Today is the last full day for me in NYC for my Fabulous 40 NYC trip – so time for the day 7 recap!

Today started out earlier than other days because I had a lot to get crammed in to today. Started with, you guessed it, breakfast! It was a little less busy earlier in the morning! Then it was off to a day of adventures.

I hopped on the MTA to head down to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Most people wondered why I wanted to go to Prospect Park after going to Central Park. It was for one main reason – I’ve always wanted to go since I was a kid. When I grew up I read books by Ruth Chew, she was one of my favorite authors. A lot of her books were set in Prospect Park. I don’t remember much about the books or the exact locations in the park, but I do remember that ever since I read those, I knew I had to visit Prospect Park. So I did in memory of Ruth Chew, since I’m sure she was part of the reason I love to read. I didn’t think Prospect Park was as nice as Central Park, it seemed more dirty and run down. It is still a well-used park by a lot of walkers, joggers, bikers, well-built shirtless guys sweating in the sun doing crunches, etc.

Also, this helped complete something else. I don’t know if anyone has been keeping track, but I flew into LaGuardia, which is in Queens, then rode through Queens to get to Manhattan where my home base has been. When I went to the zoo, that was in the Bronx. Last night I took the Staten Island ferry to Staten Island. Today I was in Brooklyn for Prospect Park. So I have now (at least briefly) been to all 5 boroughs. I’ve really visited all the parts of NYC!

After a brief walk around parts of Prospect Park, I went back on the MTA to head to the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. I started there with a guided tour of the memorial. While waiting for the tour and seeing the memorial and the names, suddenly the weight and the feeling of the pain and sorrow of all those people and their families came down on me. I’m glad there were benches nearby because I needed to quickly sit down before I fell down. The tour was amazing, got to know a lot about the memorials, how the names were placed, some of the design concepts behind the memorial, and also the stories of some of the people and heroes that perished in the attacks. Several points along the tour I had to lean on something or kneel on the ground. I’m glad I brought my Kleenex along today!

After the tour was done, I went through the museum. A wonderful museum and very nicely done. I was very overwhelmed at many points and sat down when I could. There were tissue boxes at various points as well. I could have stayed in some places longer or all day just listening to the stories. There were some places I had to go through a bit quicker than I normally do at a museum, because my emotions were getting too strong and I just couldn’t handle any more. They had booths where you could record your 9/11 stories and thoughts – so I did that as well.

After my visit to the museum, I walked around the memorials some more and reflecting on them and the people’s names, and thinking how they all have a story and family they left behind. By this point I think I was completely emotionally drained. It was then time to head onto my next stop for the day.

I took the MTA again (so glad I got the unlimited pass!) north a bit to Greenwich Village and to Stonewall Inn. This is one of the gay areas of NYC and Stonewall Inn is where most consider the LGBTQ rights movement to have started, when there was police raids on the Stonewall Inn (a gay bar) and the community rose up against the police and rioted. I wanted to visit it today on June 12, because this is the 2nd anniversary of the massacre in Orlando, where 49 people were murdered in a gay nightclub. I thought I would be more emotional here, especially because it is June 12, but I wasn’t – I think I may not have had much left after the 9/11 Memorial/Museum. I went into the Stonewall Inn and had a drink as well in honor and memory of the 49. There is a park right outside as well that is a National Monument. I walked around the area for a bit, but didn’t come across anything super interesting, but did make sure to get a picture of Gay Street.

Then I walked up to the Highline, which is an elevated park that the community came together to save. It was an old elevated railroad track that was no longer used and vegetation had naturally taken over. The city wanted to tear it down, but the community saved it and maintains it. It was somewhat neat, but when you grow up in the UP of Michigan, you are used to seeing all kinds of vegetation everywhere. I did get gelato along the way.

I then walked a little ways to grab dinner/late lunch. This is the perfect time to eat because places aren’t busy! It was good to sit down as well after all that walking again! Then it was time to walk back to my hotel to get ready for my final play!

Tonight’s show was a comedy – specifically picked because I knew the day would be emotional. It was “The Play That Goes Wrong.” And it sure did! Wonderful show! Even before the play actually starts things happen and characters talk to the audience about stuff as well. If you’ve ever seen “Noises Off”, this is in a similar vain. It was very well done with very limber and acrobatic actors! It was great to have some very good laughs. Then it was time to walk back to my hotel, going through Times Square one more time, seeing the Majestic Theatre at night one more time, and the sadness of realizing my trip is almost over started setting in.

I’ve realized that it is never the cities themselves that I love so much on vacation, or what I do specifically, it is that vacation gets me away from my “real world” and allows me to live in a fantasy for awhile. I wish I could stay in that fantasy forever and not have to go back to my responsibilities. I know it’ll be a hard transition back into my regular life.

I just relaxed in the hotel for the rest of the evening and packed what I could because of my morning flight tomorrow.

A few final thoughts.

I’ve gotten quite good at the MTA, although now I want to research and read more about all the different lines and understand it better.

I still really could use a nice foot/leg massage when I’m done – I’ve sure walked a lot – I’ll post a final step/mileage count tomorrow.

I have a strange feeling I might need some drinks or company with someone tomorrow evening as I might enter my post-vacation funk.

Well – that is all for now – tomorrow is my travel day.