seeing all the vendors, you know, they're selling pictures, they're selling hats. Like, there's so much to see. And then there's people running, there's people running the bridge. I'm like, wow. So I was like, so our version of you know, running around alongside the beach is is the bridge here. So I'm just kind of like connecting the two different worlds, and I'm like, would I do this? And it's just so different to see how other people live and and see what their daily routine is, and you know, waking up and running the bridge. It's an amazing view. I would say the Brooklyn Bridge Park, because I was able to reflect a lot. I was about halfway through my journey, and I just sat there and just kind of, you know, thought and and where I'm at in my life and look at where I'm I'm in New York. That trip was honestly life-changing for me. Like, when will I ever say again, you know, a company paid for me to stay one month in New York City, in Manhattan, you know, in the middle of the financial district. So I was just thankful every single day, you know. I was thanking God just for the opportunities that I got because people would dream, you know, dream to to live an experience similar to that, to even visit New York, period, in their lifetime. True. It's in many people's bucket lists around the world. So I was just, I'm very fortunate to have experienced that.

SPEAKER_01 31:38

That was a blessing. It really was. So now that you experienced New York in the winter, do you want to go back?

SPEAKER_00 31:44

I want to go back. Yes. I was like, I wish I could, yes, because I already see. Uh so I saw after the blizzard, Central Park was completely covered in snow. And I spent the whole I went, I went um bar hopping during the blizzard. Streets were shut down, and it was just uh like a solo winter wonderland, is what I called it. But I definitely want to go in the spring because I feel like it's more lively. I feel like that's when all the people come out. There's not a lot of people were going out. A lot of people were in. They stay indoors. I don't blame them. I did the same, but I feel like there's there's another world to to to New York in the spring and summertime.

Solo Travel Origin Story In Greece

SPEAKER_01 32:17

There is, there is, and you definitely gotta be on guard even more at times because there's more people, but yeah, still it's a beautiful experience. If you could plan, I mean, you're you're a travel agent as well, and we're gonna talk about that now here in a minute. But if you plan to just write and leave some open spaces for those moments to happen where life in New York on vacation can just bring you a nice little treat, like the Alicia Keys at Grand Test Station, like anything like that. Yeah. Um, you definitely got at least some room for that if possible. But so you definitely had to be brave to go to New York by yourself, even though you had no choice in a sense because it was work, but you are a solo traveler. Yes. Like, tell us about that. Like, how did you start taking journeys on your own to places and where have you been?

SPEAKER_00 32:59

So back in 2017, I had seen, I don't know if you ever heard the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

SPEAKER_01 33:05

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 33:06

And so those Gripple girls, they went to Greece, and when I saw the scenes, I was like, is this a real place? You know, I think it was Santorini at that point. I was like, oh my god. I was like, I cannot die until I visit this. And it's me, it's when I the when I put myself to something and I'm determined whether it happens now or 10 years from now, I'm gonna make it happen. So uh back in 2017, I was like, I'm gonna go. I invited some friends, and you know, a trip to to to Greece is is not like hey, let's go to Puerto Rico for the weekend or let's let's go to, you know, you know, you gotta plan, you gotta get passports. There's there's a lot that goes in into it. So they weren't able to go. So I'm like, you know what? What if I just go by myself? Then I start playing with the idea. I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna do it. So I took my financial aid that um I was supposed to probably pay for my books for, and I bought a a round trip ticket to Greece for a week. And I I did that, I think it was February, and I wasn't going until September. So it gave me enough time to plan to figure out I needed a passport, I need, you know, I need to get prepared. And I just jumped. I I took three flights to get there, and that what trip changed my life. It molded me into what I've turned out to be in a way that's like I don't wait for anybody anymore. Like, if I want to do something and there's nobody around to do it, I'm just gonna do it. So it it was very freeing to to know that what we think are limits sometimes is just in our mind.

SPEAKER_01 34:28

So and at that time, I mean, you was just going to school. There was nothing that triggered it, like nothing traumatizing, like a breakup or anything that sent you to it.

