We started the day pretty early and set out for the Empire State Building. We had to wait in a few lines, and take a couple of different elevators, but we finally made it to the 86th floor observation deck. What a view! We felt like we were on top of the world. The observation deck was a bit windy and chilly, but the views were worth it. This is looking out towards the Chrysler building.
This is a picture looking up at the tippy top of the Empire State Building. The 86th floor is the main observation deck, but if you pay more money you can go up a few more floors. We stuck with the 86th floor.
I couldn't resist snapping this photo of a pidgeon. These critters were everywhere in the city.
Next we were off to Battery Park and the Staten Island ferry. Battery Park is beautiful and has a great trail along the river, which we walked. I was infatuated with watching the boats, especially the tug boats! They are so colorful! The State Island Ferry is absolutely huge. To get on the ferry, you wait inside a rather large building and then the mass of people (which we were a part of) rushes the doorway. While waiting for the ferry, one would look around at all the people and think that there is no way that many people could fit on one boat -- wrong! I can't believe how many people were aboard and there was PLENTY of room to spare!
There is a bridge/tunnel that you walk over to get a view of ground zero. There are lots of banners "advertising" the memorial and new building that they are constructing there. I particularly liked this banner -- reflecting absence. Absence of 2 buildings, absence of loved ones who died, absence of the "secure" feeling we once had, absence of discouragement, absence of defeat, absence of taking life for granted.
Ground Zero construction zone.
Our next stop was Chinatown. I loved this place. There were masses of people, a wedding parade, a chinese dragon, fresh fish market, restaurants, shopping, cheap t-shirts, weird looking meats, and fresh fruits and vegetables for sale. We ate at a very yummy restaurant, which the boys declared was the worst thing about NYC -- silly boys! I wish we could have spent a little more time here, just taking everything in... and shopping. I would have bought the bracelet I was admiring, and I would have bought the huge bag of fortune cookies too!
Our final adventure of the day was walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. Very cool!! The bridge was celebrating its 125th birthday on the very day that we walked across. We got ice cream cones to celebrate when we reached the Brooklyn side. That's me, Sarah, and Ryan on our way across.
This is a picture looking up at the tippy top of the Empire State Building. The 86th floor is the main observation deck, but if you pay more money you can go up a few more floors. We stuck with the 86th floor.
I couldn't resist snapping this photo of a pidgeon. These critters were everywhere in the city.
Next we were off to Battery Park and the Staten Island ferry. Battery Park is beautiful and has a great trail along the river, which we walked. I was infatuated with watching the boats, especially the tug boats! They are so colorful! The State Island Ferry is absolutely huge. To get on the ferry, you wait inside a rather large building and then the mass of people (which we were a part of) rushes the doorway. While waiting for the ferry, one would look around at all the people and think that there is no way that many people could fit on one boat -- wrong! I can't believe how many people were aboard and there was PLENTY of room to spare!
Riding the ferry gave us our first view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We opted not to take the grand tour of these venues, but if we have the chance to go back we'll put it on our to-do list. As a side note, the line to go on the tour was outrageously long!
To the left is Ellis Island. Before we went to NYC Mark and I did a little research to see if my grandparents came through Ellis Island when they immigrated to America. We were able to find their immigration records and photos or pictures of the boats they sailed. Grandpa Hansen came from Denmark and Grandma came here from Germany. They both came as teenagers and didn't speak any English. I wonder what their thoughts were as they caught their first sight of America? I wish they would have written about that experience.
To the left is Ellis Island. Before we went to NYC Mark and I did a little research to see if my grandparents came through Ellis Island when they immigrated to America. We were able to find their immigration records and photos or pictures of the boats they sailed. Grandpa Hansen came from Denmark and Grandma came here from Germany. They both came as teenagers and didn't speak any English. I wonder what their thoughts were as they caught their first sight of America? I wish they would have written about that experience. Our next stop was Ground Zero. This is a picture of a little church that is across the street from where the World Trade Center towers once stood. Amazingly, this little church only suffered 1 broken window -- I think it was being watched over by a higher power. This little church served as a volunteer headquarters for rescuers. Many would come to this church between shifts to sleep and eat. It became the place where pictures, messages, and flowers were posted of missing people or those who had died. As we looked around inside, along with lots of other people, there was really a feeling of quiet reverence and reflection -- it was a touching experience. Outside the church is a bell -- a symbol of hope and triumph -- and we could feel that too as we visited here. In my opinion, this little church is really the memorial to September 11, 2001.
There is a bridge/tunnel that you walk over to get a view of ground zero. There are lots of banners "advertising" the memorial and new building that they are constructing there. I particularly liked this banner -- reflecting absence. Absence of 2 buildings, absence of loved ones who died, absence of the "secure" feeling we once had, absence of discouragement, absence of defeat, absence of taking life for granted.
Ground Zero construction zone.
Our final adventure of the day was walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. Very cool!! The bridge was celebrating its 125th birthday on the very day that we walked across. We got ice cream cones to celebrate when we reached the Brooklyn side. That's me, Sarah, and Ryan on our way across. The arches are incredible!
We were pretty tired of walking when we got home around 9:30ish that night, but it was worth it!
We were pretty tired of walking when we got home around 9:30ish that night, but it was worth it! 
1 comment:
Great pictures! Shoot, makes me even think maybe we'll get around to going out there. NYC has always scared the pants off of me. The very idea of it makes me nervous.
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