Serendipitous (journey)

Serendipitous (or 'going where the flow takes you') -adjective 1. Come upon or found by accident; fortuitous: i.e., serendipitous discoveries. good; beneficial; favorable i.e, serendipitous weather for our vacation.  It's coffee and a bagel (with cream cheese of course) on 33rd street this morning. Today I am going on the metro rail out of Manhattan and into the wider state of New York to a house museum and property  in Katona, Bedford. This is my only 'pre-organized' adventure. The rest of the time, I have been aiming for a serendipitous journey.    Allowing myself to 'stumble' upon things by accident does not come naturally to me. I am constantly resisting the urge to organize, schedule and pack an unmanageable list of 'must do's' into my days. I remind myself, that I have been here before-seen the sights, burnt the candle at both ends, brought the T-shirts. but my instinct is to plan and control- a comfortable default.  But attempting to tread a serendipitous path has it's rewards.Yesterday, with the grid-like numbered streets and subway signs as my only guide (My iPhone compass came in handy too), I explored Manhattan, South to North including an unexpected train journey into Brooklyn across the bridge. I drank coffee on Wall St and saw a man walking the streets with a cat (alive) perched on his head. I watched the crowds in Battery park, Statue of Liberty in the background. The Smithsonian museum of the American Indian was an unexpected discovery in my search for a public loo. I beeped and got frisked at the Museum, the guards declaring I must have a 'metal leg' not a firearm. I walked passed City Hall (think 'Law and Order'), and ventured into St Andrew's church for some serenity. I caught about a dozen subway trains, and only managed to miss my destination 3 times.  I had Mexican for lunch and kicked myself for throwing out 1/2 my sandwich when I passed another homeless person. (I gave him a dollar and another New Yorker brought him some food). Traversing the island I passed Grand Central, managed to get myself in trouble taking photos in all the wrong places, shopped in overwhelmingly huge department stores, and then headed north along 5th Avenue (where window shopping was the only option). I moved, block by block through the sub cultures of NY. Hasidic Jews, with their ringlet sideburns, skullcaps and hats, and 19th century black suits were commonplace on one block. And then they seemed to be gone, replaced by Christian Dior, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent and Trump tower. limos and convertibles merged with yellow cabs and busses. I heard someone say, 'This is the diamond block', 'The gold district is to your right'.I followed the sunshine that increasingly shone through the buildings to finally reach central park - a suprisingly cool and peaceful haven are the bustling streets of New York. Then, there was more coffee at crowded benches (this time opposite the Hilton). People queued outide of a fashion outlet, and Topless male models were posing in the foyer (the NY Calvin Klein type). Stunningly beautiful. And finally, Times Square at night, then air filled with the smell of leaking subway fumes, street food and chocolate. I went to M and M world (a three floor department store dedicated to little round chocolates!) This was kid present buying time, with Disney and toy stores galore, and there's nothing like the rolling lights and billboards of Times Square to lull you into a spending stupor. Being in Times square was like being in a casino - you are notsure if it's day or night, it's so light, but you don't care because while there's money in your pocket you don't want to go home. At midnight I give up, buy a Korean feast and an apple on my way home, and am in bed by 2am. Not bad for a serendipitous journey...?