White Rats in Central Park
Backing up to Tuesday night, we went to bed early with the intention of getting up bright and early to start the day. Our first three days in New York have been very hot, but that night it cooled down. With a cool room to sleep in, the improved quality of sleep was too good to pass up, and we slept in until 10. A quick snack of nuts and fruit, and we were on out way.
Our fist stop was to the Brooklyn bridge which we walked across. I enjoy hearing about the engineering behind things far more than I should. The bridge reminded of the great hydro-dam tour of '05 with my mom. Of course, it goes without saying the view was excellent.
From the Manhattan side of our bridge we made our way up to the Doughnut Plant. I got a coconut creme donut, while alfy got a Valrhona chocolate one. We also got iced chai. We walked to a nearby park to enjoy them. Truly, I had never eaten a real doughnut before that day. Sweet but not cloying. Rich but not greasy. Authentic, rich flavours. The iced chai was also excellent.
This tramscendant experience at an end, we went geo-caching in Central Park. We managed to find find the first cache we searched for, and dispatched ourselves reasonably to avoid being seen by those not in on the game. But our luck did not hold. The next cache was hidden in a gazebo by Bow Bridge. We were not going to get 1 second alone with that cache, let alone enough time to log it. The third cache proved impossible for us to find; but lead us to something much better.
We found to white rats living in Central Park! White, pink eyed, rats, living amongst the rocks where the next cache was supposed to be found! Many pictures, and even some short videos were taken of this event.
Doubly defeated, we switched our geo-caching efforts to an extremely long offset cache that required us to visit every bridge and arch of note in the park (well, maybe we missed one or two; but 32 should cover most of them). We managed to make it to 19 of the 31 yesterday. Also, during our travels through the park, we met a raccoon in a tree! Well pleased with our progress we quit for the day and went in search of dinner.
By now, my decision to wear just shorts and t-shirt on what had been a rather cool day had grown regretful, so I bought a sweater to satisy my desire for warmth. Once I was no longer cold, I grew ambiguous towards my sweater, a feeling that has continued since.
Our travels brought us to little Korea. We choose a likely looking spot; but sadly were to be disappointed. This Korean food proved too authentic for us, I am afraid. I tried to like tongue, I really did; but I am still grossed out today thinking about it. I have seen what cows lick.
Leaving the restaurant, shamed by our incorrigible whiteness, we went to the top of the Empire State building.
Lights spread out as far as the eye could see. The outlines of familiar shapes from maps in orange on black. Streets like arteries of the city, pumping glowing points of life.
I should stop here really before embarrass myself further.
Our feet now completely in revolt, we descended into the subway system to make our way home. Some incident had delayed the train. When we arrived the station was crowded, and when the train arrived, it was packed. We were forced to wait for the next one. Which then decided not to come, leaving us to stand waiting for close to half an hour in Union station.
Who knew a train to Brooklyn would be that popular at 10:30pm?
By then time we got home, and planned our next day, it was too late to write about it. Today was so busy, the same thing has happened, so you'll have to wait again.
Our fist stop was to the Brooklyn bridge which we walked across. I enjoy hearing about the engineering behind things far more than I should. The bridge reminded of the great hydro-dam tour of '05 with my mom. Of course, it goes without saying the view was excellent.
From the Manhattan side of our bridge we made our way up to the Doughnut Plant. I got a coconut creme donut, while alfy got a Valrhona chocolate one. We also got iced chai. We walked to a nearby park to enjoy them. Truly, I had never eaten a real doughnut before that day. Sweet but not cloying. Rich but not greasy. Authentic, rich flavours. The iced chai was also excellent.
This tramscendant experience at an end, we went geo-caching in Central Park. We managed to find find the first cache we searched for, and dispatched ourselves reasonably to avoid being seen by those not in on the game. But our luck did not hold. The next cache was hidden in a gazebo by Bow Bridge. We were not going to get 1 second alone with that cache, let alone enough time to log it. The third cache proved impossible for us to find; but lead us to something much better.
We found to white rats living in Central Park! White, pink eyed, rats, living amongst the rocks where the next cache was supposed to be found! Many pictures, and even some short videos were taken of this event.
Doubly defeated, we switched our geo-caching efforts to an extremely long offset cache that required us to visit every bridge and arch of note in the park (well, maybe we missed one or two; but 32 should cover most of them). We managed to make it to 19 of the 31 yesterday. Also, during our travels through the park, we met a raccoon in a tree! Well pleased with our progress we quit for the day and went in search of dinner.
By now, my decision to wear just shorts and t-shirt on what had been a rather cool day had grown regretful, so I bought a sweater to satisy my desire for warmth. Once I was no longer cold, I grew ambiguous towards my sweater, a feeling that has continued since.
Our travels brought us to little Korea. We choose a likely looking spot; but sadly were to be disappointed. This Korean food proved too authentic for us, I am afraid. I tried to like tongue, I really did; but I am still grossed out today thinking about it. I have seen what cows lick.
Leaving the restaurant, shamed by our incorrigible whiteness, we went to the top of the Empire State building.
Lights spread out as far as the eye could see. The outlines of familiar shapes from maps in orange on black. Streets like arteries of the city, pumping glowing points of life.
I should stop here really before embarrass myself further.
Our feet now completely in revolt, we descended into the subway system to make our way home. Some incident had delayed the train. When we arrived the station was crowded, and when the train arrived, it was packed. We were forced to wait for the next one. Which then decided not to come, leaving us to stand waiting for close to half an hour in Union station.
Who knew a train to Brooklyn would be that popular at 10:30pm?
By then time we got home, and planned our next day, it was too late to write about it. Today was so busy, the same thing has happened, so you'll have to wait again.