Polar Bears in Central Park

Garry and I have just completed an extended weekend in New York. On Garry's birthday we went for a wander in Central Park, enjoying the last of the autumn colours. The squirrels were busy and ice skaters were out in force on the historic The Wollman Rink. As we passed the entrance of the park's small zoo we noted signs promoting its polar bear exhibit. Garry mentioned that he'd never seen a polar bear in real life. As a quick and simple birthday treat we bought two zoo tickets.

Out timing was perfect. We arrived as the afternoon feeding sessions were starting. We watched the feeding of sea lions and penguins before venturing over to the polar bear enclosure. The zoo has two polar bears; Gus (the larger male) and Ida (female). Both were born in 1985, in captivity. During our visit Gus dozed on a distant rock. Ida entertained us by swimming and playing in her enclosure's pool. The pool has an underground viewing room with glass walls which afford a spectacular view of a polar bear below the water line. We stood mesmerized for almost 20 minutes.

Perhaps the most poignant moment was when we placed our hands on the glass, comparing our hand span to that of a polar bear's paw. These bears are big. In the wild, a male Polar bear can weigh up to 1500 lbs. This is due to his blubber which may be 5 inches thick. However, in New York, Gus weighs a mere 1000 lbs. Ida is smaller and tips the scales at a svelte 700 lbs.

Later the same afternoon we took a tour of CNN's New York studio then headed back to our hotel to change for dinner. Garry's birthday meal was meant to be an extra special treat, as well as an opportunity to dress up in some of our smart new clothes (see yesterday's post for more about our adventures in Macy's department store). I'd secretly booked dinner at the Rainbow Grill, located on the 65th floor of the Rockefeller Centre. On a clear day, you can see for more than 30 miles across the city and its surrounds.

Unfortunately, the clouds rolled in less than 15 minutes after we sat down for dinner. Our city-at-night view swiftly transformed itself into a dull, grey haze. Further disappointment soon followed as the food and service were rather average. We left the restaurant feeling like a couple of well-fleeced tourists. Garry probably summed it up best when he later commented that he'd have been just as happy with a greasy plate of ribs in a regular diner.

More about our adventure in New York here.