SPEAKER_00 34:41

Only lived in Florida my entire life. So I'm like, there's gotta be more to this. There's more than just, you know, Orlando. There's more, you know, I have to see what else is out there. And I wanted to go out the country because there's more to, you know, in the States, sometimes we're grown a little selfish to where it's all about us, and it's like you don't realize the world is so different outside. You know, there are different norms, different just everything. So I wanted to experience that first hand. I didn't want people telling me, telling me what the experience is. I wanted to live it myself. So that's why I went. Santorini's on my list.

SPEAKER_01 35:11

Yes. I I definitely want to go there one day. What other places have you been to?

SPEAKER_00 35:15

I've been to Egypt. I went to Cairo, I went to Italy. The Italy story is funny because I I I try to take a birthday trip abroad. My birthday was three days from that day, and I was I saw the movie, the James Bond movie. Uh huh. I saw a scene, I'm going there. I booked my trip in 24 hours and I was there in three days. Wow. So I just I'm very spontaneous there. Um, I mean Mexico, Colombia. I met my boyfriend traveling solo in Colombia. Wow. So a lot of stuff has come from solo traveling, to be honest.

SPEAKER_01 35:45

You know, I've done some, but only here in the States. Nothing, nothing fancy like you. But I've been to certain states by myself. Like I went to Minneapolis and Cali and Vegas, and I've done some because I I go to these conventions. Okay. So I sell Scentsy as a home fragrance company. I saw Scenty on the side, and I always go to their conventions, and it's caused me to travel. And I've gone to New York by myself, which the first few times was kind of overwhelming, especially when I went, because I went like when my twins were young, and I have twins who have a physical disability. So leaving them behind was kind of like sad. And I'm like, but I needed to go home. I wanted to go home. New York was my first solo trips. And, you know, mind you, I had been here some years before I even went back home. So when I did go back home, it was definitely kind of like you, like almost starting over in New York, where I'm like, okay, I gotta figure this out. And it was very overwhelming because of everything I was going through at that time, but it was very empowering once I got a handle, you know, like once I got a hang of it, and I was like, okay, I'm back to myself again, you know.

SPEAKER_00 36:47

You know, and a lot of a lot of women think like, oh, I wish I could travel abroad, or I wish I can go, I'm too scared, which is uh it's very valid. I mean, I I'll be honest, I still get scared traveling alone. It's you're going somewhere that you don't know. But I mean, you don't always have to go abroad. You can take a weekend trip and you know, a staycation. You can, if you're you can go to the coast, you can go to Cocoa Beach for the weekend, you can go to New York, you can do something a little less risky just to spread your wings out a little bit. And little by little, you know, you start opening up and you realize, I got this. Yeah. You just you just keep going from there.

SPEAKER_01 37:18

Yeah, a lot of times, you know, we think we need to go with people. And I'll tell you what, when I do travel by myself, so you know, there's a few, maybe a couple hours where I'm like, oh, I wish my husband was here after all, or I wish my friend was here with me after all. But then I get to the hotel and I'm kind of in the quiet zone and I'm by myself, and I can just, you know, sit in it for a minute that I am by myself, and I love it.

SPEAKER_00 37:40

I I was gonna say there is a con to that. You might like it too much. And I think that's where I'm at now. I'm like, I almost now I just I'd rather do solo trips than ask my friends sometimes because you get that. You don't have to worry about, you know, splitting expenses. I mean, which will usually that's that's easier, but you don't have to worry about asking where you want to eat or what are we doing. Like you have full control of everything. You move when you want, you sleep when you want, you do whatever you want. So it becomes empowering and you become so in love with yourself that it's it's hard to break that out.

SPEAKER_01 38:12

Yeah, because I told you my experience after traveling solo, rooming or you know, doing the roommate thing with some friends on some trips. There's the friends I like to drink, the friends I like to sleep in, the friends that stay up too late. Yeah, so you gotta work all around those little details, and you're definitely at someone else's mercy when you're traveling. So you gotta be really good. And I've learned to be really good. Like, okay, I'm easy, yeah, I'm down for whatever. You know, if we do nothing, we do nothing. Some trips will break up friendships. But that's true. That's what I was leading to. Some trips will be like, okay, that's it. You know, just like it could break up a relationship because you learn who you are on these trips because sometimes you gotta turn on a version of you that is.

