Plead the Fifth.

In-spired.

New York City, NY – Morning was born early.

Mourning will come later.

The day’s grey may have been caused by clouds, or by concrete buildings reflected in the tinted sunglasses of security detail perched on every corner. Despite furtive glances, officers’ bird-like neck gestures don’t appear to make them inconspicuous.

The United Nations is in session and roads are gridlocked by long lines of NYPD cars, bikes and tow trucks framing similar convoys of blacked-out luxury vehicles. An African General in dress whites stands in contrast, a gleam of medals bursting from his ample chest.

Much like when we were in Washington D.C., Turkish security has decided to physically attack protestors. Somehow, impunity in the U.S.A.

Isn't that what travel is about?

Given heightened security, sights like the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty are apparently closed to visitors, so we wandered through Times Square, Grace’s eyes lighting up like the screens themselves. Her excitement as a first-time visitor was as easy to read.

Tracing a journey through the Art Deco line art of Rockefeller Center, we visited Saks Fifth Avenue and wound our way around Central Park. The Strawberry Fields memorial for John Lennon continues to carry with it a pall, despite a never-ending line of visitors jumping onto it for photographs.

The 30-degree heat grows hazy, yet still serves as a magnet to activity as runners blend into those sporting cardboard boxes from Waffles and Dinges sitting on park benches hyphenating the park. Bicycle touts compete for business with horse carriages as pigeons flock into buckets of feed placed before some nonplussed mares.

Around the corner, carnival music pumps from the 145-year-old carousel.

Suddenly, the day has some colour.