"Mary Ann has two speeds: Go full force and stop!" --jeff laun

Tonight I stopped. Today was a full day since the Pope was in town and I had a play to see at 2pm. I left the hotel about 8:00 since I heard the Pope was saying mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th avenue. Last night, after seeing the Tony award winning musical "Spring awakening," we went to Charlie O's for our post play discussion. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, me included! On the way home, I suggested that we take the long way via Rockefeller Plaza. Jan, Pat, Mane and Rosemary joined me.

The Plaza was beautiful with blue white lights. We then walked back to our hotel via 5th Avenue to check out the preparations for the Pope's visit tomorrow. It was unusally quiet, and unlike the Rose Parade, the police sent everyone home. No one was allowed to camp out.
This morning, I had planned to go down there with the purpose of checking out the activity. I really had a priority of getting to the Guggenheim Museum by 10 to see the Cai Guo-Wong exhibit "I want to believe." Lissa has told me that is was wonderful...

When I arrived at 48th and 5th, a few blocks from St. Patrick's there was a police barracade. I had to backtrack around the corner to 6th and then travel down about a half a mile until I saw a barracade that was letting people in. The crowd control was amazing...each street was blocked off and on one side of one block I counted 12 NYPD officers. This was serious security...

I grabbed coffee and headed out into the crowd. It was just amazing. Many groups had brought guitars, drums, amd tambourines and were singing Christian songs in their native languages. The rhythm was mermerizing, like meditation and prayer. I lingered for awhile and before long, the motorcade made its way down 5th avenue. Atleast twenty police in motorcyles led the way, then secret service, and the fleet of limosines, one which had the Holy Father. It was something to experience as the crowds of thousands cheered to welcome him to New York. To me, it was such a spiritual moment, as the crowd cheered in unison, flags waving, and signs in the air.

Then off to the subway to be at the Guggenheim when it opened at 10am. I visited this Museum years ago and I wanted to see it again. It is a spiral building and you ascend up around the spiral as the exhibit unfolds. I provided the link for this exhibit so that you also can experience it. It was amazing...

I then left the Guggenheim and walked down to the Neue Gallery (pronounced Noyay) which is a museum of German and Austrian arts, especially focusing on the turn of the century arts and crafts secession movement as well as 20th century arts. I had seen a Sunday morning segment on the Gudtave Klimt exhibit and since I had seen a major exhibit on this same period in Viennese art when I last visited New York twenty-five years ago, I was interested in seeing this one also. It too was beautiful and I was able to hang around a "private tour" when I wasn't listening to the recorded tour. Enlightening as well...

As I was heading back to the theatre area, my feet were so sore since I managed to hurt my toes last night as I navigated to the bathroom. Ouch! and since my feet were so sore from all the miles we have walked already, I took a cab back into the downtown area. The traffic was horrendous because of the Pope's visit so I asked to get out at 58th and Park Avenue. I could see the helicopters so it seemed the Pope was almost ready for the popemobile parade down 5th avenue. The timing was critical for me since I had to walk (hobble?) another mile to get to the theatre by 2. I happened to be at a place where they set up another baracade so I could see fairly well, near Bergdorf Goodman's windows. By this time the crowds were just tremendous, all ages, all races and religions, here to welcome him. And then, the crescendo rose and he travelled down 5th avenue. Another moment (of many this week) to remember...

To the play, a political comedy called November with Nathan Lane, but alas, I could barely keep my eyes open. I hate that when you have to struggle to stay awake and you can imagine it was bad, because this was a very funny play and Nathan Lane was fabulous... Needless to say, I bailed after the first two acts and headed home to Jeff, weaving my way through the people and the street fairs...everyone was partying in the city...Spring was here and they were all so happy to have warm weather. Tonight I am in stop mode...and Jeff went down to say we would notbe joined the group on the harbor cruise. I am done...tomorrow we pack and leave about 2 for the airport. What a trip this has been and what a marvelous city, filled with diversity, creativity and a value for the arts! New York, New York!