BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK, New York: Guest Post by Gretchen Woelfle

When my friend and fellow children's book writer Gretchen Woelfle was in New York recently, she was visiting relatives in Brooklyn and discovered the joys of Brooklyn Bridge Park, located under the bridge along the East River. Here is her report:

Bridge to Manhattan at the north end of Brooklyn Bridge Park

Take a sunny day in Brooklyn, a walk through this 85 acre park, along a 1.3 mile footpath on the East River, from the Manhattan Bridge past the Brooklyn Bridge to the end of Pier 6, and you’ll find all sorts of delights to savor. 

Playing soccer at Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge park

Jane's Carousel, built in 1922

There are playgrounds and an antique carousel for kids; lawns, gardens and terraces for picnics; cafés and ice cream shops; an educational center (with an aquarium); playing fields for all sorts of sports; and fantastic views of river traffic and the Manhattan skyline. 

Brooklyn Bridge seen from river level

The Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy presents over five hundred cultural, educational, and recreational events in the park: classes, sports clinics, foot races, music festivals, movies, kayaking, stargazing, history walks, and more.

A riverside sylvan glade

The Conservancy also coordinates environmental projects on the river, including the construction of a salt marsh and an oyster reef. Way back when, New York Harbor contained 200,000 acres of oyster reefs. Five thousand local students have taken part in the Billion Oyster Project to revive the ecosystem.

On deck of an Erie Canal barge

During my visit on a quiet Monday afternoon, I happened upon a canal barge that hails from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. It was about to begin its annual summer voyage up the Hudson and through the Erie Canal to Buffalo.

Below deck on the canal barge

Since I was the only visitor, I had the full attention of the volunteer crew for a tour of the boat and the story of its history.

River traffic and Manhattan skyline viewed from Brooklyn Bridge Park

This jewel of park, an oasis of green and blue in the big city, is just a block away from the hipster hubbub of DUMBO on the north end, and the leafy streets of Brooklyn Heights on the south end. For more information go to: https://www.brooklynbridgepark.org

MONTREAL: A Week During the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Guest Post by Paige Arnold

Soccer Game: France vs Korea

In June 2015, my granddaughter Paige (age 9) and her parents spent a week in Montreal, Canada, during the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer tournament. Paige attends a bilingual school at her home in California so the trip was an opportunity to practice her French with native speakers as well as to enjoy the sights of the city and see two soccer games. Here is a report of some of her favorite parts of the trip. I thank Paige for her lively report and my son Matt for sharing his pictures.

Rose Garden near Olympic Stadium

Last June I went to Montreal to watch two games of the Women’s World Cup. When we arrived, the taxi was waiting for us at the curb. I had to speak in French to the driver because he didn’t understand English, and my parents don’t know French. I told the taxi driver to take us to “le Hotel Saint-Sulpice.” Once we got to the hotel, I had to speak French to the receptionist because she didn’t know English either. After we unpacked we walked to a Japanese restaurant for dinner.

One of our dishes at the Japanese Restaurant

The next day, we went to the first game. We went on the Metro to the Olympic stadium, but before we saw the game, I did the swim practice of the afternoon in the Olympic pool, which had been built for the 1976 Olympics. The game that I saw was the France versus Korea game. France won 3-0. It was very exciting. Most of the fans in the stadium were rooting for France, including us, but the person next to us was rooting for Korea.

Swimming in the Olympic Pool

Every morning, my dad and I would go and buy fresh croissants for breakfast from the nearest bakery. Once again, I had to speak French. Then we would walk to the park and eat the croissants.

Ju Ming Sculpture in Park

One day, we visited the Insectarium. I got to hold a small scorpion or a large beetle, I don’t know which! It tickled my hand as it walked across my palm.

Scorpion at the Insectarium

During our week in Montreal, we visited Notre-Dame cathedral, the Jean Talon market, and souvenir shops. We went to a different restaurant every night for dinner. The restaurants with barely any sign or no sign at all were the best quality restaurants.

Notre-Dame Cathedral, Montreal

Our second game was the France versus Germany game. It was a night game. It was a very long game. They were tied at the end of the regulation time so they went into overtime, then penalty kicks. Germany won at the final penalty kick because the goalkeeper saved a goal. My face was showed up close on video screen in the stadium because the person in front of me was screaming her head off. I was rooting for Germany but she was rooting for France. At one point, I did the wave because someone had started it. I was pretty tired by the end since it was a night game.

At the Ice Cream Shop

Here’s a tip if you go to Montreal: Speak French to the ice-cream ladies or men! I did and got big scoops of ice cream!