Thursday presented us with another gloriously sunny but cool day. Robert and I headed out to the Intrepid Sea and Air Museum and Mardi had a quiet morning at home. I met Robert in 44th Street and we walked two 45th, then across the island to 12th Avenue. Robert sees the massive Aircraft Carrier come into view at around 10th Avenue. We cross 12th using the footbridge and enter the museum.
We first explore the airfield in the upper deck of the ship. It is covered with a variety of aircraft:L Migs, Harriers, Grummens as well as a Lockheed A-12 Blackbird. Sikorsky and Bell helicopters are also on display. We then move into the Space Shuttle Pavilion and are both amazed at the size and scale of the Enterprise. We walk around the shuttle and explore it from below and beside and then explore the collection of shuttle related artifacts.
We then move to the main navigation centre. We explore the captains quarters, navigation deck and guidance areas. We speak to volunteers, now retired seaman who served aboard the Intrepid during its tours in WWII and Vietnam. The spaces are small and the technology is ancient, the ship was commissioned in 1943.
We then move to the lower deck and explore the displays in this area. Propellers, machine guns and other war based artefacts. Robert spends some time in a simulator and afterwards we move to the submarine exhibit. We board the sub and walk its length, if we thought things on the intrepid were small, this is tiny. Life on a submarine has been shrunk to bare minimum needs. Bunks that stack four high in under two metres of space, a kitchen with room for one. We work our way along, past navigation areas and the missile loading area, before merging on top of the submarine.Â
We leave the museum after a couple of very interesting hours and meet up with Mardi for lunch. Robert is keen for a good burger, so we go to five napkin burger on 9th.
After lunch we head up to 72nd street for a walk through the park. We walk past the Dakota Hotel. Almost 29 years ago John Lennon was shot on this sidewalk, we tell Robert. He is aware of the murder, but was only nine at the time. I’ve always had a close link to the murder. Asides from being a fan of both the Beatles and Lennon’s solo career, he was murdered on my birthday, 8 December. We continue our walk down 72nd until we reach Broadway. Robert is amazed by the stark dichotomy of the area. Beggars in the street, asking for change, while all around them wealth oozes from every building. A stark reality of today’s society and also a reminder of how important a roof over your head is. We talk about homelessness as we walk along Broadway as we pass other people seeking support for school excursions. Scam or genuine? You just don’t know.
We stop for a coffee/hot chocolate and cake at Maison Kayser before heading into the Park. We get stuck on Central Park West as temporary seating is being installed for the Thanksgiving Day Parade, so are forced to walk ten blocks to get into the park. We end up back at 82nd Street and walk past the Imagine Memorial. It is packed with Beatles/Lennon fans and there is a busker singing Beatles song. We sit and listen for a while before entering the park, walking through Strawberry Fields, past Cherry Fields and across and uptown a little.
We pass Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, which is undergoing repairs and move past the Boathouse and hip East Drive. We stop at Still Hunt, our favourite Panther overlooking the road. Robert says hello to him and we return downtown. We walk through the winding walkways, passing archways, one filled with the sound of saxophone. We pass the zoo and leave the park at around
61st Street. Mardi decides to catch the subway home and Robert and I continue our walk down to 51st along 5th Avenue. The crowd and traffic are heavy as day turns to night and the lights of this magical city take over. We walk along 5th, pop into the Apple store, Gucci, Hublot and bump into Donald Trump. Well a poor rendition of Trump wandering around outside Trump Tower. As we get to 51st, Robert turns left and heads off to his hotel. I continue walking home, crossing to 6Th to avoid the crowd and onto 44th.
When I get home, Mardi is still out, she’s gone to Sephora for a look around and facial. When she gets home we head across the road for a drink. When we return we have leftovers for dinner and take it easy. We’ve walked more then 20,000 steps again today.
