On a lovely November morning I decided to go for a nice walk through one of New York City’s hotspots: Central Park. Like New York, Central Park is as beautiful as it is bizarre. In the heart of the city that never sleeps there’s suddenly an enclave of peace and serenity. The park is located between 5th and 8th ave and is about 4 km in length.
- Imagine in Strawberry Fields
From the subway station on 72 street and Broadway, I’m surrounded by massive buildings and hurried cabs when I start my intended walk. A couple of hundred meters further I find myself in Strawberry Fields, where Beatles-icon John Lennon was killed in 1980. In the middle of the open space lies the famous Imagine-mosaic surrounded by trees and bushes, as though nature is doing it’s part to protect this peaceful memorial from the busy city less than 50 meters away from here.
Even though I have two maps with walking tours, I decide, as usual, to find my own way through the park. It’s not like I can get lost or anything. In front of me is a lake which, according to both my maps, is blessed with the imaginative name of The Lake. While I’m wondering if I’ll walk north(east) or south a local starts talking to me. The man is originally from Texas and visited New York only once. That was 20 years ago and he has never left the city since. As though he can read my mind he quickly adds that there’s no need to feel sorry for him, he loves this city and the anonymity and the security it offers. Before he leaves he hands me a few small papers with poems he wrote about his city, “go north around the lake to Belvedere Castle and try to find the Bethesda Fountain from there” he says as he takes off. Since I didn’t have a plan I might as well follow the words of this wise old stranger, who has clearly lost his heart to the city (and maybe he lost some of his sanity to the city as well).
The Lake & Bow Bridge
From the north side of The Lake there’s a lovely view over the park, the Lake and the tops of some Manhattan buildings. There are a few secluded platforms where you can sit and enjoy the view for a while. The quietness and serenity around me surprises me, I’m not just in a park, I’m actually in the middle of New York City!
The Lake & Manhattan
A bit more to the north, almost halfway the park, is Vista Rock with on top of that Belvedere Castle, which is. Vista Rock is one of the highest natrual elevations in the park, so you understand that the castle on top of that has a pretty awesome view. Though the castle in reality looks more like a plastic Disney-castle than an actual castle as we know them in Europe. On the northern view there’s a nice big lawn, which is known simply as “Great Lawn”. There’s a lot you can say about Central Park, but they weren’t in a creative mood when they were naming the Park’s sights. The south view is blocked by trees in an area which is called the Ramble. I’m not really impressed by Belvedere Castle, and taking the stranger’s advice I look up Bethesda Fountain on the map.
The Ramble
Belvedere Castle is the most northern point of my walk, to get to Bethesda fountain I have to head southwards through the Ramble, a nice mish-mash of narrow pathways through the trees. With the yellow/orange/red/brown shades of autumn colouring both the trees and the ground, the Ramble offers such peaceful scenery to walk through. The Ramble was designed to be a wild garden, and this is one of the few places that I’ve seen in Central Park where there’s no room for cyclists, runners or any other activity but simply wandering through the trees and paths.
From the Ramble I arrive at a long row of benches alongside The Lake. A bit further ahead is a stand that informs visitors about the possibility to “adopt a bench”; you pay money so the park can be kept clean, in return you get a sign with your text on one of the benches. It’s quite a smart way to get people to pay for the maintenaince.
One of the signs invited me to sit down and enjoy the view. So that’s what I did.
Sax man & Bethesda fountain
Walking towards the Bethesda fountain, I crossed the Bow Bridge, a cute white bridge that looks like it’s straight out of a romantic movie scene. Not surprisingly, this bridge has starred in several movies. You can see the Bow Bridge in one of my pictures here.
The Bethesda fountain is in the middle of the Bethesda terrace. The lovely view over a part of The Lake, the Ramble and Manhattan is accompanied by a saxophone player and a big-soap-bubble-making street artist. There are some mothers with prams. A sports team jogs by. The saxophone player entertains some kids I sit down and for a brief moment time stands still.
In the middle of a city known for its traffic, noise, business and busyness, Central Park is truly an oasis of peace. After spending a morning walking through the park I feel fresh and energetic and I’m ready to face the whole wide world.
Well, let’s first start by facing New York and its urban insanity.
Bethesda fountain
