I had a light breakfast, and dropped off some washing at “Gentle Wash” on Avenue A. On my way to the “6” train I spotted a location where I may have more sunglasses success. It was a fairly iffy-looking store selling many things but I was indeed successful.
Eyes less strained, I caught the train, ostensibly to visit the “Museum of New York”.
En-route, my pocket started buzzing with a number of messages from Gary, Sooz, and Ali. Gary was inviting me to a swim club that afternoon. A local invite such as this would always take preference over a tourist visit, so I resolved to come back to the museum and had a wander at the top end of Central Park instead. Here I found the “Conservatory Garden”, a rather beautiful highly cultivated spot with a fountain, pagoda, and an “English Garden”. I enjoyed it for some time.
A swift train to-and-from the apartment to collect swimwear, and I found myself at 67th Street, and Columbus Avenue. This is a block away from 55, Central Park West, the building that becomes known as “Spook Central” in “Ghostbusters”.
Gary’s swim club was very high-end. I was pleased to swim as I had not done so for about two and a half weeks. I usually swim at 6.30am every morning before work. I completed my prerequisite 50 lengths (x 25 m) in a shorter time than usual. This may have been due to swimming in a cooler pool, or perhaps as a result of the compulsory swimming cap. It is difficult to tell.
Afterwards, Gary and I took coffee, in “Magnolia Bakery”. This is the same chain I got my “Arnold Palmer” from just south of Central Park. It is particularly famous for “pudding”, which is a mouse-like dessert popular in Northern America. I had the new blueberry flavour, while Gary and I very much set the world to rights. I enjoyed the pudding, and the conversation.
After a brief “pit stop” at the apartment (trains “1”, “N”, and “6”) I walked over to Greenwich Village. On the way I stoped at “The Bao”, on Gary’s recommendation and very much enjoyed their signature soup dumplings.
The rest of the evening was spent at the Stonewall, enjoying a beer, and my book. I raised a glass to Mr. Osborne as “Paranoid” played over the speakers.I spent a while in the piano bar upstairs, and very much enjoyed the live music, and the camaraderie.
The day was unplanned, and I was pleased that I allowed myself to “go with the flow”. This is something that I am not usually particularly good at. I congratulated myself, and I don’t think this was unreasonable.
