Since May I have made it a goal to make a monthly foray into New York City. It is just often enough to make each trip a treat. Last month, I was lucky enough to get to walk The High Line with my sisters and visit the site of the NYC World Trade Center.
Last week, I took my November trip. The weather was forecast to be beautiful. Sunny and in the mid 60s. Perfect. I took the bus into city and arrived at the Port Authority before 10 AM. I have a goal to take a city bus or the subway to one of my destinations but so far the weather has been so beautiful that I have enjoyed walking the city each time. (The sisters and I took a couple of cabs but that doesn’t count!)
So, I walked the city to Columbus Circle…
image from nytravelguide.com
Then hopped into Central Park. I so enjoy walking through the Park, idling along, meandering in the general direction I am headed. The autumn colors are waning now but there were bits of brightness…
Then to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I bought a membership in June and have not regretted it a moment. It gives me the ability to drop in to the museum whenever the spirit strikes me AND I can leave whenever I like and not feel guilty that I wasted part of a day admission. (Yep, I was raised to have a hearty dose of guilt when wasting many things. Mom washed plastic bags and heavy paper plates to use again. We have a running joke in the family that that item about to be discarded is “perfectly good”!)
image from centralpark.com
Each visit, I pick a direction at random and wander…wander…wander. For those of you who have not had the pleasure to visit the Met (pity), it is a huge museum made up with many smaller galleries that link in an interminable maze of beauty. Pick up a map as you enter and you may find your way out when you choose to leave (although it is still easy to get lost…luckily there are many helpful docents who will point you in the right direction).
This time I picked up an audio guide (you can get it on your smartphone) and began in the Egyptian section. The guide allowed me to get further information by just entering the exhibit number. I did not need to follow any specific order or tour, I could continue my wandering exploration.
I have spent hours at the Met and there are still new areas I find at each visit. This time the two finds of the day that stand out in my mind are:
The Anna Wintour Costume Institute
It was fascinating and I am not a fashionista in any sense! Give me jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt and I am good to go but this exhibit that highlighted exceptional creations and fashions inspired by them was wonderful! I look forward to seeing future exhibits here.
Then, when wandering the galleries through the European and then the American sections, I spied…on a far wall seen through the doorways of two other galleries…
Washington Crossing the Delaware
image from mountvernon.org
Now, I am sure you have seen this painting a thousand times before on the pages of your American History books or walls of the school or library. But did you know the original is the size of the side of a barn! or at the very least the size of the wall of a garage. To be specific 12′ 5″ by 21′ 3″. It is breathtaking and is hung in a gallery with several others that are similarly imposing. It was a thrill.
There was much more to be seen. I enjoyed myself greatly, taking time for a lunch break at the Met. I treated myself to a sandwich of gouda and apple slices on raisin bread (delish) and a glass of white wine (after all, I wasn’t driving anywhere).
Then, I left the met and sauntered down Park Avenue and then cross town past the Rockefeller Christmas tree still surrounded by scaffolding but fun non-the-less and back to the Port Authority to catch the bus back home.
Yay, for outings. Yay, for the luxury of being able to wander on my own, on my own timeline, with my own thoughts or lack thereof.
Very happy to see you are taking advantage of the opportunity! Enjoy!
I love that you are taking advantage of being near the City and doing such amazing things! I’m in training for the next visit so I don’t poop out after the High Line – can’t believe what a cube potato I’ve become, even with the ranch. So enjoyed this post, I felt like I was there.
I want to go to the Anna Wintour exhibit. The pictures make my mouth water!
It was wonderful. The variety of fashions was amazing and there is so much more in the collection. I look forward to the next exhibit though I would enjoy seeing this one again!