The yacht departed from the pier traveling south on the East River toward lower Manhattan. Brunch was served on the lower level. The other yacht guests suddenly transformed into human vultures, rudely piling their plates sky high, getting second helpings, and eating everything in sight before the upper deck ever had a chance to enjoy the meal. With the Manhattan skyline to the right and views of Long Island City and Brooklyn to the left, the yacht passed under the Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges and headed south. Within minutes, members were admiring breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty. The yacht then proceeded to sail north up the West side of Manhattan traveling as far as Edgewater, New Jersey. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and there were few clouds in the sky. A cool breeze occassionally swept through the air. No one could have asked for a better day.
After 3 hours in the sun, CCNY members were sunburnt, spent and ready to return to land. Once onshore, an energetic member (who shall be known as "red thighs") coerced the others to take a much longer than promised hike along the East side of the city to visit the historic South Street Seaport. In the early to mid 1800s, the South Street Seaport was known as the center of shipping around the world. Merchants, horse-drawn carriages and saloons filled the cobblestone streets. It was a gathering place for many inhabitants.
The next stop that day to visit was The Bridge Cafe, the oldest surviving tavern in New York and one-time home to a brothel. The Bridge Café is located in a simple wood-frame building erected in 1794 and rumors of ghosts of the pirates who frequented the bar continue. Curious members were entertained by the cafe's bartender with stories of scattered papers in the upstairs office and the sounds of closing doors when no one else was there. Unfortunately, there weren't any suspicious sightings however a brief ghost presence was felt near Shippy. Spooky. Although times have changed and the Brooklyn Bridge has since been built, this historical site provides members with a taste of New York past and present.
The night ended with a game of Trivial Pursuit: I Love the 80s. Tired and weary, the game quickly turned into a game of charades to liven up matters. That lasted all of a few minutes. It was time to say to goodbye, and concensus said that the first CCNY adventure was a successful one.
CCNY will explore many more cultures in the upcoming months. Stay tuned for the next adventure...
