So how much can you accomplish in a 60-minute lunch break in downtown Syracuse?
It keeps the sandwich and drink way cold on an 85-plus day.
You can sit on a bench and eat the lunch you packed, a ham-and-cheese sandwich and a baggie of baby carrots chased with a can of Arnold Palmer Zero, and thrill at how chilled your brand new Igloo lunch bag kept the whole package.
A dancing fountain in Clinton Square.
You can stand for a minute and watch the dancing waters of the fountain of Clinton Square, somehow devoid of any waders on this hot and muggy Monday at 1:15 p.m.
A fountain of a different design at Hanover Square.
You can walk across South Salina Street to Hanover Square and watch the calmer waters of a brick fountain, built of sturdy brown blocks, a much different sight than its cousin across the street.
A monument at the center of Columbus Circle.
You can continue your walk down Warren Street and up to Columbus Circle. There you’ll find another fountain, at the base of a rather tall monument built to honor Christopher Columbus.
Columbus tribute, across from the Onondaga County Courthouse.
This one is so high, in fact, I had to take two photos with my iPhone 4 to show you the whole thing.
Afterward, I still had enough of my first lunch hour left to stop off at a Dunkin’ Donuts to buy a large unsweetened iced tea with lemon and get back to my work station with minutes to spare.
What is the most fountains you’ve ever seen during a lunchtime walk? What kind of lunch do you like to pack to bring to work? Do combine lunch and walking during your workday?
Mark Bialczak 
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Ahhhhh! Thank you for the wonderful tour, Mark. I feel informed and refreshed. The most fountains I have seen are …. Now I wish there was a location in Boston called The Most Fountains, perhaps dedicated to Johnny Most, the late, lamented announcer for the Boston Celtics. Considering how sports crazy my hometown is, I wouldn’t be surprised if I get to use that pun, some day.
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Hondo stops, pops, hits! Hard for a New Yorker to type that sentence, Ann! Yes, a Most fountain tour would be a just tribute to that great voice.
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Wrote a poem one day last year during a lunch break, took in observations while walking and turned it into a post. I’d walk usually every day during lunch, and that includes winter strolls. We have a walkable city, and you hit the nail on the head with bringing out that aspect in this post.
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I agree. Stroll and watch. It’s a fascinating way to let the mind relax a bit, Chris.
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aww nice pictures ❤
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Thank you, Leyla!
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A day in the new life of Mark. A great lunch routine, I’d say.
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It was a good first lunchtime, Aud.
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What an excellent and exciting first lunch! I hope Karen packed a note in your sandwich to surprise you. 🙂 I can’t wait to see those fountains with fall foliage in back and again with winter snow around them. I would LOVE a walking lunch hour, but not where I live. 1-it’s too green, flat and swampy. 2-It’s too HOT and HUMID. Seriously. A walk to the car gets you sweaty. No one in an office wants to smell you after that. Congratulations! I hope you’re enjoying the new job! 😀
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I was quite happy with the sandwich and carrots, Rachel
You’ll get more shots of the city, sometime, I’m sure, with different seasons. I’ll remember that!
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YAY! 🙂
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nice to see more of your pretty downtown and to know you had such a relaxing lunch on your first day back in the daily swirl of full time work )
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I liked showing more of our downtown, Beth. It’s underrated. And I am back in the daily routine, the swirl as you say! 🙂
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The scenery and the amount of time for lunch are so wonderful, Mark! I am so excited, I can hardly write it all down!! I want to know more… all about it!!
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It is a good amount of time to relax, Robin. My work day goes from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., concentrating hard at a computer screen, so I’m grateful for that hour, certainly!
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I agree, time in front of a computer is challenging and you need to get out and stretch, relax your eyes, back, neck, etc. Mark! I have been married in the past to a computer programmer, I was very good at neck and back massages! He continues to be a ‘trouble shooter’ on computers around the world and we are still friends. It will be 40 years this fall since we met. His new wife, (#3) is a strong and capable wife, who can handle some of his ‘problems.’ I will always be grateful that I had my two oldest children due to him, along with his being my first love. I also have heard that hot tubs can relax your muscles. I could use this for my worn out body, too, after a long day but the heat doesn’t sound appealing since it is so hot where I work! Your day is long but I am sure you are really feeling your brain cells stretching and learning in many ways! Change of pace and I am so happy for you, Mark!
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I like your formula, Robin. I am getting smarter, faster! Thanks so much. You are a good person, appreciating your husband No. 1 for his contribution to your life for your children. Very nice, Robin. 🙂 And yes, hot job, hot tub not so much. I agree.
