monicazorrilla - Monica Zorrilla

May 21

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Life Experiences, New York 0 comments

The Familiar Feeling of a Neighborhood Bar

The Familiar Feeling of a Neighborhood Bar There’s another side to neighborhood bars that people don’t really talk about. Walking into one alone can feel intimidating at first. Not because anybody is necessarily rude, but because neighborhood bars usually have their regulars. People know each other. The bartender knows everybody. Everyone has their usual spot, their routines. And the interesting part is that all of those people usually come from completely different walks of life. You have people working construction sitting next to someone from an office job. Bartenders after their shifts. Nurses. Artists. Teachers. People coming from long workdays, night shifts, stressful jobs, lonely apartments, celebrations, heartbreaks, or just ordinary days. That’s part of what makes neighborhood bars feel different. And it’s not always about late nights or partying either. A lot of times people meet there after work in the afternoon to watch a game, have one drink, say hello to familiar faces, relax for a bit, and just unwind before going home. That’s what makes it comfortable. The bartenders know you. Sometimes they introduce you to other people. Over time, the place starts feeling familiar without anybody forcing anything. There’s no pressure. No expectations. You can sit […]

May 18

by monicazorrilla in Blog, Cities, English, Inspiration, Travel 1 comments tags: blog, life experiences, personal travel blog, storytelling, travel, Travel stories, world

The Places I’ve Been, The Stories I Carry

Throughout my life, I’ve had the opportunity to experience different places around the world — some through work, others through vacations, and some simply through the unexpected turns life takes. I’ve visited countries that left me speechless, cities I still miss, and airports where I only spent a few hours but still walked away with a story. I’ve tried foods I never imagined tasting, listened to languages I didn’t understand, met people completely different from me, and learned that every culture has its own unique way of seeing life. Some places I experienced deeply. Others I only briefly touched during a layover. But all of them, in one way or another, left something with me. I have spent more than two decades living in New York after moving from Peru, with many journeys along the way. Over time, I realized I didn’t want to keep all of these stories hidden only in photographs or forgotten somewhere in my phone. I wanted to write them down. This blog was born from that feeling. From the places that shaped me. From unexpected stories. From people. From food. From quiet moments inside airports. From losing a phone in Japan. From unexpectedly running into […]

Mar 13

by monicazorrilla in Central Park, English, New York, Photography, Winter 0 comments tags: Central Park, horse carriage, landscape, lovely, magic, New York, NYC, snow, winter

A Winter Moment in Central Park

Some photographs capture a scene.Others capture a memory. This photo was taken many years ago during one of those magical winter days in Central Park, when New York transforms into something almost unreal. The snow had just fallen, covering the ground and the tree branches in soft white layers. The air was crisp, the light warm, and the entire park felt peaceful and quiet. As I walked through the park with my camera, I noticed one of the classic horse-drawn carriages slowly moving through the snowy path. The white carriage, the gray horse, the driver dressed in dark winter clothing — it all looked like something from another era. The contrast between the snow, the trees, and the elegant carriage immediately caught my eye. I lifted my professional camera and extended my arm as far as I could to frame the moment exactly the way I wanted. I wanted the horse, the carriage, the trees and the winter atmosphere all in the same frame. Click. That moment was captured forever. But the funny part of the story happened right after. As photographers know, sometimes we take a step back to see the composition better or to move out of someone’s […]

Feb 20

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Inspiration, Life Experiences, Photography, Travel 1 comments

I Don’t Put My Life on Hold

At some point, I stopped waiting for the perfect moment. The perfect trip.The perfect plan.The perfect company. I understood that life isn’t something you prepare for… It’s something you live. I’ve traveled alone because I wanted to go.Not because there was no one —but because I felt like going. I’ve reserved tables for one.Gone for walks without a plan.Organized my home as if it were a temple, not for visitors. It’s not rebellion.It’s an emotional responsibility. I learned that loneliness isn’t always about being alone.You can be surrounded by people and feel disconnected.And you can be physically alone and feel completely at peace. I’ve had long relationships.I’ve had deep friendships.I’ve lived shared chapters and individual ones.All of it is part of life. But what truly gave me strength was this: Discovering that I can hold my own life. That I can travel even if no one is available to join me.That I can dress up even if there’s no event.That I can cook beautifully even if the table has only one setting.That I can buy myself flowers without waiting for someone to bring them. My home is my center.My body is my home.My life is my responsibility. It hasn’t always […]

