The last day of a holiday always sends me into a panic. What can I do to adequately “sum up” the holiday? I decided to stick to tradition and revisit all my favourite sites.
I took the “R”, and “1” trains uptown to “Tom’s Restaurant” where I had enjoyed a wonderful breakfast a few days before. today, I fuelled up on the blueberry pancakes.
From there it was a 10+ mile journey on foot. The itinerary was as follows, with cultural references in parenthesis:
*Tom’s Restaurant (“Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega – 1984)
*160, West 129th Street (“Paris is Burning” – 1990)
*Dakota Building/Strawberry Fields (Former home/location of assignation of John Lennon – 1980)
*Bethesda Terrace (“Angels in America” – 2003)
*Gapstow Bridge (“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – 1992)
*Pinebank Arch (“Elf” – 2003)
*Tavern on the Green (“Ghostbusters” – 1984)
*55, Central Park West (“Ghostbusters” – 1984)
*Times Square
*90, Bedford Street (“Friends” – 1994-2004)
*World Trade Centre (“9/11 Attacks” – 2001)
*14, North Moore Street (“Ghostbusters” – 1984)
*Stonewall Inn (Stonewall Riot – 1969)
The rain started somewhere about “Tavern on the Green” and continued until just before my arrival at the World Trade Centre. In a way, I was glad of it as it was cooling to the extent that I actually felt cold. This is a sensation I have not had in an outdoor environment since before my arrival in this city.
The journey was hard work, but extremely worthwhile. I had deliberately kept 14, North Moore Street as the final location as I have previously iterated, it is the most sacred by far. I struggled to maintain my composure as I turned away for what I knew would be the final time on this particular trip. Thankfully, I am well practiced in this art lest the New Yorkers in the “TriBeCa” area of the city be exposed to a long haired Scottish person in a rainbow hat, loud shirt, “Ghostbusters” T-Shirt (yes, I have no shame whatsoever on this matter), shorts, and hiking boots bawling his eyes out. I resolved to ensure I print, frame, and hang one of my photographs of this particular “happy place”.
The journey was concluded with a pint of “Stonewall IPA” at the eponymous Inn. This was very welcome, and I was able to contemplate how much I love this city, how sad I will be to leave, but also how much I am looking forward to being back in Aberdour. Is it glib, presumptuous, and naïve to say that I could call both there, and here “home”? Perhaps, but this feels very much the case. I harp back to the comment written by my now ex-wife (we are still very good friends), Charlotte who wrote the “blog” post about our visit here in 2010: “Paul says this is the place he’s felt most at home so far.”. This remains true these nearly 15 years later.
On the way to the apartment, I picked up my laundry and a take-out. What could be a more authentic New York experience than that? Appropriately enough, the take-out was from “Paul’s Da Burger Joint”.
I felt very happy indeed.
