On the weekends, we’re almost always going out to do something active: chores, exercise, visiting family, eating out, etc. Yesterday, I had this idea in my head that I just wanted to get to a nice spot in a park and chill for a while. I could sit and read for a bit and take in the scenery. Instead of feeling pressed to do something, I could just lean back and relax and take in the sights and sounds around me, and that’s what I managed to do.
My wife and I parked in the East Village and rode our bikes over to Veselka for brunch. Afterwards we rode over to Washington Square Park to look at the vendors and then we found a quiet spot in the shade, situated sort of behind the music stage area, to just sit and relax. The air was fresh, the breeze was cool, and it was pretty cool to be able to take in different types of music while reading on my Kindle. My wife spent her time sketching.
Fun facts:
- The house that Robert Neville stayed in (from the movie “I Am Legend”) is located on the periphery of the park near the arch.
- Washington Square Park was used as a “Potter’s Field”, or burial site for poor people until about 1820 and over 20,000 people were buried there in mass graves, mostly victims of Yellow Fever
- There is a 350 year old elm tree near the northwest entrance of the park that was used to execute ~20 thieves by hanging
Overall, it was a relaxing success of an afternoon.
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