After leaving Rhinebeck,
New York, we traveled south and west about 90 miles for a two week stay in
Matamoras, Pennsylvania, which put us in striking distance of a train trip into
New York City. The first time we stayed in New York City was September 2014. We
were there for five days, which of course, wasn’t nearly enough time to do and
see everything we wanted. We put it on the calendar to come back “sometime in
the future” to wrap things up. September 2018, exactly four years later, was
that “sometime”.
Although we had a
handful of specific goals for this stay (attending a Mets game, visiting the Empire
State Building, and going to the top of the One Word Trade Center), you really
don’t have to have anything in particular in mind when you visit here. If you
just set out walking, the city will find you. It’s so alive, so vibrant, so
busy! There is something going on all the time, around every corner, and if you
open yourself to it, a day without a plan can end up being a true delight.
We embarked on a couple
of those free form days just to see what we would find, and we were not
disappointed. We saw incredible architecture both old and new, colorful murals,
and preserved remnants from September 11, 2001. From enticing bakery displays,
to giant bubbles in the park, to charming statuary, there was a story
everywhere we looked, including the rainy day parade of motorcycles which we never
found out the reason behind.
We took the subway out
to Coney Island, pretty much closed for the season, but still an icon of
Brooklyn that was worth the trip. We stumbled upon an animal rights demonstration
and stayed to give our support for a spell. I tracked down the C.O. Bigelow Apothecary
that carries a wonderful hand lotion I like and was able to enjoy their unique
pharmacy in person. We took a tour of the Frick Collection, a private art
museum on the upper east side of Manhattan. We spent about an hour in the Main
Branch of the New York City Public Library, as impressive as a church, and
commanding the same level of reverence.
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