UPDATE

I got lots of offline comments about my "Cat on a leash" picture. Apparently in Norway, this kind of thing is normal. People here walk indoor cats all the time on leashes. I have a feeling there will be a Part Two to this pic. Maybe the guy was Norweigan!

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I must admit I’m biased. This first week in NYC has been a very beautiful one. I am actually staying on 5th Avenue and only now do I understand what all the fuss is about.

Every morning I wake up to a view of Central Park that rivals any other and each night the same. New York has a uniqueness that is legendary and every day I have seen its individuality played out in the rich tapestry that belongs to only this place.

Many of you might say, “That’s a native New Yorker talking,” and can list all of the not-so-great things about this city: Trash, traffic and terror. But where else would you be able to see a cat on a leash (I mean really, who buys those things?) . . .



 a man on a unicycle (Again, who?) . . .



and a random sax player fine tuning his sound?



Yesterday, as I was transcribing notes for a story, I heard the music coming through an open window facing the park. I had heard it most of the afternoon and had forgotten about it when I went out for a walk.

With camera in hand, I didn’t know what I was looking for until I stumbled upon George, a 60-year-old man who had been playing Central Park since the 60s. It was his melodies I heard earlier in the day. It didn’t matter to me whether George was good or not, the fact remained I had found him just as anybody walking by could.

Five years ago, I would have taken it all for granted. My aunt, who has lived here all of her life, can't see the beauty of it. Not me, good or bad, I'm soaking it all in. I’ve been busy this week, so I haven’t been able to venture downtown as much as I would like but I will. George tipped me off to some drummers who practice every Saturday at Mt. Morris Park, a little further uptown. That’s a trip I’ll have to take.
 
For now, I’ll just leave some parting thoughts in pictures, See Slideshow here.