The big stone commemorates the alleged spot where in 1626, the leader of the New Netherlands Peter Minuit in 1626 “purchased” the island of Manhattan.

He got a pretty good deal from the Mohawk and Lenape tribes. It cost the shrewd Dutchman a trunk full of trinkets and beads “then worth about 60 guilders.” At the time, where Inwood Hill Park in lower Manhattan is located today, lived Native Americans who called themselves Reckgawawang. It may have had some significant meaning at the time, but I can’t help wondering. The word sounds like something your travel4seniors.com editor, then a U.S. Navy sailor, often did to celebrate way back when I had wartime liberty nights in fabulous New York City. In this joyous season, I hope many other senior wanderers will do the same.