Marco, Roger and I just returned from a trip to New York City. This was our first trip as tourists since 2019. (I figure a trip to see my parents in Indy last year doesn’t count as we weren’t really tourists then.)
One of the places we visited was Central Park. This time we took the subway up to the northernmost point, 110th street, and walked all the way back down to 59th street. And then some, since we also walked around the reservoir a bit and took detours. I think my Apple Watch said I had 25,000 steps…
Here are some of my photos from that day:
This is from the Conservatory Garden near the top of Central Park. The fountain is called the Untermyer Fountain; it features a bronze cast of Three Dancing Maidens. It was donated to Central Park and dedicated in 1947.
One of the first things you see when you enter the park from the north is Harlem Meer. And yes, that name reflects the Dutch nature of the surrounding area: this land was once part of the Dutch Village Harlem (Harlem being the English spelling; there is also a large city called Haarlem not far from Amsterdam).
This part of Central Park (above) is called Fort Clinton. The fortification was built in 1782 by the British. This area is on a large hill and has perfect views of the surrounding area, both of which are important for military operations. One interesting fact about this cannon is that is was not actually fired from this location. The cannon actually came from a British revolutionary ship which ran aground in the East River in 1780.
Central Park also has a very large reservoir, named after Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The path around the water is just over a mile and a half, so it used by a lot of walkers and runners. And as you can see, it offers gorgeous views of the New York City skyline. It is also a popular spot for bird watchers and features beautiful cherry trees in the springtime.
Finally, here is a view from the base of Belvedere Castle (who knew: Belvedere means “beautiful view” in Italian). It is a miniature castle on top of a rock outcrop known as Vista Rock. Check the link for views of the castle itself.
All in all – a very relaxing visit to Central Park!
Life in the Hague 