Van Cortlandt Park Hike

Van Cortlandt Park...a hike in the woods named after John Muir. www.vcp.org







Today the weather was perfect for being outdoors, and walking. George & I left our apartment and walked about 1/2 mile to Van Cortlandt Park, and we were greeted by hundreds of cross country runners. It seems that there were both college and high school track meets on this perfect day for running. We skirted around the perimeter of the parade ground trying to avoid the runners. We found the start of the John Muir trail, and followed the easily marked painted squares along the way. We did have our convenient map courtesy of the friends of Van Cortlandt with us, just in case. We passed the golf course, the woods, the old weir, and multiple streams with short waterfalls. The trail is just under 2 miles, and we walked under the Henry Hudson parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway. We came to the end at Woodlawn playground on E. 239th street, where we found convenient restrooms and benches. Not feeling too tired yet, we continued around the park perimeter passing Woodlawn Cemetery. (Another destination for another day) We took the #4 train 2 stops, and switched to the #10 bus back to Riverdale.
There are several other trails in the Park, and we will try them all. Van Cortlandt Park is a treasure, So close and so many diverse activities available. I can't believe it's the Bronx!!

Location:John Muir Nature Trail

Location:West 242nd St & broadway

United Nations: guided tour

"Peace, like war, must be waged."
After the check-in, purchase tour tickets and then head downstairs for clean restrooms, coffee shop, and a gift shop showcasing products from all nations. The UN t-shirts I bought were made in Mexico and India.



Sign on first avenue with the worlds population - oh my!











Inside General Assembly










Reflections on Secretariat

Location:UN

And isn't it great that the United Nations representing 193 sovereign states has as its main goal the "coordination for a safer world for this and future generations, promote friendship among all nations, and support economic and social progress? If we weren't at war for half my life, I would be reassured.
So, I got my first look inside the UN today. Pretty damn impressive. Much of the 18 acre site is off limits or under construction. Of course there is intense security everywhere, and the visitors center at 46th and First Avenue requires an airport like check in, but no shoes were removed. I did get my bottle of water confiscated. Tours are available either with a guide or with audio tour, for the same price. Definitely go with the guide, because you can actually have a dialogue with others on the tour, and the guide. We saw the Interim security council, the General Assembly, and some great exhibits on land mines, refugee camps, peacekeeping, and poverty. Our guide explained that the UN budget for a year is only 7.8 billion dollars, that $1.25 a day per person could provide nourishment for the 1.4 billion people who are living below subsistence, and 1.4 Trillion dollars is spent each year on war!For more information - 212 963-8687 http://visit.un.org
I'm glad I went today, and will continue searching for peaceful tomorrows.

Location:E. 46 and First avenue NYC
POSTSCRIPT....

Today at the UN there was a rally to support statehood for Palestine.
I wanted to stay, but alas, rain and hunger pushed me toward the grand central oyster bar for a bowl of clam chowder with my favorite guy.

So here's my plan...

Sue Mack is on the move, and instead of keeping a journal, I'm blogging. I've been inspired by the younger generation.

I am planning to do 3 local adventures each week starting the week after September 11.

I hope to start mapping out some must see destinations for my sojourns. Why? Because I've recently moved back to NYC, and after working since the age of 14, I can finally relax and go where I want. Since I lived in Staten Island for 35 years, and gave hundreds of tours of the Island, I'm going to focus on the other boroughs and the surrounding tri-state area.
One of the advantages of living in NYC is being able to use mass transit and the advantage of being retired means I won't be rushing around, preferring to focus on one place per day. My interests are varied and eclectic. I like quiet retreats, and bustling streets. Yes there are lots of great places to eat and shop in NYC, but I will be brown bagging it and focusing on places of interest, historical, botanical, and topical. So, if you have a favorite place that you'd like to tell me about or show me, great. If you want to join me, let me know and we can meet there.

Location:NYC & points beyond

Location:NYC and tri state area