The Northwest Corner

The northwest corner of Central Park is probably the section I like the most right now.  The north eastern section was originally a swamp and became the Harlem Meer but the western section was a forest and was the least changed section of the park when it was created.  Most of the streams in Central Park were moved underground but not here in the North Woods where you find flowing water and waterfalls.  Strangely the 'Loch' that you find here is really what you would you think of the stream - the small lake that feeds the Loch is called the Pool and all the water eventually ends up in Harlem Meer.

The North Woods despite its beauty is also known as the location for a notorious crime in 1989 (the Central Park Jogger case).  Five teenagers were accused and convicted (the Central Park Five) based on their confessions and the then real-estate developer Donald J Trump took out an advertisement in New York papers calling for the return of the death penalty.  In 2002 the five's convictions were quashed when another person confessed and DNA testing confirmed his guilt.

In its history Central Park has gone through amazing growth and shocking decay and despair.  Right now it is very much on an upswing though like much of the rest of the city, currently starved of tourist and tax revenues its future is uncertain.

 

Our corner of Central Park

Central Park is said by Wikipedia to be the most filmed location in the world.  The park runs from 59th street in the south to 110th street in the north and is bounded on either side by Fifth Avenue and Central Park West (effectively Eighth Avenue).  The most famous parts are probably in the southern section and I did not know our corner in the north-east well at all until we moved here.

The closest entrance to our apartment is 110th Street and Fifth Avenue.  The first thing you see is the lake, the Harlem Meer.  The walk around the lake is by far my most common route for walking the dog on normal day.

 

The lake area is usually busy and there are almost always people fishing.  By the edge the water looks choked with turtles and small fish.  I have seen some very large ones 

Not everyone enjoys the walk around the lake.  Mikey has developed a habit of covering his ears, not only when he does not want to listen but to demonstrate his displeasure (he preferred to be back in the stroller here).

Next to the lake is a large outdoor swimming pool / ice rink (the Lasker Rink).  I have only seen it used for ice hockey in the winter.  There were plans to close it for three years to renovate it but who knows what will happen now.  Much more useful was the playground.

I am writing this now when it is 90F outside and we have not been to that particular playground since before the lockdown (it gets very busy and given Mikey will not wear a mask it will probably remain off limits).  So I only have photos of everyone wrapped up warmly.

  

South of the Meer is a unique part of the part: a formal garden called the Conservatory Garden.  This is very different from any other section because it is so ornate. The lake is noisy and it is not uncommon for people to blare out music but the conservatory is serene.

 

Summer in the City

It was often said to me that I catch planes in the same way as I would a bus.  That is still true these days.  I just do not get on buses any more, or trains or subways for that matter.

I really needed a break from work.  Working from home has been good but it makes the days long.  It is an international company so when I wake up there are always a lot of emails waiting for me from Asian and European time zones.  I had been doing a lot of extra meetings early in the morning and late in the evening and I knew from my increasing irritability that I was heading for burnout.

The original plan was for us to rent a home with a pool.  However, as June went on it became clear that the US was heading in a bad direction with increased cases in the south and west (our likely destinations).  In fact, right now, the New York metropolitan area is probably one of the safest places in the country.

So I would still take the time off work but it would be a stay-at-home vacation.

I wanted to try a few new things and really stay away from work mentally as much as possible even though I was still in the same place I now usually work.  I did know I would have to do a couple of calls because they were important and could not be moved.

To begin I varied my usual morning walk.  We are lucky to live next to Central Park but to change things up a bit I headed in the opposite direction on Saturday morning.  We actually live much closer to the East River than Central Park so I wandered there for the first time.  It is not a very inviting place compared to the west side of Manhattan because of the highway (the FDR drive).  However, I remembered that there was a bridge and I could go over to Randall's and Ward's Islands.

I have crossed over the islands many times.  The main bridge from home to get to Queens (and usually LaGuardia or JFK airports) passes over.  This was the first time on foot and it makes for a very interesting walk.  I started walking along the park beside lots of soccer fields with views of the downriver and then walked under the arches of the rail bridge (the Hell Gate bridge).

I walked back past the large psychiatric hospital I have seen so many times from taxis on the way to the airport (I had always assumed it was abandoned but apparently not).  It also gave good views of East Harlem across the water.