3/5/13 – The Met, the High Line and the Farewell

This morning the boys did the ride to the southern end of the Park. And it was also good. Ben and I then donned our walking shoes and took off for the Met - The Metropolitan Museum of Art. We were going to do the Director’s Tour but instead did the express tour as the published route was blocked off. From what we could glimpse behind the curtains it seems that the two northern atriums were being decorated for a

big party to launch the Met’s latest exhibition ‘Punk: Chaos to Couture’. The décor looked spectacular – I wish I had been invited as this party looked like it was going to go off.

After a short cab ride through the park and over to Hell’s Kitchen, we stopped at a food and beverage van before climbing the stairs to the High Line Park. Ben purchased a pretzel for us to on nibble while we were walking the full length of the park. I first walked this wonderful pathway of urban renewal with Hans and Sue in early March and then did it again in late March with Bo and Kristy and the transformation of the flora since then was stunning. It was amazing how much it had changed!

I was also surprised to discover how much the Park has been transformed from the winter and that it looked much smaller now that the trees are all ‘fleshed out’ with leaves and flowers. As a result the views out to the skyline and avenues were markedly different. At the Gansevoort Street end of the park we sat and did some ‘people watching’ as we basked in the warm sun. This was an experience I had not previously enjoyed since my last two visits were more brisk affairs conducted in a freezing wind.

Last on our list of things for Ben to do was lunch in Greenwich Village at ‘Pastis’. Ben must have enjoyed his ‘last supper in NYC’ as he managed to try most of the dishes on the menu! This only encouraged Peter and by the end they had worked their way through onion soup, mussels, steaks, croque monsieur and apple tarts with ice cream. I hope they don’t weigh Ben before they put him on the plane and charge him with excess baggage – oh silly me – this is the US - the only place in the world to and from which you get to bring 46kgs of luggage!

The cab ride home was a long one as we were sad to say farewell to our last visitor. It had been fun showing Ben the sights and we took great pleasure in seeing them through the eyes of a different season. Safe journey home Ben – through Frankfurt and Singapore before landing back in Perth. Say hello to everyone for me when you are at the Staff Meeting on Monday!!!