League of Nations

Before heading out on my first day in New York I caught the Grand Prix.  There seems to be a pattern with Formula One when I am in the US - a dramatic race and a win for Button - just like last year!  I then headed out to pick up my New York Pass which will get me into many attractions over the next week.

Walking into town I came across a big festival going on, with lots of stalls and people, all related to Brazil.  I think it must have been Brazil day (and a bit of research shows I am right!).  They went on for many blocks, and I found myself a long way from where I started!  I therefore decided to head off to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Walking the rest of the way there meant going round some of Central Park. Outside of the entrance to the zoo were two rival (small) demonstrations - pro and anti the Congress Party of India.  However, what made New York Zoo the best place to hold such demonstrations I do not know...

One of the reasons that the Met was top of my list to visit was that I had noticed that seeral special exhibits there were closing on the 3rd September.  However, what I hadn't reaslised was that the special exhibits were only about 1% of the things to see there.  I have been to some big galleries on this trip, but this was many times bigger than them all.  Having got there at around 1:00 I could have gone on far past closing at 5:15, indeed there was enough to see it could be a destination for a week on its own!  It is a bit like the British museum in the scope of what it covers, including many great halls of displays (and a Hepworth!)

Finally I headed over to the Rockerfeller centre to go to their "Top of the Rock" observation deck.  This had been recommeded to me as the best one in New York and, given that the weather is looking a bit dodgy for the rest of the week, I thought it worth heading there whilst it was half decent!  You get some great views from the top across all of New York, and by going in the late afternoon I was able to stay there and also get the same views at night!