Forest of Friends

3 years!

We're planning to head back up to Big Sur next month for our annual anniversary trip, but last night we had a lovely little dinner at home to celebrate.

I couldn't resist using my little leaf cutters for our appetizer in honor of the many leaves at our wedding!

I'm not quite sure why, but I really wanted to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I knew it was close to Battery Park, so I started walking in that direction. I came upon the South Street Seaport where I had been on my last visit. The bridge was near! I would just walk to the base and then go across.

Not that easy. I underestimated how enormous the bridge is, and the on-ramp is actually blocks and blocks back into the city. More walking. Starting to regret the sandals. But I made it.

The pedestrian bridge is above where the cars go.

Brooklyn

When I finally made it to Brooklyn, I happened upon a TKTS booth and picked up a ticket for Billy Elliot. I HopStopped it to Times Square where I had a tasty vegetarian dinner at Zen Palate.

I rested my barking dogs for a few, then went up the block to see Billy Elliot. My mini-review: it's a great show if you want to see dancing. Not so hot on the acting, music is just ok. But the dancing is electric! And it's got a lot of humor, too.

So:

brunch

poo

Battery Park

Staten Island Ferry

Brooklyn Bridge

Zen Palate

Billy Elliot

I'd call it a full day. Me and my blisters spent another night in Astoria with Michelle. I knew that I'd be visiting some friends out of the city the next day, but I had no idea what we would stumble upon..

A bird's still gotta bathe

Feeling satisfied that there were trace amounts of poo in the pipes of the theatre's sink, I made my way to Battery Park.

Battery Park is at the southern most tip of Manhattan. There are several monuments and lots of green space. I'd heard of it, but never been.

I wandered around for a bit, and it wasn't before long before I came across this:

Leave it to me to come all the way to New York to sit and watch some birds. But really, it was one of the most memorable moments of my day. When people saw that I had stopped to watch them, they stopped to watch them, too. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, a bird's still gotta bathe.

Leave it to me to find this next:

Yes, a turkey, schritching around for some grub.

I left the birds behind for more adventures. On my list of things to do in New York were get on the water and get above the water. The Staten Island Ferry is free you, say? Ok! On the water!