After days of compiling a list of what we would like to see on arriving in New York we settled on PANCAKES as being top priority.
The local 24/7 diner in Lower East Side did not disappoint!
H. anticipating a state of pancake inundation.Chocolate chip pancakes!Banana pancakes!
After a strong start to the day we were fuelled and ready to embark on a long walk. My guess, around 18.4km… lets say around 27,284 steps. First stop was the High Line located on the other side of Manhattan in the Meatpacking district.
We began to weave up the gridiron from East Village.Keep looking up! This tenement looked to have an epic roof terrace tucked away… or a tree problem.Optical illusion of David Bowie on an iron grid (fence).We hit Broadway!Nearing Washington Square park we noticed several 20th Century Fox trucks so we dipped in to have a look at production.West Village was full of leafy streets!Another rooftop utopia. ‘Hi, please can we have a look at your garden?’Although the buildings are interesting in themselves, the vast array of bolt on fire escapes have to be celebrated.
Iconic in character.The Southern most point of the High Line!
The High Line was an initiative to redevelop redundant elevated rail lines as a pedestrian friendly route. It was designed by design firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Construction started in 2005 and the last phase was completed in 2014.
Looking West towards the Hudson River.The concrete paving is surrounded by bordered by greenery. At times a buffer from the urban chaos!Clever design sees the concrete paving curve upwards to form benching.Looking East, the High Line offers fantastic aerial views!Setting the scene.Closeup of nature.Skybridge high five.Incredible depth in a view down a New York street.Proof of visit, or is it Photoshop?Which do you prefer, the old or the new?H. impressed with the scenic avenue.Just after midday the High Line was bustling.(From left to right) Water tower, fire escape, Empire State.Now quite mature, the planting often dominated the width of the route.Car stack.Preparing for next year?Keep off the grass.10th Avenue.High Line expansion concept; viewing tower mid route.A Zaha Hadid design on the left. A stack of taco shells lying on their sides, the apartments their filling?Nearing the end of the 2.33km route, the High Line opens up to the Hudson with views across to New Jersey.Some sort of camera obscura… or possibly a prop from BBC’s atrocity ‘Teletubbies.’The start of a pinecone-like structure. It will be interesting to see what this becomes!
We left the High Line significantly impressed. As a couple who enjoy a walk or two, we applaud the initiative, and consider it to be a high standard benchmark for future city park trails. Hopefully the Lowline will get the same support and traction as it develops from its current proof of concept stage. Next on the list, Central Park, via Times Square!
Approaching times square.Chaos central, Time Square was a hub of tourist activity, but a marvel non the less!Its not as busy up there.Rockefeller Center, home to the LEGO shop.H. picked up a Boba Fett (Star Wars) figurine!Saks on 5th. I don’t know what it is… but H. said I should mention it.There are no skyscrapers like the old skyscrapers.
Many hours, possibly days later, we reached Central Park. We noticed folks cycling around and decided to follow suit. We rented a pair of bikes for the hour, and got peddling. Unsure how far round the park we would get in an hour we cautiously checked the time every 10 minutes or so to avoid the supercharge that was imposed on a tardy return. Parents, Rowan, although it doesn’t look like we are wearing helmets, we were, its an illusion.
H. dominating the cycle lane.An unexpected break in greenery, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.Hatti an hour in, ’round two?’ she declared!
Below is a short sequence of the cycle salvaged from footage uploaded to our Instagram story, its a little grainy… but hopefully reflects the excursion!
After a successful lap of central park we opted to retire the bikes, and venture back the 70 or so blocks to the hotel. We did, of course, stop for some grub. We tried out the fabled Shake Shack and their incredible mushroom burger.
We walked back down Broadway, both of us had an urge to grab a Coca Cola…Times Square, round two. Possibly a little more impressive as the light began to fade!Again (thankfully) stumbling on something worth seeing, the Flatiron Building AKA ‘The Continental Hotel’.Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, dining under fairy lights.
After the long day walking, a good feed and a couple craft beers from Brooklyn Brewery we were more than ready to hit the hay in preparation for another day in the Big Apple tomorrow!
Howler! You should never leave the house without a helmet! Twoooo Woooooo! But so glad you got to see the infamous Flatiron building. Majestic!
I like the older buildings 😀
That high line walk was outstanding, so much thought has gone into it. ❤️