Having placed ourselves in a comfortable hotel and finding our way onto a subway line that ran in the right direction, we spent a couple of hours wandering around what is commonly called “the Village.” The Greenwich Village section of New York has at least one quaint and quiet, street on which we found some of the best pastries I have ever eaten.
This shop was not one I had read about or heard about in any travel brochures, but one of those small, storefront shops excellent for a short rest stop that includes coffee and a snack. I wish I could remember the name of the shop, but if you take the double-decker bus or cab to the Village, just ask someone about it. They should be able to get you headed in the right direction.
Another highlight of our trip was the afternoon we spent wandering through Central Park with a cousin who has lived in New York most of his adult life. I was very interested in the design of the park – this huge oasis in the middle of what I had always thought was a concrete jungle. We enjoyed some roasted pecans from a street vendor and got a close look at the “gates,” a fabric art display by a world famous couple. This display created a bit of controversy in New York and I have to admit I thought it looked out of place in this huge, beautiful park but I was more impressed by the trees all planted in a line to make an impressive walkway through one section of the park.
While we were in this part of the city, we did step into the Park Plaza to spend a few minutes gawking at the overprice jewelry and chocolates in the lobby shops. We were impressed by the design of the old queen of a hotel but that was not enough to make us want to stay there. Perhaps on another trip we will give this more consideration.