One of my favourite movies is ‘You’ve Got Mail’. Set in New York, it stars a feisty Meg Ryan fighting to save her independent book store from the re developers who want her prime spot in the city. And the final scene where she actually meets Tom Hanks is shot in Riverside Park! So I had to visit this tiny little charming park alongside the waterfront near Columbia University.

Even though this is a public park that is beautifully landscaped with well laid out paths and monuments like Grant’s Tomb and the Soldiers & Sailors monuments scattered about , it has certain spots that are let out to private citizens ( volunteers ) who can have their own little garden in New York . This kind of lends the park a certain quirkiness with patches of individually tended spots displaying a wild, unkempt beauty.

What a peaceful and restful walk it was under the tall trees that lined the paths with a cool breeze blowing on a hot day. Bikers sailed past on the biking trails while dogs walked smartly with their masters.

This garden is definitely worth a visit, nestled as it is between the coastline and magnificent mansions on the other side.

Ciao