Day 328: Exploring Brooklyn

In order to post photos for the rest of the year, I will have to go back and delete about 40 from past posts since I have used up the allotted space for the blog.  I'll do that over the next few days and then add photos to this week's postings.  Clearly, the NYC photos are far more exciting than many of the standard ones I've taken around our yard and neighborhood.

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge today was breathtaking.  Spanning the East River, it extends 1.1 miles.  Construction began in 1870 and was completed in 1883 before anyone imagined that there would be millions of cars and pedestrians crossing it every day of the year.  It is a remarkable feat of engineering and it offered spectacular views of Manhattan's skyline, the Manhattan Bridge and off in the distance, the Statue of Liberty.  Unfortunately, the Statue and Ellis Island will not reopen this year due to the damage from Hurricane Sandy.  Mobs of people were crossing today.  It was a perfect day for November, 55 degrees and sunny.  At home, they are getting pelted with lake effect snow.

Once we reached Brooklyn, April and Colin took us to a popular little Mexican restaurant called The Pequena where we feasted on the best Mexican food I've ever had.  Then we strolled by the Grand Army Plaza which honors the troops who served in the Civil War.  Also, a bust of President Kennedy is in the same plaza.  Yesterday, it was 49 years since he was assassinated.  I remember that day very clearly.  On we walked through Prospect Park, which is Brooklyn's version of Central Park.  This one was wide open though and lots of folks were playing tag football, doing yoga or napping in the sunshine.

It's been wonderful to have these relaxing hours to visit with our sons and April.  We've been very lucky that the weather has been so favorable.  Tomorrow, we will go to a movie, shop a bit and then go Justin's to finish up the leftovers.