NYC – Central Park, Rockefeller Centre, FDNY centre

Central park really is big! And filled with tour groups, joggers, cyclists, horses and carts, police, park workers, buskers/stall holders, and today, a charity walk… Our plan was to have a bit of a wander in the southern third of the park. We really enjoyed the space, especially after braving the metro with a pram, and after the initial experience yesterday of walking to our hotel on busy crowded streets with huge skyscrapers all around.

In the afternoon, after a sleep, we went to the Rockefeller Centre, built at the height of the depression, and with some lovely decorated entrances. The ice skating rink was still running, we had dinner in a café looking out on it, which was a bit pricey but just what we needed at that point. We went up on top of the Rockefeller Centre at a quieter moment, just after a downpour of rain, and just before all the lights came out, in a weird, windy, cloudy atmosphere. I really enjoy the views from high things!

Before dinner we also went to the FDNY fire centre, which is actually just a small shop front in the Rockefeller centre. Very underwhelming for the adults, but as there was a cut down/model fire engine for the kids to sit in (and that was really just about it), it is shaping as one of the favourite activities with the peanut gallery.