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That sounds like a delightful lunch Mark. Most of the time I only ever got 1/2 hr for lunch – hard ot get out then. It is refreshing to get a break like that.
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Yes, that is a good amount of time to stretch the legs and rest the eyes, Paul, and I am grateful.
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You sound happy…that is good for the first day!
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Yes, it is, Anne T.!
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Loved the fountains . I guess my fave is four rivers fountain by Bernini in Piazza 4 in Rome. . Not New York!!
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Unfortunately I only have a 30 minute lunch and there are no fountains that I know of in walking distance of my work…..but in 30 minutes I’ve been able to drive to Hobby Lobby and spend close to $100 on decorative items, I’ve been able to do some mighty fast grocery shopping saving me the trouble of going after work and I’ve been able to run to the back…run into target and grab a bit to eat and make it to my desk with no time to spare. Haha
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You are a 30-minute lunch champion in my book, Jolene. I bow to you!
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What a lovely first day back lunch! You can do a lot in an hour. I’m not working outside of the home so I don’t pack my lunch but if I did I’d definitely do ham and cheese 😀
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Today I went out with a co-worker friend who I worked with at the old job, too, and had a yummy BLT and cup of vegetable beef soup, Mrs. B, not that I’m turning this into a food blog. Hmm. Note to self … Self …
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I can’t walk around for lunch where I work because it’s either asking to be shot at or pestered with questions or problems by people, so I sit in my car and eat. Normally, I eat a Subway sandwich these days because it’s the only place I trust to not spit on my food since they’re right in front of my face. So relaxing.
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Nothing like a 12-inch BMT in a police cruiser, Don. Yikes, that is relaxing. Maybe the Spicy Italian. Meatball Marina. Yeah, I know the Subway menu pretty good. Turkey and Black Forest ham …
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I pack my lunch almost every day – not because I’m a master in the kitchen, more for budget reasons. I don’t walk during my lunch because my heels are too high, nor do I see any fountains. Bummer! But your lunch break seems to have much beauty packed into an hour!
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Yes, packing the lunch saves dough, CBXB, and my flat loafers are so much better for walking, too!
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Well if I wear flat loafers, everyone will know I’m only 5’4″ and not 5’9″ as they think I am in heels….plus my jeans will drag on the ground and mess the hem up. High maintenance over here, Buddy!
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You crack me up. You rival Rod Stewart in the heels department, my friend! Hahahahaha.
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An Arnold Palmer AND an iced tea? You are living on the edge.
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Yeah, two beverages. Look at me splurging, Kerbey. 🙂
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Speaking of work, how’s it going Mark?
Diana xo
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Very busy, Diana. Much to learn! Thank you for asking.
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First week feels like you hit the ground running, doesn’t it? Go Mark Go!
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Thanks, Diana!
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And gather material for your blog. 🙂
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I’d love to be at any of those fountains for lunch. They all bring back such wonderful memories. What a relaxing way to spend your lunch break. 😉
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Your city looks lovely!!! Are you enjoying your new job?
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It is pretty lovely in the summer, Ali! My job is keeping me on my toes so far, that’s for sure, thank you!
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It’s always the same when you start something new…you’ll be grand, as they say over here!
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Hi Mark. Love the mini-tour of Syracuse and that you are thinking of us during your lunch hour!
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Sure thing, Barbara. I have to plan my time well nowadays!
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How did Ellie B do?
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She was great. She remembered the old workdays like a champ, it seemed. Sleepy dog daytime didn’t bother her a bit, thankfully, Barb. 🙂
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Love the photos – great to see a bit more of Syracuse. I am familiar with the shopping mall but I think I like the fountains more.
Hope you are enjoying work. Go easy on the carrots!
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Yes, I do not want to develop a bray, Rachel! I am glad you like the downtown sights!
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So happy for you, Mark.
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Thanks, Mer. I appreciate it.
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Zero fountains for lunch.
I used to walk orbfind isolated places to do my TKD. Now I enjoy a few minutes of solitude. Read. Draw. Write. It’s blissful.
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I immediately recalled that sometimes the getaway is grand, Colleen.
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Ah….the ‘getaway’. It sounds so lovely. 😉
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In this heat, I think I’d go for a little stroll in those fountains. 🙂
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Some folks do just that in the big one in Clinton Square, Austin, despite signs delaring it unsafe and unwise …
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Is there at least a lifeguard on duty?
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Good one! People have been know to go face down in three inches, after all … To keep in order with your latest two posts, I think they need a French drain. Ba-da-boom.
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🙂
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