Living in New York City versus Living in Washington D.C
There is always a moment in life when a person has to choose where to live. As a student, I will be soon transferring to a four-year university and it is time for me to assess where I should live. This essay will focus on evaluating the differences and similarities between living in two of the major cities in the United States; New York City and Washington D.C. I have visited both cities multiple times and they are both exceptional places to settle, but consider that living in New York City will suit my lifestyle better than living in the nation’s capital.
To make a better evaluation between these two cities, this essay will be based only in three criteria: Metro transportation, museums and theaters, and architecture.
Regarding the first element –Metro transportation–, Washington D.C possesses a Metro system that closes at 12 A.M. Sundays through Thursdays and at 3A.M. on Fridays and Saturdays. In addition to that, prices vary according to the length of the trip and peak hours. On the other hand, The Metro system in New York City is operational on a 24/7 basis, and it has a flat rate of 2.50 each trip regardless of the time and length of the journey. The one thing both Metro systems have in common is the fact that they have daily and weekly passes, which allow the holder to take as many trips as needed for a flat rate over the time the pass is active.
Moving forward onto art and theaters, Washington D.C. has the Smithsonian museums as well as various art galleries which are, mostly, free of charge. This feature makes them available and appealing to a wide audience. In addition to museums, the nation’s capital has a few theaters that one can visit, but the selection of plays is very limited, especially if one want to see a famous production. In contrast to the free admission of museums in D.C., New York City’s museums often involve paying a high admission fee, this makes them less affordable to people living on a budget. On the other hand, the Big Apple offers a wide variety of plays; from musicals to classics and independent productions, New York City has a play for everyone in town. An outstanding fact that contrast the theater ‘experience’ within these two metropolises lies in the fact that D.C does not have a theater district, while New York City does. Having said this, the Big Apple is home to some of the most famous plays such as The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked while D.C. is home to a collection of museums that are known internationally.
Lastly, architecture varies severely between these two metropolises. Washington D.C. exhibits a very classic architecture; the constructions are not as tall as the ones present in a modern urban area. The nation’s capital presents a landscape full of monuments and buildings inspired on Greek and Roman designs, construction’s elevation seem to be below the Washington’s Monument and the Capitol’s height. Some of the most significant landmarks of D.C. are The Lincoln Memorial, The White House, The Capitol and The Washington Monument; all of these grand landmarks are examples of Washington D.C.’s architecture. Unlike Washington D.C, New York City’s landscape is filled with skyscrapers. Tall buildings with countless shapes are the norm when walking around the Big Apple, some of the most famous skyscrapers in New York City are the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the new World Trade Center complex – which is still under construction – and the Trump Tower. If Washington’s constructions are inspired in Greek and Roman designs, New York City’s is inspired by the constant changes in technology nowadays.
Finally, after assessing each of the items described in the beginning of the essay, I have concluded that New York City would be –from these two cities– the ideal place for me to live; it will save me the problems and expenses of having a car since public transportation is open 24/7, it also satisfies my challenging artistic tastes with a variety of plays and museums from where to choose –despite they are more expensive– and the architecture makes me feel at home since I grew up in a city full of tall buildings and busy, narrow streets. New York City is, to me, the ideal place to live.
Written on September 29, 2012
randomwriter006 