Sunday dawned sunnier and warmer than yesterday. The weather is just magical. The sky so blue, the air crisp and fresh. Living as NewYorkers we decided to do the Sunday thing, a stroll through the park. 

Central Park is a magical oasis which allows you to leave the city behind. 

We walked from our hotel to the Port Authority subway station. Underground from Times Square, about ten minutes and a number of blocks across town. The maze of the 42nd subway tunnels is as complex and confusing as it is ingenious and an engineering marvel. 

We alighted the subway at 72nd Street on the West side of the park. The Dakota hotel loomed behind us as we crossed the road. Think John Lennon. Crossing the road we enter Central Park at Strawberry Fields and walk past the masses paying homage to the Imagine tribute. Thirty six years on from Lennon’s assassination and the crowds still come. Interestingly I share my birthday with this sadness. 

As we pass the crowd we stroll across the park, taking in the fall foliage, the couples rowing boats near Bow Bridge. The crowds are certainly out. Bow Bridge is packed and photo opportunities limited. Families, couples, runners, dog walkers, groups of teenage friends all share this magical space.

We pass a Movies of Central Park tour and watch the tour group listen to where the Smurfs appeared, Wall Street was filmed over there, Serendipity, Enchanted, Home Alone. So many films. 

We move on and make our way to The Boathouse. There are two choices here for lunch. Sitting inside and paying $35 for a burger and enjoy the view (usually a months booking in advance is needed) or sitting outside for a $5 burger and fighting the local wildlife off. We didn’t book so it was outside for us. Which was perfect. We sat and watched the crowd pass by and while eating were joined by a family of birds. I’m not a bird expert so can’t tell what they were. I can say they were game and one dive bombed Mardi’s hot chips and stole one. 

After lunch we walked further into and up the park to see an old friend. Still Hunt. This magnificent sculpture of a panther looms over walkers and runners as if readying to pounce at any minute. We sit on the opposite side of the road and take in the view. 

A dog approaches us on a massive lead and starts barking at me. It’s owner tells us shortly afterwards that Jade is afraid of cameras. Strange, but there you go. Jade is a Spitz. I think they are banned in Australia, traditionally a hunting dog from Japan very closely related to the wolf. 

We chat for a while about dogs, the park, the weather and eventually head off. 

We ramble through The Ramble, a twisting and meandering set of walkways deep in the heart of the park. We merge and wander towards the East side of the park and the 59th street exit. 

It’s time for some Lindt chocolate. We walk a few blocks before we here shouting and chanting. More anti Trump protests. Police are in their hundreds as we pass 56th street. We are diverted away from Fifth Avenue. Police are yelling at people, “take your photo and go”. The Looky Loos are everywhere. It’s a building and a blocked street. 

We eventually make it around and get to Lindt on 53rd Street. We sample some treats and purchase some yummy Lindt balls. We get 20 free balls for our trouble and leave the shop with our bounty. Yes, we did get a lot. Yum. 

We decide to pop down the subway rather than walk the extra nine blocks down and two blocks across. The streets are busy and protestors are everywhere. 

We catch the subway for one station, change and catch another subway to get us close to our hotel. It’s s bit of a wait, but we wander the platform and look around. They are all interesting. 

We get home just on dark and settle in for a while thinking about our evening plans. 

We fall asleep and snooze on the lounge for a couple of hours. Mardi organises some returns to Amazon and I nick out and take some photos and pick up hot dogs for dinner. Times Square is swarming with people still, I look out for the super moon, but it’s not really super yet. We have a cruise planned tomorrow to see it from the Hudson River. 

I head back in and we settle in for the night.


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