We docked in the Hudson River at Pier 88 which is such a central position as it's within walking distance to major venues and the subway entrances so we knew we'd be able to negotiate our way around New York easily. Our cruise ship was docked next to a decommissioned aircraft carrier which is now set up as a Naval Museum. The Sea Princessand We had a close view of the aircraft parked on the deck of the carrier from our balcony.
The Sea Princess' docking was opposite 48th Street so on our first day in NY we walked up 48th Street until we came to 6th Street where we turned left and walked 10 blocks to the entrance of the famous Central Park. This immense park is the most visited urban park in America and it has an ice scating rink, bike and walking paths, a pool, a lake, several ponds, a huge reservoir, 21 playgrounds, kiosks and other recreational venues. It has an extensive range of mature trees, lawns and picnic areas and a conservatory. Central Park opened in 1859 after the planting of 250,000 trees and shrubs across 843 acres of parkland In New York's Manhattan district.
We'd been planning to take ourselves through the park on foot until the map we purchased indcated that we'd need to cover 6km+ one of way and even though there were plenty of trees in the park, NY weather was very hot and muggy. We were with Sue and Peter from the Bible Study group so we decided to hire 2 pedicabs with drivers (bike riders) who gave a running commentary at various spots in the park and who offered to be our photographers as well.
Both of our drivers who were refugees from Senegal, had been pedicab rider/ drivers for about 6 years. A percentage of their days takings has to go to their boss who owns and maintains the bikes and their cabins. They we're both very knowledgeable about the Central Park's history, the names of all the movies filmed in the park and the location within the park where each movie had been filmed. We asked them how they remembered all the names and they replied that as part of their training they had to watch all the movies, visit and learn about the locations and commit to memory the history of the park. They both love their job as they get to keep fit and meet new people every day. So for the next hour we relaxed listened and learned much about Central Park. We passed several buskers throughout the park. Some played instruments, others dresses in costumes, acted out parts from movies and there was a man selling soap bubble contraptions for any interested children who passed.
Some of the places of interest in Central Park included:
1. The Old Dairy Barn which is historic Victorian structure which prior to 1840, provided milk to the city. Cows roamed over the rich grasslands that now make up part of Central Park. Today it serves as a Visitors Centre and tourist centre and a gift shop.
2. A large lake with people sailing model yachts by remote control - there are also several ponds and another lake in this massive park. 3. The oldest Carousel in America. After our pedi-cab tour we walked back for a ride on the carousel and relived our childhood experience all over again.
4. The park has many clusters of huge rocky outcrops that add texture and beauty to the landscape. We stopped at a few of these areas to clammer over them and see the park and city from a different perspective. Our drivers were very friendly and obliging and frequently took photographs of the 4 of us posing at places of interest.
5. We saw many monuments and statues throughout our Central Park tour, including the Alice in Wonderland mushroom statue which some kids gleefully climbed.
6a. The Bethsada Terrace beside a peaceful natural lake has a richly decorative fountain overlooking the Lake. The pedestrian walkway under the Terrace features a Minton Tile Ceiling which still look as beautiful and as new as when they were first attached in the mid late 1800's. 6b. When we walked through the underground walkway a bridal party were using this beautifully decorative walkway as a backdrop for their wedding photographs.
7. We also saw a beautiful white marble bridge over a narrow water course that runs through part of Central Park. The bridge is "famous" because it has featured in several movies but we have forgotten which movies they were.
As our guides ferried us around the park they pointed out famous landmarks such as the Empire State Building and the Rockerfeller Centre. The buildings once owned by Trump, like Trump Tower and the outrageously priced apartments of various rich and famous people. We saw Madonna's skyscraper apartment, Jonny Depp's plush NY pad and the entire skyline of New York is a jumble of steel and glass skyscrapers, radio towers and other buildings.
8. We stopped to photograph the twin tower block that featured in Ghost Busters movie .
9. Later we stopped to admire the black and white circular black and white-tiled mosaic tribute to John Lennon for his song"Imagine". It is a magnet for any Beatles fans and tourists who remember hearing John Lennon's rendition of this iconic 1970's song.
10. We saw many people walking, riding, jogging or resting throughout our very relaxing tour and we saw cute squirrels scampering up and down trees, across the grassy lawns and stopping to eat any treats they were offered.
There is much more we could show and tell about Central Park but these will have to be shared later as we did SO much more on our first day in New York. Some of theses are written about in New York 2.