SPEAKER_00 38:54

And it's so important to travel with people you trust. Yes. Because one thing when I would go out, go on trips with my girls is if one of us is leaving, we're all leaving. Nobody is staying behind, especially with the times that we're in right now. You have to be super cautious about it.

Solo Trip Tips And Free Guides

SPEAKER_01 39:07

What's the best advice for someone who may want to take a solo trip? They're hearing the show, they're like, you know, I've thought about that before. What should be their first move?

SPEAKER_00 39:14

To contact you? They can. Yes. I mean, I so I have I started a website recently because I I had a lot of people that were asking me, like, hey, do you have uh tips on when you went here, when you went there? So I started creating travel guides. I always get asked, like, hey, what are tips or what can I do to travel, or if you have any recommendations on certain places. So I started building out travel guides that will literally break down how to plan it, thought process, what do you need to travel to go, food, nightlifes, common scams against women. So I started building that out with all the countries that I've been to so far. And you can find that on my website. It's free. I just wanna I feel like there's not enough resources for girls who want to travel. So it's just something I I want to build out and start giving access to.

SPEAKER_01 39:58

So do you have that website or it's coping?

SPEAKER_00 40:00

Yes, the website's called solamente travel.com. So you can find me there.

SPEAKER_01 40:05

And I'll put it, you know, I'll put it with the description there so you can visit the website. Yes. And um, yeah, I I definitely want to um encourage those listening to check it out because yeah, especially if you're thinking about moving to Florida, you know, come visit first, right?

SPEAKER_00 40:21

And you can find there, there's places where you can book, like through Skyscanner. I use Skyscanner a lot to book trips and it'll filter it out to the cheapest. There's stuff there where you can look for activities to do, uh, for hotels. So you can find all of that, all those resources there to help plan the trip.

SPEAKER_01 40:36

Do you by any chance have the ability to help a solo traveler who happens to be in a wheelchair? Because like when I have to travel with my family, I definitely gotta look for accessibility. And for me, I'm not just looking for accessibility for one, but I'm looking for two because both my twins are in wheelchairs. I know a girl who has one of the mobile scooters, the wheelchairs, and Chelsea Bear, she's an influencer as well. She shares her journey having cerebral palsy and she travels alone. So there are travelers out there, solo travelers out there, and some who may have a disability. So are you able to help a family like mine, for example?

SPEAKER_00 41:12

Absolutely, absolutely. On the website, you can find my contact information. You can reach out to me there. On my TikTok, you can find me as well. So I'm also a travel agent. So I actually started booking my own travel through there, but I help my friends and I'm kind of like their plug to figure out where they want to go and what to do.

SPEAKER_01 41:29

You know, Florida's big on staycations because we live by the beaches, we live by the theme parks, you know. We got it good here when it comes to that. I love a good staycation. You could just take an overnight or a weekend vacation right here at home. So, where have you been in Florida that you recommend that you like or you know, anything like that?

Florida Picks And What She Avoids

SPEAKER_00 41:47

I would say family-wise, I definitely recommend Evermore Resort. So they actually have the biggest man-made lagoon in all of Florida. There's actually a location, it first opened up in Tampa, but there's another one uh in Orlando at the Conrad. It's perfect for families. They have like villas that can accommodate, I think, up to 12, 15 people. So it's super family friendly. It has a lot of activities on site at the resort that you can do. And then also, I would say solo-wise, I think during the hot summer, a trip to Kelly Park is great at Rock Springs. Now, a tip is you do have to show up there. If you're going on the weekend, you need to be there by 7, 8 a.m. the morning. Yes, because it gets packed and it it sells out. They only let a certain amount of cars in and it's it's super budget friendly. They charge per car, it's like three bucks. And you spend the whole day there. They have grills, you rent tubes, and you get to float on a lazy river, a man, uh, not a man may, it's a natural lazy spring, lazy river, and you can spend the day there. So I would say those are my top two.

SPEAKER_01 42:49

I know you've been telling us about your New York moments and you know, sharing the info on the travel agency and the experience, you know, you just had in New York overall. Let's talk about Florida real quick. I want to know if there's anything about Florida, you growing up here, that you actually don't like.

