Visual Overload 11.27.13

I found a new coffee place called The Chiped Cup near my digs. A "bagel and schmere" is aparently a NY staple. My schmere was tofu cream cheese, I kid you not. It also had wifi and I was able to do some work related tasks. Rode the subway again down town and took two more Gray Line bus tours. It was rainy, freezing, and packed due to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade tomorrow.

There are different types of tourism: eco, medical, historical, musical, bike, adventure, etc. It's hard to limit one's trip to one purpose, but after nine days away from home I am getting closer to my goal of "what is the purpose of life?" tourism.

I say getting closer and not arriving because many visual delights in this big city capture my attention.....Grant's tomb, the Dakota where Lennon was shot, the Wall Street Bull, Brooklyn Bridge, bumping into Gandalf (for real!), NY skyline, Trump Tower, etc.

Then there are the new sights I add to my must see list: Ground Zero (one of yesterday's tour guides was understandably emotional as he reminded tourists of the city's losses on 911), Ellis Island, Times Square Church, Tenament Historical Society, and more. Dare I visit 5th Avenue on Thanksgiving? Depends on the weather.

Then there are the survival tasks that distract me in my pursuit of love, truth, and beauty.....nailing down my next lodgings, finding restaurants, laundromats, SD cards for my phone and tablet, and learning how to ride that cool subway.

Nevertheless, I am getting closer to my goal: I bought a sketch pad, visited a comic book store and stocked up on Will Eisner books, and familiarized myself with the locations of the seven museums I hope to visit next week.

I will top off this trip with a visit to Staten Island.