Central Park Wanderings

Plaza Hotel

The Dakota building

 Yesterday Tony and I walked from one side of Manhatten Island to the other.  Today we weren't so ambitious, and only walked from one side of Central Park to the other! Central Park is huge, green, peaceful, wild, manicured, lush, contained and yet another place where New Yorkers can enjoy their free time. I had wandered around the top half of the park on Saturday, but today we decided to tackle the place from the bottom, from  59th Street.  We emerged from the subway in front of the fabulous Plaza Hotel, complete with gilded statue of General Sherman in front of it and then set off on a ramble up 5th Avenue on the side of the Park, following our Frommer's walking guide (it's a great little book).  Had a look at more fabulous mansions around 5th, Madison and Park Avenues all the way up to 72nd Street and then grabbed a hotdog each and dove into the Park itself. Meandered around looking at various things, including Strawberry Fields, where the 'Imagine' mosaic was installed by Yoko Ono after the death of John Lennon. He was shot in front of the Dakota building, which is just outside that area of the park.

Part of  'The Lake'

There are some stunningly beautiful areas in Central park, including 'The Lake', where you can hire a rowboat and waft your hand romantically in the water while your game partner pulls on the oars.  Also found the 'Great Lawn' where people play baseball, throw frisbees, and take off their shirts to impress everyone else (the boys, that is).  All the while cyclists, joggers, skaters and people using other ways to get around while getting fit passed by on all the paths.  But again, here was a place where, if you really wanted, you could find places to be alone, to contemplate, and to read your book in peace.

It was a lovely way to end our first New York experience.  Now we are back at the hotel packing up and getting ready to ship out early tomorrow to Niagara Falls. Our train experience starts tomorrow!  We will be back in New York at the beginning of August.  What will we have seen in done in the meantime?  Can't wait to get started on our big adventure....