After breakfast at Ess-a-Bagel on Third Street, we began our stroll from the Pod 51st Street and down Fifth Avenue. We brushed past Saks, St. Patrick’s Cathedral (being gussied up), 30 Rock, Bryant Park/NY Public Library, The Empire State Building, Washington Square, and the Flatiron Building.

Karen kept asking me about famous buildings that I had never noticed. She appreciates looking at buildings in a way I never did! So I suddenly saw a lot more with my own eyes after I stopped to look closely. I could see the beauty in the historic and contemporary buildings. They rival Chicago’s, (sorry Pam, after I raved about them last month) obviously due to M-o-n-e-y. But pretty fun to gawk at them and ponder who, what, why, how.

The map shows the general path. I didn’t think I was going to put my long distance walking skills to the test but we actually did more than 3 miles due to some back and forths. (More like 5-6). We made Balthazars, an over the top bakery and now restaurant, our reward. After a smashing iced decaf with apple smoked bacon, a brioche, and apple galette, we were ready to head back to the Pod for our R&R.