Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

I thought for my final big outing of this trip before returning home I would stop by Central Park one last time and visit "Strawberry Fields" and the "Bethesda Terrace." Since it was still blistering hot outside, these locations and the subway ride would provide some relief from the direct sun. Photo-wise, I was in luck at both locations. At "Strawberry Fields," someone had left a rose on the inlaid tile medallion and the dappling sunlight made this image and moment even more special.  Add in a busker playing Lennon/McCartney music in the background.



I really like this space in Bethesda Terrace and enjoy visiting it. The light, the architecture, the people. Here, a lone busker plays classical music on his guitar. It has been rare to not find it full of people for an image like this. Truth be told, there are folks sitting on the far wall bench hidden behind the left-most column. Walking towards the light at right leads to......



...this broad stairway where a young woman in silhouette walks through the terrace.



Luck of timing allowed me to see this couple who were having wedding photos made here.



The only thing better than wedding photos would be to capture a dancer in a swirling skirt silhouetted against the bright steps - next time.  Maybe I'll set up a tripod and timer and bring along a swirly skirt.



And with that, I took my final subway ride back to my starting point at 34th Street/ Penn Station. Only a dollar left on my MTA card.



After dinner, the temperature had dropped to the low-80's F so I made one final walk on The High Line.



And that, as they say, is that. Another great trip to an always entertaining and grand world-class city.

The following morning, waiting for my train to depart from the new Penn Station Moynihan Train Hall to home. This view reminds me of a ice skating rink. It's a grand and beautiful space that should last long into the future - much longer than I will - it's a wonderful way to enter New York City - first impressions are powerful - I highly recommend it.

Statues, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

When I think of major New York City statues, though there are many, two iconic ones that come to mind are the Statue of Liberty and the bull on Wall Street.

I wanted to see both of them - and I did.



It has been said that the best free view of the Statue of Liberty is to ride the ferry between the southern tip of Manhattan and Staten Island. The ferry runs every day, all day, always free, no reservations required. The southbound trip (shown above, I am on the northbound trip capturing this image) travels close enough that even on a moving boat with my point and shoot camera I was able to get these images. It was a hot and hazy day but still.......

Nice place to go for a pleasure sail.

There are paid reserve ticket ferries that go directly to the statue and dock. Lots of people are standing along the edge at left above who did just that.

Mighty nice gesture of France to donate this to the United States. It was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886.

This is the view of Lower Manhattan from the end of the ferry - back or front - coming or going - this one coming since there is no wake.

Approaching Manhattan, the ferry will dock where the red arrow points.



A short walk from the ferry station and I found there were only a few other tourists at the bull on this particular weekday morning. Some felt the need to climb on it...

...while others were content to pose with it.

Some were content to walk on by.



The ride back uptown began with a nearly empty car on the subway. Ah, New York.

Washington Square, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Washington Square has been called the heart of Greenwich Village. Many of the buildings that  surround it now are part of New York University. This 10-acre park has a storied past and present. 

It is a place of great beauty and history and affords people a lovely parkland area in the densely developed city. There were musicians, artists selling their wares, ice cream and drink vendors, and many people of all ages and varieties sitting in the shade or strolling during my brutally hot afternoon visit.

Even in the blistering heat, this man seemed to be fond of the direct sun though his dog had other ideas and jumped in the fountain to cool off just before this moment.

I'm not sure how this man got his piano in and out of the park but, somehow he did it. He was playing healing music for the person underneath lying on the mat.

Moving an upright instead of a grand piano is perhaps somewhat more practical. This busker was at the other side of the park.

I sat for quite some time listening to these amazingly talented musicians playing for passersby.

On my way back to the subway, this "For Sale" sign a half block from the park caught my attention.  I was intrigued by the Vespa scooter parked in front. I have always wanted one of them - bright red only. When I later got to a computer I checked on the property listing.  It's a 5 BR, 5 BA, 4,600 sq. ft. townhouse.  It's asking price is $17,750,000. No, that's not a typo - it's almost eighteen million dollars!  Here's a link to the Zillow listing.  (I hope they plan to include the Vespa as part of the deal).

Near Union Square, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

My purpose in going near Union Square on this day was to buy a book from the iconic Strand Bookstore for my train ride home. The Strand is an establishment that has stood for nearly a hundred years selling books to New Yorkers. Of course, it being a summer-like weekend, the sidewalks were full of people out and about, there was an ongoing demonstration march down Broadway, and the construction workers had torn up the street repairing a pipe. 

But inside the Strand, library-like calm prevailed as readers browsed as they have for decades while outside, other readers were lined up to sell their used books in another part of the building. What a great store - I left with a used paperback from a favorite writer.



The demonstration march had many marchers and a big street/sidewalk audience. They had a permit and a motorcycle police escort, too.

I'm not sure why New York City had to import sewer covers from India but, here is one of many I saw.

 


I didn't go in. That might have been like an alcoholic going into a liquor store. I do know they sell a chocolate martini among many other things including regular non-chocolate food items.

It's almost 9pm in this image, I'm back at my hotel exhausted and, the temp is still in the 80's. What a day for early June.

Subway Tiles, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Most of the subway entrances are these unassuming but well-signed stairways into the underground world. The green and white ball on the pole is the visual marker from a distance.

I noticed more folks riding on a weekend day compared to the weekdays. Of course, this was a summer-like day and everyone was out and about enjoying the post-pandemic city.

If the street surface and buildings are the body, then the subway represents the veins and arteries. Yes, it is sometimes nasty and gritty and sketchy down there but, the efficiency and speed with which one can traverse a great and large city is shocking. I guess that's true of any dense city in the world with an underground train system. After all, that's the whole point.



I am particularly captivated by the tile signage in the stations. Many of these handmade ceramic signs are more than 100 years old. (I don't know whether these specific ones are or not but, they illustrate my theme).

The curved letters and numbers especially caught my eye.



The amount of custom cutting and shaping that went into each one is remarkable.



I note the added challenge of shaping the lilting leg on the "R."



Here are some enlargements of the details.







But wait, there's more.



Instead of the basic block-style font on the preceding examples, at this station in the Financial District they used a different font with serifs.



Each of which required much more painstaking craft work. What timeless artistry! Again, most of it more than 100 years old.  (I wonder if this artisan was named "Coe"?)

The High Line, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

A late afternoon walk along the High Line. Note the property above at right. It is not part of the High Line but, the owners of that building have landscaped their roof to look like the horticulture of the High Line. What's that saying, "imitation is the highest form of flattery."

Though it was in the 90's F earlier, the lowering sun has brought comfortably reduced temperatures for the evening.



The old railroad tracks are mostly obscured in the lush growth of greenery. The obelisk-looking piece is an artwork, one of many along the High Line.



Some sits and some walks.



I don't know what this flower is but, it was mighty big and it was blooming along the path. I stuck my hand in for a size comparison.



Looking up from the High Line, the jutting glass-floored deck is The Edge in Hudson Yards, a tourist spot with expansive views of the city. It competes with Rockefeller center, the Empire State Building, and the World Trade Center for the tall building tourist dollars.



In the "gee-whiz" department, looking over the rail from the High Line I saw this parking lot below. I can't for the life of me figure out how they get the cars up and down. I am sure it is something simple and practical but, that solution escapes me just looking at it statically.