Why do we walk? The act of walking has a diversity of purposes for people. Some people walk to get to a destination, some people walk for exercise, and some walk just to take in the sights. I on the other hand like to walk mostly when there’s something disturbing my mental stability.

     Walking to clear my mind is actually a relatively new ordeal for me. I’ve only been clearing my mind by walking for roughly three years. I started out walking aimlessly, usually during or after sunset. Every now and again I might find myself going for a walk around sunrise. Everyone that walks, with or without a purpose, knows that timing is the key to the success of the walk. Attempting to walk on 42^{nd street during rush hour isn’t exactly the best time or the best place to clear your mind, unless you’re the type that needs noise to help process the mutinous thoughts that disrupts your train of thought.}

     After walking aimlessly throughout Manhattan all of five times I found that walking up Sixth Avenue, known to tourist as the Avenue of the Americas, from 34th street until 59th street, and then walking west alongside central park is my most relaxing route in Manhattan. When I walk this route it seems like the scenery is an outward representation of the change of mind states I go through. Like my surroundings, my mind goes from being crowded to what I could consider peaceful for the most part.

     When walking this same route for the purposes of writing a paper, it seemed to lose its glamour to me. I noticed things that I’ve never noticed before, or maybe I just tolerated the routes flaws because of what it did for me in the long run. When I started my mile hike on 34th street Herald Square I quickly realized that this was going to be a different experience than the one I frequently turned to the route for.

     At the beginning of my journey I notice a contradictive bulletin ad. On the top there’s an ad for KFC, and directly under it (connected) is a New York Sports Club ad. After seeing that I decided to look for any other ads that were just as funny, but the only other bulletin I saw is that of a Victoria Secret model in her bra. When I set out on my journey I heard a bell sounding. As many times that I’ve taken this route I didn’t know where it was coming from. As I crossed the street I felt like a face in the crowd, but as I moved away from Herald Square the crowd started to lessen. I guess it was because everyone was going into Mc. Donald’s, which happened to be right next door to a health food store.

     From 36th street until 39th street the stores seemed to have been built by business men that didn’t know much about the business portion of their titles. The stores were built in clusters. I saw stores selling the exact same things right next to each other. For these three blocks the most interesting things I saw were a corner store and a residential building with a “Now Renting” sign. The second best part of this excursion comes up at 40th street. This is where Bryant Park is located. I see Bryant Park as a prelude to the ultimate prize which is Central park. The trees and grass help you escape from the harsh realities of life in the city. Walking right across the street from the park is the HBO building, and right behind that building is the CUNY building. Looking at it in the day time I noticed that it’s actually an oddly shaped building. It starts out going straight down and then at the bottom it puffs out like a blossomed rose.

     For the next couple of streets I paid attention to the buildings. The buildings were tall and seemed to be made out of marble. The windows were heavily tinted and stretched from floor to ceiling. While looking at these buildings I couldn’t help but wonder what went on behind the mirror like windows. This sense of wonder made these buildings seem like they were inhabited by important people. When I reached 48th street I noticed a thermostat across the street. The thermostat read that the temperature was as low as the speed limit, 30 degrees. On 50th street I walked by the Radio City Music Hall. I was first alerted that I was passing a famous New York landmark by the constant flashing and clicking of the tourists’ cameras. Another thing I noticed was that the amount of yellow taxis doubled, and the tourist buses started to drive by. From here I could actually see central park in the near distance. I instantly felt anxious. Not only couldn’t I wait to reach the park, but I also knew the end was near for this arctic voyage.

     When I reach central park the first thing I notice is the strong smell of horse droppings. After getting over the smell I looked up. When I looked up I saw three men on horses. Two of the horse men were identified as Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin. After looking at these I look across the street. The two different sides of the streets seem to stand for the two different worlds. On one side of the street there are hotels and expensive cars. On the park side there are horses, trees, and bicyclist. Honestly the sight of Central Park is what makes this a New York walk. I haven’t been to many different places outside of New York, but there isnt anything quite like Central Park. You can find parks surrounded by skyscrapers anywhere, but what makes Central Park, and Bryant Park for that matter, different from other places is the variety of people that inhabit these places.

     After walking this walk during the day time and with a clear mind I’ve come to find that my original suspicion was true. This was a wholly different experience for me. I saw things that I never saw before and I actually paid attention to the buildings I passed. Now that I’ve seen my walking route in a different light I think I’ll be trying to find a different route to help ease my mind it seems like the only part that actually helps is all the way towards the end of the route. If it was more towards the middle and lasted until the end it would be a great route, but sadly it isn’t. One thing this route did show me was how diverse New York really is. Not only diverse but also how tolerant we New Yorkers are. I saw people of different ages, religions, ethnicities, sexes, and economic standings sociallizing as if they werent at all different. Though this walk didn’t have the same effects on me like it has in the past, it had a more profound effect on me this time. I say this because not only did it open my eyes to the things we New Yorkers experience everyday, but it also made me proud to have been born and raised in New York City!