51st st / 52nd st / 54th st / 55th st

9.87 miles

as i got off my bike, a man was staring at me, smiling. he asked me where i was from, japan? i am naïve and friendlier than usual these days, so i did not ignore him. i told him i was from korea (which is false, because i was born in california), and he told me that he was also from seoul. the conversation, and the fact that he was black, should have given me pause, but again, naiveté, the benefit of the doubt. even after realizing he was jesting, it was difficult to remove myself from the conversation with ramin. eventually, he asked if we could shake hands, and i backed away and said i had to go meet a friend (true), but started walking in the opposite direction of where i needed to be going. after a bit of dallying, i turned around.

the sights: two garbage men greeting a young child as she entered the building; a man singing while electric scootering; skinny jeaned couple holding hands; luxury car dealerships next to trashed sidewalks; poopie; a man solemnly praying in an alley way; free the nipples; heavily armed police men chatting casually about tide stain removal markers; a bird picking up a feather from the sidewalk; a kitty; brown flooding; six and a half(th?) avenue; moma; mosque; well kept flower beds; an older gentleman eating alone while reading from a propped up phone; a runner stopping to admire the view of the east river; bride and groom outside a church; horse and carriage; a bowling hat; a dinosaur; a piece of fluff.

it’s charming enough around here, it being midtown.

my friend cher joined me for the latter leg, and we witnessed a seagull eating a fish at the edge of the east river.

coda: not on this walk, but later in the evening, lady liberty.