New York: Hungarian Pastries and Riverside Park

Our canalside walk at the weekend reminded me of one of the parks I visited in New York.

I'd popped out to meet Alice from The Rabbit Hole Report for lunch, and had half an hour to spare before meeting colleagues at Columbia, so I'd followed Alice's recommendation to the Hungarian Pastry Shop which is just around the corner from the university. One of the best things about bloggy friends is that they already know what you like, so their recommendations tend to hit the spot: the pastry shop was cute and unusual, and just my kind of place.

Then, just as I was finishing up my Hungarian coffee and picking at the final crumbs of my walnut pastry, my phone rang: my meeting had shifted back by an hour, and suddenly I had time to spare.

Earlier, we'd been chatting about the Riverside Park, but I hadn't thought I'd have time to check it out. I'd already walked the length of Central Park that morning, and it was a hot day, so I didn't want to exert myself too much. But meandering quietly between the trees for a while, with a light breeze coming off the river, was a perfect way to use up some time before the later meeting. I even settled on a bench with my Kindle for a while, to read and enjoy the view. It was really quiet, and I liked it more than Central Park, because I didn't feel like I was constantly a few steps away from a busy main road. I may be the only person who goes to a big city and looks for the quiet corners, but I do like to find a few moments' peace.