Central Park in New York City

Photography © Arman Esmas

Sources of Information: centralpark.com and centralparknyc.org

In my travel bucket list, a leisure escapade around the city is not usually included. The atmosphere is bloody hell and I hate squirming with the crowd in busy streets. I prefer a more restrained environment where stillness of the mother earth can be truly felt. Nature truly gives my soul a time to rest.

In the past, when someone would ask me where in the world I would never want to be, my quick response was always New York City. Maybe because of the nasty things I often heard about the place. My antipathy towards the Big Apple only exacerbated by the results of some cross-national surveys about world’s most demanding, crowded and stressful cities to live which often mentioned this city.

The latest being in Forbes magazine placing New York City second to Los Angeles as America's most stressful places for dwellers, describing it as " The city that never sleeps and has more plenty of reasons for insomnia: highest cost of living and extreme population density".

In my mind, New York City only amuses people who adored elaborate buildings, luxurious lifestyle, fancy cars, trendy establishments and all those creepy night clubs and bars.

Or so I thought. Fast forward...

One day, Arman uploaded his LOVE (NYC replica) photo in his NYC album and because I already secured his permission to use it in my other post, I visited the album and downloaded the photo. My eyes rolled and darted to other images in the album and saw the stunning photos of Central Park's beautiful scenery of nature. I am easily attracted with images about nature because it feels like I am in a subdued environment where peace is eternal, it provides me comfort and moment becomes timeless, as if the world is innocent again.

The ultra-magnificent green surrounding with manicured lawns, gardens, abundant trees and awe-inspiring bed of flowers of Central Park thoroughly conciliated my impression about New York City (See? When it comes to nature, I can easily bartered views ^__^).

Here, let's take a quick trip to New York City's ultimate retreat through the evocative photos of my generous friend, Arman Esmas :-D

 The calm atmosphere of Central Park as viewed at the Bethesda Terrace.

According to its description, Bethesda Terrace is one of the architectural highlights of Central Park, it has granite steps and landings and overlooks The Lake. Its main feature is the Fountain, also known as Angel of the Water, enclosed within two elliptical balustrades.

Opps! He is not someone you saw in Korean drama series ^____^

Arman at the Bethesda Terrace. He had visited Central Park on several occasions 

and shared his fascination over the natural charm of the park.

  

Central Park looks so awesome! For dwellers in a highly modernized environment, this spot could be a perfect diversion, a healthy escape and a cool antidote to a stressful life in the exuberant metropolis.

Set on 843 acres of land in Manhattan, New York City, Central Park is America’s first major landscaped public park. Designed by landscape architects, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the park was initially conceived in 1853 and completed, opened to the public in 1857.

Its diverse attractions range from verdant plants and flowers to elements of history and culture. It boasts green meadows, sprawling waters, gardens, unique bridges, performance centers, educational facilities, classical architecture and statues of historical figures. It is home to North America’s oldest public monument, The Obelisk. Central park is currently administered by the Central Park Conservancy.

WHERE IS CENTRAL PARK?

Located in New York City in the heart of Manhattan, Central park stretches from North 110th street to 59th street (Central Park South) and from 8th Avenue (Central Park West) to 5th Avenue.

WHAT’S INSIDE THE PARK?

For full description of each attraction/facility, please visit the home page of CENTRAL PARK 

• Alice in Wonderland
• Andrew H. Green Bench
• Arsenal
• Artist's Gate
• Balto
• Bandshell
• Belvedere Castle
• Bethesda Terrace
• Bethesda Fountain
• Bethesda Terrace Arcade
• Bridges of Central Park
• Bow Bridge
• Gapstow Bridge
• Greyshot Arch
• Greywacke Arch
• Inscope Arch
• Trefoil Arch
• Carousel
• Cherry Blossom Trees
• Cherry Hill
• Children's Zoo
• Cicadas
• Conservatory Garden
• Conservatory Water
• Cop Cot
• Dairy
• Delacorte Music Clock
• Delacorte Theater
• Discovery Center
• Grand Army Plaza
• Great Lawn
• Hallett Nature Sanctuary
• Hans Christian Andersen
• Harlem Meer
• Heckscher Ballfields
• Heckscher Playground
• Ladies Pavilion
• Lake
• Lasker Pool & Rink
• Loch
• Loeb Boathouse
• Nature Observatory
• North Meadow
• Obelisk
• Pond
• Ramble
• Reservoir
• Shakespeare Garden
• Sheep Meadow
• Still Hunt
• Strawberry Fields
• SummerStage
• Summit Rock
• Swedish Cottage
• Tavern on the Green
• Tennis Center
• The Mall
• Turtle Pond
• Victorian Gardens
• Wagner Cove
• Waterfalls
• Wisteria Pergola
• Wollman Rink

NATURE TRIPPING WITHIN THE CITY

The greatest attraction of Central Park remains to be its gorgeous landscape of nature, the green scenery and rich flora and fauna. It houses 25,000 varieties of trees including the rare American Elm Trees.

Scenic surrounding of The Pond. What a stunning view of greenery!

Manicured lawn at Sheep Meadow. Green environment is always a relaxing escape

Picturesque attractions include the Great Lawn, Sheep's Meadow, The Mall (A walkway leading to Bethesda Terrace, along its path lies a breathtaking ground where rare American Elm Trees are planted), man-made lakes, ponds, along with walking bridle paths. The park offers fascinating foliage and blooms that changed according to season. 

This image of rare American Elm Trees is so awe inspiring! How gorgeous the environment!! I am advocating a sustainable green environment, my father is an environmentalist and I grew up admiring thick vegetation and rain forest and this view really captures my imagination.

Along the Fifth Avenue and 105th Street, lies a Conservatory Garden, said to be the only garden in the park created with a formal layout. It is divided into three sections and adorned with magnificent fountains including "The Three Dancing Maidens" which provides visitors with a cool, quiet and tranquil atmosphere. Other must-see attractions: Strawberry Fields and Shakespeare Garden. 

Strawberry Fields is a tear-shaped garden created to pay tribute to John Lennon, former lead singer of the British boyband, Beatle, who was shot dead in 1980 while walking to his Dakota Apartment located within the area. His hit song, "Imagine", in a black and white mosaic, lies in the center of the spot. The name of the area itself was taken from the Beatle's song: Strawberry Fields Forever. 

Shakespeare Garden, which is reminiscent to Great Garden in New Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, contains some of the flowers and plants mentioned in William Shakespeare's famous plays. 

Shakespeare Garden is attributed to the Bard. According to the description of this spot, this garden relives the works of William Shakespeare and contains wide varieties of flowers that changed according to season, it has a graft of a Mulberry Tree, touted to have been grafted from the original Mulberry Tree planted by Shakespeare himself at his garden at Stratford-Upon Avon, England in 1602. 


Oh! Simply marvelous and brilliant! 

According to Arman, if you're in New York City and your type of adventure is a nature trip, Central Park is always an excellent choice! 

What a beautiful discovery about this side of the Big Apple, maybe I could remove NYC from my list of World's most horrible cities to visit, after all there's a Central Park to seek refuge when the energy of the city becomes severely unbearable.


Special thanks to Arman for these splendid photos of Central Park!