Coast To Coast: Parking Myself in Central Park

This Bar and Grill is in area of New York called Hell's Kitchen so very appropriate for this restaurant

This puts the belief that Americans don't do roundabouts to rest as this is Columbus Circle which may be the only roundabout in New York.

And this sculpture at Columbus Circle is meant to explain Columbus's discovery of the New World which Christopher Columbus thought was the Old World - India.

I asked this guy why he was carrying his dog in Central Park, His reply was: "Because she's a lazy bugger"

Came across this what I thought was a baseball game in Central Park. Turned out it was a softball game (larger balls, smaller innings). This is the vast crowd watching from the bleachers.

This pitcher had some decent moves.

Winning team being congratulated by the losers.

I asked this lady (who turned out to be the manager) why the team was called 'The Dead Rabbits' she said it was after a Catholic gang from a hundred years ago who used to fight with the Protestant gangs. I asked her if her job was at risk as her team lost. She replied "No, because it's my team!"

This is what happens if you go to Central Park on a Sunday. You are made to go through a strenuous exercise routing by a sadistic drill sergeant.

Talking about being compelled to do exercise, even babies are made to do jogging.

It's hard to cross Central Park when cyclists and joggers are determined to run you over.

Talk about a bicycle made for two, this is two bicycles made for one.

This very talented busker played some amazing music

You may ask what is Shakespeare's statue doing in Central Park surrounded by flowers? These are plants and flowers mentioned in Shakespeare's plays.

The large rocks which are found throughout Central Park are ideal playgrounds for young children.

This animal clock at the entrance to the park's zoo plays a tune on the half hour.

These horse and carriages are popular with visitors.

This underground tunnel in the park was probably less popular in the days when crime was a problem in Central Park.

This young lady was performing balletic poses under the direction of a professional photographer.

Some of you may remember the first appearance of Heidi who was purchased at Heidelberg Castle in southern Germany when I was on holiday with a group of ramblers. The post featuring her is at:
https://germanchristmasmarkets.blogspot.com/2015/12/last-day-in-heidelberg.html

I said at the time that we would see more of her in future blogs. In the spirit of the 'Where's Wally' (or 'Where's Waldo' in North America) books your task is to find her in posts on this blog. As an easy clue to begin with, Heidi is the one NOT wearing sunglasses in this photo. When you find her please write where she is in the Comments section at the end of this post.

Roller bladers love showing off in the park.

This roller blader performed a complicated routine in the park.

Three ladies posing for photos in front of the boating lake.

This Buddhist monk was selling or perhaps giving something away to visitors.

This magician was impressing the crowd by making people's money disappear. (Maybe his full-time job is a tax collector)

Not just Shakespeare but Rabbie Burns makes an appearance in the park. Although I heard one couple describe him as an Irish poet. I quickly corrected them on his nationality.

I was impressed by how well maintained the park was while at the same time giving an impression of being allowed to grow into a wild state.

The park is an incredible oasis in an environment of skyscrapers.

This Love sculpture proved very popular with visitors. So popular that a large queue formed waiting to have their photo taken with the sculpture.

I have seen many stretch limos in New York but this LimoLiner wins top prize.

These photographer's statues proved popular with visitors.

This striking bus seemed to be connected with a religious group.

And this tour bus features very large windows with passengers facing outwards.

I think this diamond shopping street is the one featured in the classic film 'Marathon Man' where Laurence Olivier's former Nazi concentration camp doctor is trying to sell his stolen diamonds and is recognised by a former Jewish inmate.

This is Macy's which advertises itself as 'The World's Largest Store. I had a quick look inside but was too fatigued to confirm its claim.

After walking over 10 miles I came across this advert which exhorted me to carry on walking.

This could be New York's answer to the shortage of parking spaces. But how do owners retrieve their cars from this car park?

Some years ago developers wanted the city to demolish a redundant elevated railway so they could erect new apartment blocks. After local people protested it was transformed into The High Line with the former lines made over into a cultivated walking area. The old lines have been flipped round to from part of the paths or in the above photo allowed to be taken over by the vegetation.

This bar underneath the high line provided a welcome break and a welcome glass of cold cider to combat the high temperatures. It also featured a photographer's interpretation of Trump's first 100 days in office.