Today - Three Days Ago

Well I am continuing on my semi-planned days. Here is what they generally look like.

I have one set destination - today (Monday) it was a dance store in Queens to pick up two pairs of pointe shoes for Katy. It is about a 20 minute subway ride and one transfer to a 15 minute bus ride. Of course I walk the wrong way after getting off the subway but who knew!? I've learned to not walk far before asking someone and just look at it as getting more exercise or finding something new! This is the first bus I've taken so I was a little unsure if I could use my subway metro pass but I could!

After picking up her pointe shoes I got some great advice from the employees to take a different bus and subway to get back to Manhatten. It turns out that there is not much to see or do in Queens which is a "borough" known for having one of the most ethnically diverse populations in North America including 81 different nationalities and 170 different languages!

I recognize the area from when we drove in the shuttle from the airport. The ongoing buildings of brick remind me of Toronto except the houses are considerably smaller. So I took the Q17 towards Flushing which is supposed to lead me to Flushing Meadows where the US Open takes place. Now that is cool! Being the tennis player I am …or once was!

But as I get to what seems to be the end of the line, everyone is getting off and there is an old medieval looking church I would like to see so I get off too. No Flushing Meadows this time :( Maybe I will come back.

After a quick peek in the church I walk back a few blocks through the craziest China Town like district I have ever experienced. Bright signs cluttered everywhere - people everywhere - umbrellas for shade from the sun everywhere.

Why am I walking back? To get a picture for my homeschooling science group of boys of an amazingly nice series of art work of "mitosis" on the side of a public library. Or is it "meiosis"? Will let the boys figure it out:) Yes I know it sounds strange but there it was in all 7 stages in gold relief and engraving! Only in New York City I'd say!

Good thing I got off because the #7 "above ground" subway was right there which took me back to Manhatten and gave me new view I hadn't seen before including the most randomly planned section of graffiti I had seen yet! I must figure out how to post my photos!

I came up at Bryant Park which is a huge park that was hiding behind the NYCity library. After a quick peruse I hopped another subway which brought me over the Manhatten bridge into Brooklyn only because I was over interested in the Bryant Park activity guide. And once again I found something I would have never found had I been more on the ball with where I was going…lol! It was a city market set up in renovate shipping containers - now there's an idea for Terry's boss who has developed his float home marina using storage containers! Most of them were closed because it was Monday and by now I'm getting used to businesses not being open when you want them to be so I'm back over the bridge for a short stop at the apartment before I pick up Katy!

Well not everyday this week has been like this one three days ago - but one thing has been the same - the weather - hot and sunny!