Wow-ee, what a huge day! We had an early start today in an attempt to beat the crowds at the Empire State Building. Out the door at 7.15am, quick pit stop at the golden arches for breakfast, then a brisk 20min walk to the ESB. Guess what…it paid off! The line was only about 20 people deep, so we didn't have long to wait at all. To top it all off, we were blessed with an awesome day, perfect weather! Yesterday there was so much fog around, all day, that we couldn't see the top of the ESB and we were told that last week due to the unseasonably warm weather the was a lot of smog and therefore the views were not so great. Well, we could see forever!
There was quite a wind blowing at the top - actually there was a wind blowing all day today that really picked up in the afternoon, but that's ok as it blew away the rain that came over yesterday evening. The photos below are taken from the 86th floor.
Next stop, the 9/11 Memorial. To say this was a moving experience is an understatement. The reflection pools are truly beautiful. The names of every person who lost their life are spread around the edges of the 2 pools. As you walk around there is the occasional flower that a loved one has left recently. It is very sobering to be there.
The memorial/museum is actually underneath the pools in the footprints of the 2 trade centres. The mood downstairs was quiet solemn. The stories shared are so personal. The remnants and debris on display defy belief. It certainly leaves a mark on your heart being there. Emily was choking back emotion the whole time we were there, but photos of people who leapt from the burning towers was too much for her, and her tears flowed freely. Such an emotional journey for her despite seeing vision of that horrible day on Youtube. She actually couldn't understand why more people weren't crying - I can only think that for most, as is the case for me, those emotions were raw and real at the time that this all happened. Emily was only 3 at the time…
Reflection pool of Tower 1
Reflection pool for Tower 2
Remnants of the slurry wall and the last column
No day shall erase you from the memory of time. 2983 individual watercolours depicting the colour of the sky the morning of 9/11 commemorating every person who lost their life.
This is a segment of the radio and TV antenna from the North Tower
Following this moving visit, we headed to Battery Park where we were shuttled to Pier 36 for our ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty. She isn't as big as we imagined - don't get me wrong, she is big, but we both had imagined she was taller. She is quite thin too. She is only the thickness of 2 pennies, and started her life brown (brass). The years and the weather have tarnished her image. She is however, beautiful!
The ferry ride also took us a little way down the Hudson River, almost to the point where the plane crashed into the river years ago.
On the ride back in to dock, we were treated with the sun setting and creating a beautiful opportunity for photos incorporating the Brooklyn Bridge.
This evening we did a Brooklyn bus tour. It began at 5pm and it was already dark, so we didn't see as much as we would during the day however we were assured that the view of Manhattan from Brooklyn at night is something to behold. They weren't wrong…just a shame I couldn't find the right settings on the camera to capture it in its full glory.
This was the best I managed. :-(
Anyway, Emily and I were talking on the bus home about the highlight of the day for each of us…neither of us could pick one. Everything we did today was special in its own way. I am also incredibly thankful for the wonderful weather we had today.
Dinner tonight was at 'Juniors". I think if you dined here regularly you wouldn't be junior - you'd be huge! It was different thats for sure and not what I thought I was ordering. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich. There was definitely pulled pork and loads of it, there was also a bun buried underneath it all and it was topped with fried onion with a side of chips. I couldn't even get through half of it! But I was holding back for dessert. Yes you heard me, dessert! Apparently the best cheesecake ever if served at Juniors. Of course I had to test that theory. I'm sad to say that it holds up to the rumours. I've never had a piece of cheesecake like it. So smooth, so creamy and so BIG! But it was oh so good! I'll pay for that later, no doubt!
Time for bed to ponder the memories we formed today.
Until tomorrow,
Y&E xx
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