Dayanna

Finally, it's my turn to talk about my day in Philly! I thought when this day came, I would be doing something interesting so I could have a great story to tell, but instead, nothing mind-blowing happened, but honestly, that’s kind of the point. Here’s how it went down.

I was up at 7:30 AM (why so early? Because Halloween). After a solid night of costumes and pumpkin carving with my boyfriend in the suburbs, it was time to head back to my apartment in Philly. The city welcomed me with those classic gray clouds, like it was saying, "Yeah, we’re back to normal. Now go pay your rent.".

Philly has this chaotic energy that reminds me of Lima, Peru, my hometown. I grew up there, so I’m used to the noise, the unpredictability, and the convenience of being able to walk everywhere or, if I’m brave, hop on public transport. 

Around 11:30, after pretending to work for a bit, I decided it was time to see if a late breakfast could save me. So I headed to this Cuban coffee shop on South St. that I’d been wanting to try. It’s run by the nicest married couple, who make you feel like you’ve just walked into their home. The food was so good that I scarfed it all down before even thinking about taking a picture. Sorry, Instagram, you’ll have to imagine my “cortadito” and two empanadas.

Fueled up, I took a quick walk to admire the Halloween decorations one last time before they disappeared. Philly people seriously go all out for Halloween. Giant skeletons, creepy doorways, cobwebs...some real, some just for show (I think). Philly’s creative spirit never fails to impress me, and honestly, I’ll miss all those decorations. They add a certain charm that’s hard to beat.

I went back to my apartment for another round of “working” (a.k.a. justify my paycheck)  until my stomach reminded me it was time to eat again. So I headed out for another walk to find some comfort food. Let’s be real Philly in the fall is just unbeatable. Cool weather, crispy leaves, that perfect cozy vibe. Why can’t it be October all year?

Eventually, after a day of appreciating Philly’s artistry and resourcefulness...

I decided to round things off with the warm hug of a good, hearty bowl of ramen. Because, really, what’s more Philly than ending your day with a random, unplanned meal that somehow feels like destiny?  

So yeah, not the wildest day, but let’s be honest that’s the beauty of it. Not every day has to be fireworks and high-fives. Sometimes it’s just Cuban coffee, Halloween decorations, and the reminder that this city can be chaotic, creative, and oddly comforting all at once. Philly, you’re one of a kind.