A Perfect Saturday in NYC

The patches of sunshine, after some dreary days, created perfect places in which to bask, soak in the personality of NY, and people-watch! My favorite pasttime! I took up a perch on the smooth granite wall which rings the new Apple Store on Fifth Avenue, and began absorbing the voices and variety of languages I heard around me. I turned my face to the sun, closed my eyes and just listened. French poked its way in, and I was able to discern that the visitors had just gotten a great bargain at FAO Schwartz. For those of you who may not know, FAO Schwartz is one of the largest, and probably the most expensive, toy store in the world. It resides right behind the glass cube of Apple store, tucked away as a mecca for toy lovers the world over. As a matter of fact, don't tell, but when my kids were small, I would take them there for a visit, BUT, I would tell them this was a "Toy Museum" - where we could look, and sometimes touch, but NEVER actually bring the toys home...Mere mortals could never afford the stuffed animals - some for over 1,000 dollars! I glanced around me to the corner of Central Park, with the horse and carriages lined up to take tourists for a ride. I've never done this, as a native New Yorker, and always thought I might, except that the ill treatment of the animals turns my stomach. The Plaza Hotel faced me - its magnificent facade a NYC landmark for over 100 years. And, up and down Fifth Avenue, people of every stripe - every shape, age, income level and representing hundreds of countries flock daily. And here I sit, perched on a wall, basking in the sun, so grateful, that for the price of inhaling NYC air, I can sit here, undisturbed, watching this amazing show.