October 15, 2006
New York City (ch. 7)
Tanker had to leave around 3:30 am on Sat/Sun, so I had Sunday morning all to myself. I had planned on going to the Met and wandering around solemnly, but it didn't end up that way. Instead, I took the subway up to Central Park and just wandered around (somewhat solemnly) there. But before I could get started, I had to get breakfast, which consisted of a pretzel and a Diet Pepsi from a vendor outside the Museum of Natural History. I made a friend there, a woman with no teeth whom I could barely understand. I finally realized she was asking me to buy her a pretzel. I didn't know what to say. It was that awkward moment when you don't know where to rest your eyes. I got a dollar back as change, so I handed it to her. She said thank you and started petting my head telling me how pretty I am and how shiny my hair was. It was a little creepy, but I have to admit, it still felt kind of nice. She even followed me over to the crosswalk. I thought the light was never going to change.
After I got into Central Park, I ran into traffic. Foot traffic. Some sort of marathon was going on, so I had to dash through the crowds.
I started trekking through the park. My initial plan actually was just to take a quick walk through it and come out near the Met so I would still have enough time to at least see some of my favorite pieces. However, I found so much to see in Central Park that I had to adapt my plans. I'm flexible like that. Here I am very excited about being in Central Park:
I got to see this adorable cottage and reflect upon rustic decor:
(By the way, I was trying to finish up the film from Tanker's disposable camera, so these pictures are kinda grainy and blah.)
And I found Belvedere Castle and the Shakespeare Garden. I ambled along this verdant path.
And I walked near Turtle Pond. Apparently, there are no sports allowed near Turtle Pond, which I find quite refreshing. There should be more places with signs like this:
I like that daydreaming is encouraged. Finally, some validation for my life choices.
I did end up at the Met, kind of. I walked by it, and I saw one of my favorite parts of it - the steps. I love that people congregate on the steps. I'd like to spend a whole afternoon on them sometime. When I was 19, I went on a little daytrip to New York for an Art History class at Smith. I remember leaving the Met and sitting down on the steps to try and have a poetic moment. I even pulled out either Sylvia Plath or TS Eliot (two of the books I, for some reason, toted in my backpack all day) to read and feel melancholy. Some family sat down on the steps right next to me to take pictures. They were so close that I think I was even in the pictures. Then they debated where to go for lunch and finally decided on fried chicken. My poetic moment was pretty much ruined, but I think I like what happened better.
I walked along 5th Avenue for a bit, checking out the prints and miscellany before heading back into the park. I was hoping to find that big fountain and steps that you always see in movies. I never did find it. But I saw some kids playing baseball.
And some vikings?
After 2.5 days of pretty much non-stop walking (and bad shoes), I was exhausted.
