Mardi was feeling a bit under the weather today so she decided to take it easy. I used the opportunity to walk around the park, Central, this time. Sunday in the park is fun, relaxing and ever changing. Today, the sun was shining and the people, pets and prams were out.
I started up 6th Avenue from 44th and walked to 57th to take in the new skyscrapers changing the skyline of NYC.
Yesterday we looked at the majestic facades of 5th Avenue, today the modern glass edifices were prominent. Tall, shiny and thin, the so called pencil skyscrapers are riding along 57th street, two blocks back from the park, but with million dollar views for miles around.
I then entered the park and walked left around the pond over the Gapstow bridge, well over 120 years old and continued my walk to the famed literary walk, or more formally The Mall. This stretch of walkway is lined with statues of historic giants, Shakespeare, Beethoven, Columbus.
The finery of NYC used to walk the Mall in their Sunday best, today the mall is lined with hawkers, buskers, bubble makers, religious freaks, and street performers.
I wander the mall to Besthesda Terrace. I stand and watch the crowd. A couple are getting married, five friends sit and chat. A person is accosted by a Hare Krishna. There are dozens of the orange clad folk walking around offering gifts.
Pigeons walk and float grabbing bits of food here and there, the bubble man makes massive bubbles to the delight of kids.
After a while I move and cross a Bow Bridge. The oldest iron bridge in the park, built some 150 years ago. It’s always busy as people try and recreate Hollywood moments or get engaged. I stop for some photos from the northern side, I’ve never done that before, I’ve always stood on the south. And interesting perspective from here. People are rowing on the lake, that’ll stop soon as the weather grows colder, but today the mid afternoon sun is warm and the lake is abuzz with rowers, some adept, others not so.
I then wander The Ramble, a myriad trails winding and sending their way through a changing and undulating landscape. I veer right and pass the massive MET, on my right, still heading north. The glass windows on the outside of the MET are massive and house the exhibits we saw a few days ago.
I leave East Drive and work on up to the Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. This vast body of water belies the fact you are in the centre of one of the busiest places on earth.
The reservoir runs from 86th to 96th street and runs across the width of the park. Built in the 1860s it hold a billion gallons, 3.8 billion litres, and was once a water supply for NYC. The city now uses that much water in four hours.
I walk the circumference of the reservoir, see the time lapse video, and takes some photos. It’s a busy place, runners mainly use the track and on this perfect Sunday. There are dozens.Â
As the wind picks up and some clouds roll in I finish my walk and exit the park on the west side st around 86th street. I contemplate a 42 block walk home or the subway. I’m a bit nervous on my own, not about being mugged or anything like that, but getting on the wrong train or ending up somewhere weird. I decide the subway. I’m near the natural history museum and done trains will get me to 42nd street from here. I descend into the subway and hop on the first train, downtown, and get to 42nd street. I pop up at 8th Avenue and 44th. Perfect. Shake Shack and a two block walk home.Â
I get home just on dark and Mardi is there. She’s feeling better and popped out herself for an hour and visited the Bryant Streets markets.Â
We catch up on each other’s day and decide to have dinner in. An old favourite Johns pizza.Â
We’ve got a busy week ahead, dinner with friends tomorrow, the natural history museum Tuesday, Billy Joel Wednesday, the tenements on Thursday, grand central behind the scenes on Friday. We’ve planned a mostly indoor week given the forecast.
