It’s hard to find truly private spots in New York City.
Everywhere you go, there’s someone higher up, or if you’re in the park, the grassy spot you choose is probably in view of a half dozen other grassy spots. But there are some hidden little nooks, like this one in Riverside Park, where you can’t be seen from the ground because you’re atop a giant boulder, and you can’t really be seen from the neighboring buildings because they’re not that near and the trees screen you pretty well.
Unless…you come across a pair of resourceful Aussie boys visiting the Big Apple, and they use those trees to their advantage.
Did they really do it to get a better vantage point to watch us from? Or were they trying to impress us with their climbing prowess and disregard for life and limb? (If so, they succeeded. Few things can pull us away from our books, but they succeeded.)
In any event: a lovely afternoon out, made more so by the presence of fresh strawberries, miniature cupcakes from Baked By Melissa (at least until they became Melted By The Sun)…
…and, equally delicious, books by Naomi Novik.
And when the afternoon wore on and the Aussie boys had departed, together with our other friendly neighbors…
…and our private spot was private again…
…we relaxed like it was our own back yard.
Did one of our number even get sun-warmed and cozy enough to sunbathe fully nude on that bouldertop?
Shh. We’ll never tell.
You’ll never tell…
But will you take a picture of it for us? 🙂
Well…even if it did happen — just speaking hypothetically — one wouldn’t want to document any act that might make law enforcement unhappy. However wrong-headed we might feel such unhappiness to be.
Hypothetically speaking, I hope you DID photograph the event for YOUR OWN enjoyment! 😉
Another empowering and inspiring submission. Beautiful photos too !!
Awesome. Nice spot.
i wish we could have a place like yours in Quebec city we got a lot of green space in town but i am pretty sure that there would be problems with the autorities
Topfree equality is A-OK, legally speaking, in Quebec. No law that claims to differentiate by gender is valid, under the Canadian constitution.
Culturally it may be another matter. Parts of Quebec are strongly traditionalist/religious and the police may base their stance on that, despite having no basis in law to do so. Even if they’re wrong, they can still ruin the day.
If in doubt, you can of course pop over to Ontario where the common law has already clearly settled the matter in favour of topfreedom without needing to call on the Charter.
You guys rock and make the world a happier place
I can only imagine how it m ust have felt to lounge in the sunshine on those warm rocks with a good book. Envious.
“Did one of our number even get sun-warmed and cozy enough to sunbathe fully nude on that boulder top?”
I’d be deeply disappointed if someone hadn’t. You could always claim its an art installation. That would make being naked legal. Besides, it isn’t a problem unless someone complains. Who’d want to do that? 🙂
Nice to see some beautiful backs – as well, of course, as the beautiful fronts! 🙂
I love the black flowery skirt and Daniel Kahneman’s book. Both great choices.
I definitely need to figure out the secret outdoor spots in my city, too. Similar issues to NY. This was very helpful in getting me to think about option here. Thanks for sharing!