Feb 20

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Peru, Peruvian 0 comments

Loving Peru Also Means Demanding Dignity

Being Peruvian is not just about having been born in that land.It is about having grown up with its history, its struggles, its flavor, and its resilience.And that is why it hurts. In less than ten years, eight presidents.Eight faces promising change.Eight speeches talking about hope.And the result always seems to end the same: crisis, impeachments, corruption, prison, disappointment. It is not only political instability.It is a moral fracture. My grandfather wrote a book when he was nearly eighty years old.Eighty years of life.Eighty years of watching the country move through cycles of hope and disillusionment.And even so, instead of resigning himself, he chose to write. Not to become famous.Not to make money.But to leave something behind.To try to awaken awareness.To remind us that voting should be a responsible, informed act—done with heart and with judgment. He believed citizens needed to think before handing over the country’s future. But I grew up hearing something very different:“You have to vote for the lesser evil.” At what point did we normalize that?How can it be that we go to the polls thinking not about who is the most prepared, the most ethical, the most committed… but about who we believe will cause […]

Jan 09

by monicazorrilla in New York, Photography 0 comments

New York Public Library

Jan 04

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Inspiration, Life Experiences, Photography 0 comments tags: architectural photography, clouds, landscape, lima, Peru, Reflection

2026

I look at this photo, and I don’t think about vacations or escape. I think about how I want to live. The sky is cloudy, the sea is not completely still, and the beach is almost empty. And yet, everything feels calm. A real calm, not forced. One of those that doesn’t come because everything is perfect, but because you learn to be at peace even when it’s not. That’s how I want my 2026 to be. I want a calmer mental life. I want less noise in my head, fewer unnecessary loops, and less anxiety over what I cannot control. I want to learn —keep learning— to live more in the present, like this horizon that doesn’t rush, that just is. But I also want the strength of the sea. Not the wave that crashes, but the constant, silent strength that never stops. That strength that keeps pushing even when no one is watching. In 2026, I want many things to keep improving. Some have already started, others still need time. I want to feel stronger emotionally, more confident in myself, clearer about what I want and what I don’t. I want to be more patient, more honest with […]

Sep 27

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Inspiration, Life Experiences 0 comments

The Path I Never Planned, But Was Meant to Walk

My life has been a journey I never imagined. When I left Peru, I thought it would only be for a short time, and without realizing it, more than two decades went by. I left behind my family, my home, and my traditions… and arrived in a country that, over time, also became a part of me. Along the way, I’ve experienced many things: moments of joy, achievements I never thought I could reach, as well as loneliness, goodbyes, and changes that have hurt. I’ve come to realize that no matter how much we try to control everything, life always finds a way to surprise us. People come and go, plans shift, and feelings transform. Over time, I’ve learned that neither I nor anyone else holds all the answers. Only God and life know why things happen, when a door should open or close, and which paths we must walk to grow. Even if I don’t always understand it in the moment, everything eventually begins to make sense later on. Today, when I look back, I see that every step, every tear, every smile, every doubt has shaped me into who I am. And even though it hasn’t always been […]

Aug 04

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Familia, Inspiration, Life Experiences, Peru 0 comments tags: amigas, Apoyo, familia, lima, no hay distancia, Peru, recargar

Stepping Away to Return Stronger

Coming to Peru and spending time with my family has been medicine for the soul. Feeling their love, their unconditional support, their presence… reminded me that I am not alone, that I have a home that always holds me up. Reuniting with friends I’ve known since childhood was also a beautiful gift. They made me realize that distance doesn’t erase bonds — that even if we’re far apart, we can still support, listen to, and be there for each other. I’m deeply grateful to them for reminding me of that with so much love. Taking a break from social media these past two weeks also helped me make space in my mind, to listen to myself clearly, and to understand many things I needed to process. Today, I return to New York with a stronger heart — but above all, with more peace. I know I still have a path to walk, but I also know that I have the power to change, to heal, and to move toward where I truly want to be.

Jul 30

by monicazorrilla in Blog, Cities, English, Español, New York, Photography 0 comments tags: architectural photography, blue sky, building, clouds, golden color, Manhattan, New York, Reflection

The Reflection of the Chrysler Building in New York City

This photo looks straight up between the towering buildings of Manhattan, New York. The Chrysler Building gleams with a golden light, and its reflection in the glass building next to it makes the view even more breathtaking. The sky, with its fluffy clouds and deep blue hue, contrasts perfectly with all the steel and glass. It’s one of those moments that makes you stop and look up: simple, bold, and beautiful.