Day 11 NYC

Well today we are finally feeling the wariness of the last few days! The heat continues to be oppressive and despite an early morning rain storm, the humidity is highly uncomfortable. At the risk of never being seen again, we hopped on the PATH to go to Manhattan for Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Now once again the trip involved several wrong turns and waits for trains that didn’t come. We had set out with plenty of time (we thought) for a Mass at noon. Thank goodness there was also a Mass at 1:00!

I try; I really do, to not be harsh and judgemental! We actually arrived at the Cathedral before the noon Mass had finished. Ordinarily I would have waited outside until the congregation had finished communion and left the church. As St. Patrick’s is also very much a tourist destination as well as an active parish, throngs of people were walking in and out of the building, snapping pictures and in spite of the many signs to be respectful of the sacramental celebration there was a general hubbub at the back of the church. I was actually OK with all that – well, maybe not ‘OK’ exactly – but aware that different people had a different perspective. When I noticed that the gift store at the back was doing a booming business as communion was finishing, I near blew a gasket! Once again I was aware that those tourists buying things may have a different purpose for their visit today. The parish though allowing that, no encouraging that, during Mass, reeked of money changers in the temple! Unbelievable!! I will say this, when we were up closer to the altar as part of the congregation at the next Mass, it was not as distracting as I thought I might be. It was odd to see people walk down from communion with their shopping bags under their arms and the commotion on the periphery was certainly more than I’m accustomed to, but the Mass was not at all the circus I had feared.

Following Mass we stopped at Bill’s Burgers on 5^th Avenue for lunch! It was a great spot, well air-conditioned and our seat at the window looking out at the people passing by lured us into a long and leisurely lunch. Knowing how long the weekend trip back could take, and that we had to be ready to leave in the morning, we decided by the end of lunch that we should begin to make our way back toward the trailer and agreed to stop if anything caught our eye. A trip through Rockefeller Centre, the outside square and the Lego store was as much as managed before we happened on a subway station and for the last time we headed underground. After our experience yesterday we actively welcomed advice from fellow passengers and managed to get home with only one slight hiccup!

 Flower art at the Rockefeller Centre?? Jeff Koons Split-Rocker is planted form that towers over 37 feet high and features over 50,000 flowering plants!

 A wall of lego pieces in giant drawers. You get a deli tub to fill anyway you want to and then pay by the size of the tub you choose

This one's for you Jonathan Boss! A giant sign made of lego with a slogan you could support!

 

The evening before we leave is always busy. Considering our trip in here, making sure the tank is full of gas, our way out of the city is less convoluted than our trip in, and groceries are topped up until we’re settled in our next campground are all jobs to be done this evening! Another lovely dinner with the Flynn’s and it’s early to bed. We will part ways tomorrow as they head toward home with a stop in Vermont and we head out...next stop, Washington DC!