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An idea for this post came while I was riding the subway home. Suddenly the scents, smells, odors and fragrances of my childhood visits to Coney Island and Rockaway Playland came back to me.  In a moment while I was riding on the funky L train I could actually smell, the surf, sand, the ocean and of course those World Famous Nathan’s Hot Dogs!!

Of course outside of New York Coney Island is probably the better known of the two. I remember my paternal cousins used to live in Brooklyn and when I got old enough to ride the bus from Queens into Brooklyn by myself I would visit them, making friends with their friends. One Coney Island memory stands out from all the rest. I was about 15 and I was hanging out with this boy (I was not allowed to date and I doubt I told my parents I was spending time with a boy!!) Anyway we played handball. I sucked but he put up with me and at some point we went to Coney Island. At some point he wanted to ride the famous Coney Island Cyclone roller-coaster. Now this is after we had been chowing down on hot dogs and other food! Well I finally gave in to his entreaties and on we went. Needless to say the Cyclone did not agree with me and all the food I had previous eaten was then forcibly ejected from my body. Even though the wild ride on the Cyclone had stopped my digestive system went into volcano mode with lunch becoming a memory littering the ground! I think at that point the fellow felt bad but other than that disaster over all I had a nice time.

Of course over the years I have been back to Coney Island many times but have avoided the Cyclone and ALL Roller Coasters at any venue including Six Flags!! Can’t stomach them!!

Now my brother Stephen on the other hand is totally different from me. He LOVES Roller Coasters and that includes the ones where you are suspended by a harness with your legs flying free in the breeze!! Strange how two siblings can have such different tastes!! LOL!!

Here is some more information on Coney Island:

See photos

See outside

Coney Island Cyclone  

Website

Directions

Another great Coney Island event which I hope to attend this year is the Annual Mermaid Parade. After all I’ve been living in Brooklyn since the end of 2012 and have not made it out to the parade. Now where or not I will dress up as a Mermaid depends upon my mood and the weather as we get closer to June.  I should just go ahead and order a Mermaid Costume perhaps in April. Now that will be something because I have never seen a Black Mermaid!  So I may be the first African-American Mermaid unless some other Beautiful Sister has beat me to the punch.

http://www.coneyisland.com/programs/mermaid-parade

Here my link to photos of three gorgeous mermaids I ran into on the subway after last years parade!!  Lovely Ladies All!!

https://roamingurbangypsy.com/2016/06/19/mermaids-on-the-l-subway-train/

My most vivid beach memories are of Rockaway Playland which consisted of not only the beach but arcade games that were fun to play. Go with your boyfriend or husband and get them to win one of those gigantic stuffed animals for you. Or compete with your beloved, family and friends to see whose is the fastest and who has the best aim to hit those targets!!

By the 1970s my cousins had moved to an apartment development called Bay Towers so I spent plenty of time with family, walking along the board walk and allowing the sand to sift between my toes. No Swimming because basically nobody in my family can swim!! That may have changed now since Stephen’s Residence takes him to the YMCA for swimming however I never conquered my fear of having my head underwater so I will let Stephen take the lead on this activity!

Rockaways’ Playland thrilled New Yorkers for nearly a century, then it was gone

One summer beach vacation with me, Stephen, Our Dad were walking along the Boardwalk and this was the Summer Jam for 1974!! Whenever I hear this song immediately it takes me back to the Summer of 74 and Rockaway Playland!!

George McCrae – Rock Your Baby (1974)