SPEAKER_00 43:04

Ugh, I don't like the tourist spots. I know it's so bad. I just I feel that's just the traffic sucks. Yeah. You get on I-4 and it takes an Orlando's an hour away from Orlando. It is. Yeah. So just the super, super tourist spots, I would say I I'm not a fan of. I just I like family-owned stuff that are more local. I love supporting family-owned businesses. So stuff, stuff like that, I would say.

SPEAKER_01 43:29

And how about like your favorite spots to eat? Um, because you know, traveling, a big part of traveling is the food. I think. So for those who come here, what are your favorite places to eat here?

SPEAKER_00 43:38

I would say if you like ramen, domu. Domu they actually w uh won a Michelin bib because they're budget friendly. So now Michelin has a section where they'll recognize like cheap eats, stuff like that. So Domu won. If you like Chinese noodle slap, believe the hype. It is amazing. Believe the hype. It's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 43:57

I've heard about both of those places and I have yet.

SPEAKER_00 44:00

And that is actually in the tourist area, I would say. It's close to a lot of tourist spots. But slap believe the hype. It's it's it's a small little place, but I know they're gonna expand later on because they're that good.

SPEAKER_01 44:09

Where's your favorite place to travel? Like, do you like going to Miami? Do you like going to Tampa?

SPEAKER_00 44:14

I would so no, I stay away. I prefer Fort Lauderdale, but I like West Palm. West Palm, I actually went on my way back from a work trip. Our office is in Coral Springs. I stopped by West Palm for the day. We rented e-bikes, and you're able to like ride around the coast, and there's like nice beach bars, and you can just ride around neighborhoods and look at million-dollar houses. And so I spent a day trip there. So I love West Palm. It has a really nice uh social atmosphere and clear water. Clear water's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 44:45

So when you travel, do you travel more to unplug or just to really explore?

SPEAKER_00 44:49

Both. I try to squeeze both in my trips because because I work so much, I don't have as much time off as I'd like. So I have to find time to to kind of like decompress, but also live it up. So it's just balance.

SPEAKER_01 45:02

Live it up like you did in New York.

The Hype Is Real And Closing

SPEAKER_00 45:05

Listen, my experience was incredible, and sometimes I think we downplay our potential. And New York really reminded me of the sky's the limit. So I was going through kind of a funk where I was living in a routine, which is mistake number one is don't be in such a routine that you miss out on life. So going to New York really reminded me that the sky's the limit.

SPEAKER_01 45:28

You know, I started the podcast because I realized throughout the years that I've been here as a New Yorker in Florida, raising my Florida babies. Okay, because my daughters are from here. Every time I meet a New Yorker, one thing I realize is that we can't stop talking about it. Every time I meet a New Yorker, we gotta talk about our memories and stuff. And uh I just want to ask you, now that you've had that experience, do you now, if you've never had before, do you now believe the hype?

SPEAKER_00 45:54

Absolutely. Yes, the hype is real. The hype is real. Everybody should visit. New York is one of those places where you need to see it at least once.

SPEAKER_01 46:02

And do you now believe why it's hard for us to stop talking about it? Yes, I do.

SPEAKER_00 46:07

Because I think now I'm never gonna stop talking about it. And I was only there a month. Can you imagine being raised there?

SPEAKER_01 46:12

Yes, and that's coming from a Floridian, ladies and gentlemen.

SPEAKER_00 46:17

Listen, I never thought that I would be going to New York. And for a month, like that's crazy. A week maybe, but a month. So this was crazy. But what what's great is, you know, I I like to make content. I like to show my travel experiences. And and I know most people, you know, they they see people going on solo trips on TikTok, they see people going on cruises, you know, they see everybody doing everything, but that can also be them too. So they don't have to just, you know, watch from the screen. They can they can also be part of it. So I'm I'm building a platform where you can get help and look at places where you can go too. You there's travel guides. You can even find travel deals on the website, and it's completely free. There's no strings attached. It's just a platform to help you discover the world and be able to travel too. And maybe you might find that perfect New York trip there too.

SPEAKER_01 47:04

Michele Valentine, thank you so much, mama, for joining the podcast. I really appreciate you being here.

SPEAKER_00 47:10

Thank you for having me. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 47:12

Leave us a comment below and thank you for checking out this episode. Check the description so you can reach out to Michele about booking your solo trip and give me a follow at Lizette Perez. And don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out. Until the next one, besitos to you.