Manhattanhenge

         Tonight, July 11, 2012, the country mice got to watch a phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge, which is where twice a year the setting sun aligns perfectly with the east-west streets of the main street grid in Manhattan. The name comes from Stonehenge where twice a year the sun aligns with the stones in a similarly dramatic effect.
          Once it starts happening, it occurs quickly. We positioned ourselves at an intersection and planned to walk back and forth across 34th Street as the sun was setting and snap pictures. It turned out that we were almost as entertained by the people as we were with the beautiful sight. People were just standing around all along the sidewalks east of the Empire State Building. Once the setting sun came into view, almost everyone just walked out in the street blocking the street to vehicular traffic. You can just imagine the sounds of the horns honking and cabbies yelling. The police were even there instructing people over their car megaphones to get out of the street. The people just stood there in the middle of the street snapping pictures and ignoring the blaring horns and the police instructions. So, in effect, we got to watch a mini riot too.
          Even people that didn't know what was going on got in on the action holding their phones up and snapping pictures. Then afterwards they were asking what was happening. One woman even asked Kelsey to let her take a picture of Kelsey's photographs. So we stood on the sidewalk with Kelsey letting the woman look at the pictures on the camera and deciding which to take pictures of with her phone. Too funny!
          On our walk home, I treated Kelsey Mouse to cookies gelato for pictures well done!