Happy Columbus Day!

Apparently Columbus Day is a bigger holiday here than in Arkansas! Seems like a lot of businesses were closed (not shopping places) and schools were closed. We started our day at Columbus Circle (how appropriate) by Trump International Hotel and Tower and headed to Central Park. It was another beautiful day but hot again. We started with the Hallett Pond Nature Sanctuary area of the park. The water was really green with algae but still pretty. From there we went to Wollman Rink where people ice skate in the winter and to the bridge where Jason and Jenny got engaged! We walked past the zoo and could see in at one spot and watched the sea lions for awhile. Then we were off to Shakespeare Park and The Mall (no, not shopping!). By then we were feeling a little guilty for not checking out the parade up Fifth Avenue so walked over there. There were thousands of people but the parade didn't look like much to us so after a few pictures to prove we were there, it was back to the park.

The Conservatory Water was next where you can rent a small remote controlled model sailboat. None were being used but they were out on the water. We went to Bethesda Fountain and Plaza area where you can also see the Loeb Boathouse and even rent a rowboat.

This picture shows the Bethesda Fountain and Plaza area with the Loeb Boathouse in the background. You can also see a few of the many boats out on the lake.

This is the Gapstow Bridge over the pond with a view on the other side of Wollman Rink where you can ice skate in the winter.

Here I am on the Bow Bridge that is in many movies that take place in Central Park. The tall twin towers in the background on the right belong to the San Remo apartment building. Rita Hayworth, Paul Simon, Diane Keaton and Dustin Hoffman are among the celebrities who have lived in the 1930 building's giant apartments. The peaks you see just above the trees on the left belong to the Dakota Apartment Building where John Lennon lived. This was a beautiful spot. I'm sure John and Yoko had a beautiful view of the park since they lived in the penthouse. She still lives there. It was built in 1884 and was one of the first residences built on the Upper West Side. Celebrity residents have included Boris Karloff, Rudolf Nureyev, Jose Ferrer, Rosemary Clooney, Lauren Bacall, Leonard Bernstein, Gilda Radner, and Connie Chung.

We worked our way out of the park by way of Strawberry Fields again and headed to the Chelsea area. We ate lunch at a deli and then walked over to the Chelsea Market. It is in this huge, old building. It is the former Nabisco plant, where the first Oreos were baked in 1912. There were so many interesting foods there. We may have to go back there for a visit when we go to Chelsea Piers and the High Line.

This is Chelsea Market

By then we were pretty worn out so decided to head for home. But first, a stop at KMart in Penn Station for some toilet paper, hair spray and laundry soap. Then back to Brooklyn and a stop at the corner store at the end of our block for some more Diet Coke.

Whew......worn out again. Today we walked 9.1 miles. That makes our total miles walked since we got here about 76 miles!! We went 3 days without the pedometer until I could get a new battery for it so we just estimated since the minimum is about 8 to 8.5 miles. Is it any wonder we sleep so well even though it gets noisy at times?

Tomorrow it is to start clouding up and may rain late Wednesday and on Thursday. We'll have to find something to do inside. We need to do laundry one day too. So.......see you later!!!

Linda and Conrad