The bike rental place is not actually in the park so we have to push them there - can't ride on the footpath and we're not really wanting to ride on the road.
Once we get to the bike path, we're off. I'm a bit worried coz it's all downhill and there has to be an uphill somewhere... Very pretty, though.
A quick stop to get brekkie and check out Belvedere Castle.
I got a photo of the brekkie cart but not the castle!
It's a beautiful day to be riding, sun is out, not too hot, lovely. There are a few points where it is a bit steep and I have to get off and push, but that's nice too coz you get to see more. We meet up intermittently along the way. Robbie, being young and very fit, screams past me up a hill and makes it look effortless! I just kept pushing the bike up and rode down.
It took the two hours by the time we got back to the beginning. There are lots of joggers, cyclists, little kindergarten groups either being wheeled in big strollers that seated eight little kids, slightly older groups were tethered to a long rope with a teacher at either end - it sounds a bit barbaric but it's safe and very cute.
Some lovely parts of the park...
Some boats on the water...
They were setting up for the New York marathon, which must be coming up soon.
Back with the bikes and into a deli for a sandwich lunch - complete with crisps and a pickle. Then we wander down towards our first show today - The Color Purple.
The girl playing Celie is the original girl and she is phenomenal. The three female leads are outstanding - Celie, Shug Avery and Sophia (Oprah's role in the movie). It's one of the few shows where I absolutely loved the females. The guys are almost incidental - but without them, there is no story.
It was simply staged with no definite sets, just chairs and props but it was superb.
After the show, we found a nearby pub. A friend of Brett's is in New York and just happened to be sitting in front of them at the theatre - of all places - so Luke joined us. We're quite a big group now!
Dinner - an appetising concoction of Mac and cheese fritters with bourbon sauce and fries...
Then it's off to show two - and another female tour de force - Sutton Foster in Sweet Charity. It's an off Broadway show and one we found by chance. Charity is not anyone's favourite show but with
Sutton Foster as Charity - yes!
It's a scaled-down version, small space, small ensemble, small band, one guy playing the three minor roles - Vittorio, Big Daddy and Herman - and Sutton Foster (she has to go by her full name - I can't just call her (Sutton!). This is a great role for her and she was magnificent! Enjoyed it all a lot.
Then we're got to meet Robbie and Luke, who went to different shows each, for a drink at Lily's - a bar for Lily Langtry. Very grand place - not sure it comes out well in photos...
Then it's goodnight to Raff and Luke, who head off to their respective hotels and we head back home. We do go down the wrong subway entrance and have to work out how to get to the right one - not something you want to do at 12:10 when you just want to get home. It was cute to watch the rat scurrying about, looking for dinner.
Finally back to our stop, walking back and all the nightspots and cafes are playing whatever game is in the final tonight - lots of people excited about whatever was happening.
Another full day and late night! But a good one.
No comments:
Post a Comment