elephants

Yesterday was a beautiful day in the city! We finally reached a high of 78 degrees, so I headed to Central Park. I grabbed an ice cream bar, spread out my towel on the side of a hill next to a tree, and reveled in the warmth of the sunshine and the sweet sounds of chirping birds. The park was alive - dads and kids playing Frisbee after school, grandparents out for a stroll with baby in the carriage, toddlers digging in the dirt, young professionals enjoying the fresh air on their way home from work... I spent a couple of hours enjoying spring, watching people, and reading (a textbook, of course).

After class in the evening, from 7 to 9, and a brief rest in my room, I went back out for an annual unique New York event I had heard about and didn't want to miss. Last night the Ringling Brothers Circus came to town! The elephants are too big to truck or train onto the island, so every year they have to walk across the Queens Midtown Bridge, down 34th Street, past Macy's, all the way to Madison Square Garden. They began their journey across the bridge at 11:59 last night, as I and hundreds of others waited in anticipation along 34th Street. I found a spot near Lexington Avenue, and the elephants reached me at about 12:25. I took pictures as they passed, and then I joined the crowd in running to catch up with and get ahead of the elephants for more pictures. Plenty of news crew photographers and animal rights activist protesters were in the mix, but, overall, there was a festive spirit in the air as everyone ran along snapping pictures and laughing at the sheer silliness of our actions. If you happen to be in New York when the circus comes to town next year, be sure to stay up late for the elephant parade!