United States > The Lion King musical

Today is the day of remembrance for the September 11 attacks. On the television in my hotel room, I watch the preparations and the beginning of the ceremony, all taking place just three kilometers away. I have decided not to attend the ceremony. Instead, I head to the other side of the city. Just outside the hotel, I take the subway toward Central Park. The subway seems very old-fashioned to me; everything rattles and shakes. Once above ground, I walk toward the famous park. Along the way, I find a nice little spot for breakfast. It’s already 11 o’clock, but I just manage to order from the breakfast menu, along with some orange juice.

United States - Central Park the calm in the busy city

Central Park is an enormous park in the middle of the city—you could spend hours walking there. The sounds of traffic fade away, though the view of the skyscrapers remains. Many joggers and cyclists are active in the park. Through the winding paths, I make my way to Strawberry Fields, where the memorial for John Lennon is located. He was tragically murdered along the street bordering Central Park almost 25 years ago. About halfway through the park, I exit near the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. I go inside. The museum is currently changing its collection, so only a limited number of rooms are open to the public, but I can visit these with a discount. This still gives me a good impression of the museum and its famous paintings. Through Central Park, I walk back toward the theater district.

United States - The memorial stone for John Lennon in Strawberry Fields in Central Park

At a salad bar, I order a substantial lunch with fruit. In the afternoon, I return to the small park near the hotel. The sun is shining, and I sit on the stands for the gentlemen’s final of the US Open. Today, there are no autograph sessions, but American Express, the tournament sponsor, is handing out towels. The atmosphere is fantastic, but unfortunately, the match doesn’t start until five o’clock. After just one game, I have to head back to the hotel to change for the musical. By subway, I make my way to Broadway. The musical The Lion King is overwhelming. I have also seen the musical in the Netherlands, so it’s amusing to notice the differences—or perhaps more accurately, the few differences—between the Dutch and English versions. After nearly three hours, I step out onto Broadway again, still immersed in the musical’s atmosphere. It is now dark, and the thousands of lights on Times Square make everything even more spectacular. I walk back to the hotel along Broadway.