City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York.

This St. Patrick's Day has been granted glorious late winter weather and I have walked across Central Park to view the traditional parade. The parade begins down in mid-town, but it is so much more pleasant to watch the marchers and musicians, and even the other watchers from the Park side of Fifth Avenue.

I took lots of photos.

Here are some bagpipers.



Here are some ladies whose contingent was a bit quieter.



More pipers quickly appeared.


I love these huge banners. It often takes quite a few folks, generally men, to keep them up and moving along.


This is a day that brings out head gear that rivals that worn on Easter.

Not all the marchers were from the United States or Ireland.

These serenading gentlemen came all the way from Spain.

Back to traditional marchers.

There were many, many firefighters marching today. The Mayor marched along with them. Then, he must have retraced his steps so that he could also march along with the police. I thought that the flags were beautiful.

This little fellow was a bit chilly when the warming sun began to drift to the west.

I think that these two were about to trade telephone numbers.

These boys accompanied their parents to the parade, but weren't really that interested.

Something about this young lady reminds me of Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

Now here is a frothy hat.

In this family, only dad held out against going green.

More head gear.

Here is a little princess with her favorite doll.

Chairs reserved for children, who have decided to stand a while and stretch their legs.

What a pretty smile on this very young lady.

More head gear, and a beautiful tartan.

Sorry that I shot this facing the sun, I wanted to catch the Kilkenny banner.

Perfect extensions for this day only.

There once was a banner from ....

Little sisters telling each other secrets.

More headgear.

Please also take note that these very well dressed horses are wearing green stockings.

I like the decorated drums as much as the large banners.

This little girl got lots of attention.

I saw many feather boas this afternoon, and many little errant green feathers along the sidewalk.

Someone made this hat with lots of care. The gentleman wears it well. On the left, you can see the edge of the very beautiful Frick Museum.

Another painted drum, and a gentleman who knows how to play.

Isn't she sweet in her tartan?

This little boy seemed to enjoy playing around with his plastic derby.

Good looking sweaters and kilts, and beautiful music, too.

Here is another majestic group of marchers.

These fellows were just too cool and required a photograph.

This little girl was enduring her tinsel antennae.

The parade goes on and on ... perhaps close to five hours. You all might now feel the same about this post!

I did not stay for the entire parade, but had a nice stroll back across Central Park, passing by beautiful Bethesda Fountain. You can see the lake and, just barely, the boat house in the background. When spring arrives, the Fountain's water will be turned back on.

At the edge of another part of the Lake, I saw lots of patches of these little white flowers. I am too ignorant to know what they are, but think that they are beautiful.

I hope that I have given you a taste of today's parade, and that each of you will some day be able to see it for yourself.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.