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It was another early wakeup for me at 4:30AM but then I dozed until 6:30AM. I then updated my diary while Renée continued to doze. She woke up after another couple of hours. We slowly woke up and got ready, and left at 9:15AM. Today was a cloudier more humid day with the chance of thunderstorms later in the forecast. We planned to stay in the shade where we could after being cooked yesterday.
We went to the Metro Café at the corner of 46th Street and Lexington Avenue. We had nice toasted bagels, while Renée had a delicious lox (salmon) omelette, and I had an egg sandwich. I had a nice tea too as I was still rather groggy. We left at 10:05AM for 3rd avenue where we caught a Number 103 bus to 60th Street. We got off right outside Bloomingdales and went in at 10:25AM. After a good look around, we found the Magnolia Bakery at 11AM. Renée enjoyed an iced coffee and bought a caramel cheesecake while I grabbed a chocolate cupcake.
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Metro Café breakfast. | Bloomingdales. | Magnolia Bakery. | Staff making cakes in house. |
We decided to take the cakes to the park near the museum. So we walked along 59th Street from 3rd Avenue to Madison Avenue. There we caught a Number 2 bus to 79th Street. Then at 11:20AM we walked into Central Park behind the museum to eat the goodies by the great lawn. They were delicious!
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A bear sculpture near the 82nd Street entrance. | Bridge under the East Drive. | An American Robin. | 360 degree panorama at the Southeast side of the Great Lawn where we stopped to eat our cakes. |
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My chocolate cupcake and Renée's caramel cheesecake about to be devoured. | Views of Belvedere Castle and Turtle Pond. The San Remo towers dominate the background. | Blossoming trees by the great lawn. | Cleopatra's Needle. |
On the way out of the park a woman tipped us off about a flower display up at 102nd Street. Cool! We had that as an option to look at after the museum if we had time.
We went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art at midday. After a whizz bang whistle stop tour we left at 12:30PM as Renée had had enough.
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School busses parked outside the museum. | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. | Looking around the hall inside the entrance of the museum. |
So given we had plenty of time, we caught a Number 3 bus up Madison Avenue to 101st Street. Then we crossed to Central Park at the 102nd Street entrance at 12:50PM. Indeed the Conservatory Garden was easy to find nearby and as pretty as described.
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Looking South along 5th Avenue which is much leafier up here. | Inside the 102nd Street entrance to the park. | Black and White Warbler bird. | The Conservatory Gardens. |
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Impressive flower displays. | Burnett Fountain panorama. |
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Sparrows bathing in the Burnett Fountain. | Burnett Fountain. | More flowers. |
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Looking at the tulips more closely. They are indeed at their best. |
Then we walked a nice route across Northern Central Park to West 103rd Street subway station.
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Taking pictures of each other when I run up on top of a rock. | Setting off across Central Park. | Mourning Dove. | Looking across the North meadow from the Northern side. |
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From here the 102nd Floor of the Empire State Building can be seen (see yesterday). | American Robin. | Sparrow. | More blossom. | Descending under the 102nd Street Crossing to enter 'The Ravine'. |
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In The Ravine the woodland is rather pretty. | 'The Loch' which drains out of 'The Pool'. | Posing on a bridge over 'The Loch'. | Approaching Glen Span Arch as the path goes under West Drive. (I saw turtles in the Loch here but didn't get any pictures.) |
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Under the Glen Span Arch. | Waterfall where 'The Loch' falls away from 'The Pool'. | 'The Pool'. | Looking back at Glen Span Arch from 'The Pool'. |
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A chipmunk! | Exiting Central Park at West 103rd Street and heading to the subway. |
We caught a B train at 1:45PM to 34th Street / Herald square, arriving at 2pm. We went to Manhattan Mall and were inside until 3:25PM. It was nice and air conditioned in there for the hottest part of the day. I bought a T shirt in JC Penney's but otherwise nothing much tickled our fancy. We then left and went to Speedy's Café nearby for some food. Renée had a nice salad. I ordered a nice veggie burger and fries.
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On a B train to Herald Square. | Walking through Herald Square from North to South. | Macy's. | Herald Square from the South. |
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360 degree panorama from the junction of Broadway, Avenue of the Americas and West 34th Street. | Manhattan Mall. | A meal at Speedy's Café. |
At 4PM we walked along 32nd Street to Madison Avenue, grabbing a banana en route. Then we caught a Number 32 bus at 4:15PM to around 50th Street to find Talbots. Renée tried a pair of trousers on. Then we walked back to the hotel looking at deli's en route. We got back at 4:55PM and had a rest.
At 7PM I went out to recce Toasties. Renée stayed behind as she was too tired and had eaten well today. Toasties was closed, so I backtracked to Dunkin Donuts and got a toasted cheese croissant for Renée and a toasted buttered pretzel roll for me. I was back at 7:15PM. I also had Bourbon biscuits from home. These were all devoured, after which we just rested and retired for the night as we were exhausted.
Thankfully the forecast thundery showers never materialised so it had been a dry but hot and humid day. Meanwhile tomorrow's plan was hatching via WhatsApp. Pamela was planning to meet us at 8:30AM. Then after a quick breakfast we would take the subway to the Statue of Liberty ferry nice and early. Then after Ellis Island we would head into Chinatown for a meal. The weather was looking cooler and cloudy, with possible rain so we hoped it wouldn't affect us too much.
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