The men who planned the urban growth of the island of Manhattan must have been psychics or something. Otherwise, how could they have possibly known how important Central Park would be to the people of the city? It's absolutely remarkable how calm and peaceful that place is, and what a relief it is from the relentless harshness of the city otherwise.
New York City is an incredible, vibrant place to live and work, but it's also unbelievably harsh if you're poor or can't escape it anytime you'd like. Today in the city the temperature got to 87°, and according to newscasts it's going to reach 90° at some point this week. All that heat being reflected and intensified by all that concrete makes it even worse, and the air becomes an almost physical presence, pressing down on you - it moves so sluggishly you can feel it sliding across your skin, almost like standing in the ocean and being not entirely sure what manner of creature just brushed up against you.
So occasionally, those of us who are both cursed and lucky enough not to work in an air-conditioned office have to escape the relentless baking of the city, and if you can't hop in a car and drive to the Jersey shore, or hop a plane to some exotic destination, your best chance for that, I think, is to take refuge in Central Park.
I kinda did it by accident today. I don't know the city well enough to know these things yet, but I decided that I needed a day to myself, so I hiked on over to the park and wandered around for much of the day, only to discover that I wasn't the only one with that idea. There were hundreds of thousands of people escaping the car exhaust and haze of the skyline, just walking through the park, or hanging out by the many ponds.
Which is how I found myself relaxing by The Pond. I somehow managed to stumble on it by having entered the park through the West 108th Street entrance, and was amazed at it's tranquility. Not only is there a lovely pond, around which winds a walking path, but there are benches, and some lawn areas to spread out, but there's also a wonderful waterfall to a stream that runs under the most interesting arch. I had my camera with me, but managed not to take a picture of these things. I'll try to think about taking it with me the next time I go.
What did I take a picture of? Ducks.
I'm sorry, they were just too cute. I also didn't take a picture of the cute guy who was sunbathing near the Pond, or the really cute guy who was writing in his journal near the waterfall. But I digress.
I'm planning on taking another park day later in the week. Might was well go and enjoy myself while I can. I'm gonna be going off to find temp work soon, so I'll likely be stuck in an office all day. Time to get what sun I can, while I can!
New York City is an incredible, vibrant place to live and work, but it's also unbelievably harsh if you're poor or can't escape it anytime you'd like. Today in the city the temperature got to 87°, and according to newscasts it's going to reach 90° at some point this week. All that heat being reflected and intensified by all that concrete makes it even worse, and the air becomes an almost physical presence, pressing down on you - it moves so sluggishly you can feel it sliding across your skin, almost like standing in the ocean and being not entirely sure what manner of creature just brushed up against you.
So occasionally, those of us who are both cursed and lucky enough not to work in an air-conditioned office have to escape the relentless baking of the city, and if you can't hop in a car and drive to the Jersey shore, or hop a plane to some exotic destination, your best chance for that, I think, is to take refuge in Central Park.
I kinda did it by accident today. I don't know the city well enough to know these things yet, but I decided that I needed a day to myself, so I hiked on over to the park and wandered around for much of the day, only to discover that I wasn't the only one with that idea. There were hundreds of thousands of people escaping the car exhaust and haze of the skyline, just walking through the park, or hanging out by the many ponds.
Which is how I found myself relaxing by The Pond. I somehow managed to stumble on it by having entered the park through the West 108th Street entrance, and was amazed at it's tranquility. Not only is there a lovely pond, around which winds a walking path, but there are benches, and some lawn areas to spread out, but there's also a wonderful waterfall to a stream that runs under the most interesting arch. I had my camera with me, but managed not to take a picture of these things. I'll try to think about taking it with me the next time I go.
What did I take a picture of? Ducks.
I'm sorry, they were just too cute. I also didn't take a picture of the cute guy who was sunbathing near the Pond, or the really cute guy who was writing in his journal near the waterfall. But I digress.
I'm planning on taking another park day later in the week. Might was well go and enjoy myself while I can. I'm gonna be going off to find temp work soon, so I'll likely be stuck in an office all day. Time to get what sun I can, while I can!
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