It was a beautiful day in NYC. The sun was shining, and it was relatively warm. We decided to make the most of the weather and take the ferry out to see Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty. We didn't disembark, but the views were spectacular. But the crowds...Oh Sweet Lord, the number of people out there was just staggering. The first time we attempted it, the park attendant told us the line stretched all the way to Texas. Dallas, Texas, in fact. I was inclined to believe her. So we grabbed a cab and made our way over to see a really extraordinary exhibit at the Seaport Museum, called "Bodies...The Exhibition". It was really interesting, in a morbid and strange way. These are actual bodies of people who left their remains to science, and they are dissected, and displayed to give the most elaborate anatomy lesson you have ever experienced.
You get to see details that only medical professionals ever see. The one that really struck me as amazing was a complete circulatory system. It was in a person-sized plexiglass case, suspended in liquid, in human shape. But the details...just how intricate the spider-webbing of veins, arteries and capillaries was incredible. It was a little like a visit to a morgue, and people were all hushed out of respect for the dead. But I have never seen the inner-workings of the body like that before. It was worth the time to see it. The picture up top is one of the actual displays. You can walk around it and see the insides of the human body in cross-section.
After that, we went back to Battery Park and got the ferry without too much of a wait. We, meaning Bruce, have figured out the subway system fairly well. Its extremely efficient, and not the dirty, scary, underground cesspool of violence that I was afraid of. It is a little bit confusing, but once you get the hang of it, its not too bad. The one thing about NY that I can NOT for the life of me figure out is that the majority of locals run around the city in heavy winter coats, boots and scarves even when its a nice comfortable 65 degrees outside....? Whats up with that? I mean, occasionally it gets a bit windy, but not enough to warrant North Pole clothing. Also? They get on the subway like that, somehow without breaking a sweat. And that confounds me to no end, because the subway??? is hot, humid and steamy. Apparently all the time. The trains are hot, the tunnels are hot. Maybe these northerners have thin blood or something. The most I have needed is a light jacket, and that was on the top deck of the ferry today.
Anyway, tonight we are feeling our age (maybe more...?). We had a late lunch/early dinner at Grand Central Station today, just to see the place (it was beautiful), and then we came back here to the apartment around 5pm to rest up a bit and to decide what we wanted to do this evening.
I woke up at 8pm. Seriously! We have pounded the pavement, and run around this city so much over the past couple of days that we were both completely exhausted. And so, I'm sad to say, that here we are in this amazing city surrounded by all of this incredible stuff to do, and we have made a mutual decision to stay in and get some rest this evening. Maybe we will regain our momentum tomorrow. Its supposed to turn colder tonight, and there is a chance of snow...???
When we left home the Weather Channel's 10 day forecast for NYC called for mid-60's all week long. Hmmmm....sounds like a really good excuse to shop. I have seen some of the most gorgeous boots here ever!!!
p.s. The frog didn't come with us today, as he is phobic about dissected bodies. Apparently too many of his relatives ended up in biology class.
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