Christmas Outing

The GW Bridge and the NYC skyline come into view as we ride this Metro North train into Grand Central from Tarrytown.

Likely there were more tourists than commuters in the great room of Grand Central this morning when we left from the lower level of the station. Large Christmas wreaths artfully decorated the station.

We did not ride far along the Hudson River before getting off at Irvington and making our way up to the Aquaduct Trail. We only walked a portion of the historic 41-mile linear park that follows a 19th-century water tunnel. Through woods, past large, old homes we hiked until coming to the grounds of the Lyndhurst estate. The Greek Revival Mansion built in 1838 was added onto in 1864 by Jay Gould. Its 14,000 square feet has over 90 per cent of the original furnishings in its elaborate rooms.  We came here for the holiday tour. It was our first time in the mansion though we’ve been on the grounds.

(And now we wait along with another train for a drawbridge on the Harlem River to close.)

The tour group met in the carriage house. It went past the children’s playhouse. (It had a phone in it so the girls could call the servants to bring tea.) Before going in the guide told us that there are 75 Christmas trees in the house. It was a happy holiday thing to do, and we learned a thing or two about the history and the generosity of the richest man in America at that time.

Afterwards we walked another mile on the trail and into Tarrytown where we ate Greek food, including baklava. Then we went down, down towards the river to the train station.

We’re back among the buildings and trash, graffiti, and people of Harlem. There’s a building in Harlem where we worship. Tomorrow we’ll bring the subway back here and we’ll be glad that we get to live and worship in NYC.

But today we left the city for a Christmas outing. We said, “Let’s remember this outing, remember what we have. Someday, we’ll move from the city. Maybe we’ll spend Christmas with family then. However, now we have this, and we are glad.”

(The train still waits and while most passengers are chatty and patient, one young man loudly proclaims, “This is horrible.”)

Merry Christmas!

Berniece