NEW YORK, May 8 – I am going to New York, woo hoo! That’s a confession of my excitement as I packed my bags ready for trotting to a leading global city.
A few days had earlier been spent on weather research, enquiring from friends and colleagues on the most appropriate clothes to pack.
“The weather is pretty good now,” they said. “Winter is over; it started around October (true enough, I was there and it was horrible) and lasts for only six months.”
“Great!” I thought. That would give me an opportunity to carry light clothes.
But the internet was giving me a different message. It indicated lows of 10° C. Apparently, this is what is described as ‘pretty good weather’ in the Big Apple.
Then came the threat of swine flu which has, perhaps, scared everyone. And I never heard the end of it especially with New York having reported cases.
NEW YORK
But when I landed at the John F Kennedy airport (JFK), I realized that my fears were not as high for I spotted a few people here and there wearing face masks mainly Chinese and Japanese (nothing against them) but it didn’t break my nerves.
Let me introduce you to New York, a city that leads the rest of the world in finance, fashion, entertainment and many other areas.
You see, Wall Street which defines the world’s financial market is situated here. So are the latest fashion shops and the best entertainment spots.
Something about entertainment joints in the city, you had better be dressed up for the occasion otherwise you ain’t going nowhere! Take it from me but that’s a story for next episode.
Back to introduction, New York is divided into five areas, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.
I will take you round Manhattan.
CENTRAL PARK
You may have watched it in movies, heard about it but never really felt it. Well, here is the chance to experience it.
Central Park is one of the most visited ones in the United States with about 30 million visitors each year is located in Manhattan.
It’s a Saturday afternoon, a couple of friends and I are having a stroll around this huge park.
The park is crowded with people, most of them families on a Saturday afternoon bonding and lots of activities taking place. The well kept lawns, smell of fresh air, and a sense of calmness surrounded by trees on all sides of the park tells it all.
The Central Park bares its rich history through its many monuments that were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. It has a lot of artistic work, a blend of the old and new styles.
There are many activities in every corner of the park, including entertainment by musicians and comedians. Others are having fun at the carrousels for only five US dollars while there are those who are riding on horses.
Also at this park, you can do a bit of rock climbing although they are not very high rocks but it is an interesting activity.
The magnificent Loeb Boathouse, where some scenes of the movie ‘Sex and the city’ were shot gives the park a coastal feeling; it is surrounded by trees and some nice looking bushes.
The Boathouse, one of the most famous icons of the Central park is quixotic scenery located near East 74 th street where one could go and dream as you watch the sun set behind the trees.
The first boathouse was designed in 1874 by Calvert Vaux as a two-storey boat house that served until the 1950s.
The present Loeb Boathouse was constructed in 1954 and named after its financier Carl Loeb.
That is the Central park and even after four hours of strolling around, we still didn’t make to go round the whole of this huge outstanding park.
Keep it here for more of New York next week!
