A Day in the Big Apple

 

We start our day with the complimentary breakfast which we hope will last us most of the day.  We would like to visit the 9/11 Memorial since we are here and fairly close.  But how to get there?  Bus, train, taxi or Uber.  We quiz the desk clerk, and she recommends taking the train/subway and conveniently there is a station only a 2-minute walk from our hotel.   The temperature is supposed to be close to 40 degrees in Manhattan today, so we dress accordingly and head for the subway. 

9th St. Station

 There are several options to pay, you can use a machine to buy a ticket, purchase a long-term pass which locals use, I assume.  She suggests we just use our charge/debit card at the turnstile.  It costs $3 to board, and you can ride all over New York for that $3 if you don't exit the subway.  We received directions to take the D train to either 36th street or Atlantic Ave. and transfer to the R train which will take us under the East River into Manhattan and exit at the Courtland station, which is at the memorial complex.

The ride was an experience, which is what we are looking for. 

We did not realize it, but the hotel we booked was in the heart of Brooklyn's Chinatown district.  And it shows, Asians everywhere, most are not speaking English but of course they are probably fluent.  But of course, NYC is a melting pot, and we experience this throughout the day as most of the conversations around us are not in English but lots of languages, French, German, Spanish and others I could not begin to recognize.  We did not see a lot of homeless persons today, but keep in mind the temperatures outside.  There were a few exceptions.

We exited the Courtland Street station and found ourselves looking at the Oculus. This sculpture rises above and covers shops and pathways to subway stations.  It looks like a winged bird rising up out of the ashes of the twin towers.

The Oculus with One World Trade Center in background

Inside the Oculus

  Speaking of those, in my ignorance, I did not realize the reflecting pools (actually, basins) are surrounded by granite slabs with the names of 2,753 victims of 9/11 engraved on them, were two in number.  One for the north tower and the other for the south tower.  I assume they are located at the original footprint of the towers.  

We make our way to the museum and purchase two standard tickets, which didn't include guided tours, for $25 dollars each, a discount because we are veterans.  Nice to be recognized occasionally.

View of the Oculus from North reflecting pool

South reflecting pool

As we enter the museum, we notice the subdued lighting, I assume it is to set a somber mood.

Most of the museum is below ground level and as we wind our way down the passageway, lighted displays come

and go triggered by our movement.  Pictures are welcome everywhere except the enclosed area where there is a

picture of every one of the victims with an associated biography. 

There are many displays of twisted steel and support beams and other artifacts from the wreckage. 

Also, there are several motorcycles on display which have been built or customized to honor the victims, police,

firefighters and first responders.  

There is a large piece of the communications tower that was on top of one of the twin towers.  Also on display was a

fire engine that was damaged beyond repair by falling debris.  We spent well over an hour there and found it very

tastefully done and worth the visit.

This is part of the communications tower that was atop the north tower

Damaged NYFD engine

Rectangular support beam bent back over itself

From there we went back to the Opulus and made our way underground to the One World Trade Center. This is the 1,776-foot-tall building that replaced the twin towers. Interesting that the year of our independence is also 1776, was this by design?  It has an observation floor that is called the One World Observatory.  We purchase our tickets, senior price $43 each and with added taxes and fees, total $101.26.

We line up to board one of several elevators for the 43 second ride which will take us 1,250 feet above ground.  It is an amazing ride with the elevator walls projecting a video of our ascent.  There are several YouTube videos of this ride if you are interested.   We exit on the spacious observation floor which gives us breathtaking views of the surrounding area.  There is a little haze in the air but otherwise clear viewing.  We rent a pad that identifies all the well-known structures and gives a description of the more popular ones. This was an additional $10 but we thought it was worth it.  There are a lot of visitors but I’m sure not nearly as many if we would be here during tourist season.  Lots of languages again, English being in the minority and Asians by far the most. 

They have a complete restaurant here as well as the ever-present gift shop.  Sue buys her lapel pin which she has a collection of.  I used to buy shot glasses but gave up on that many years ago.  

We make the tour around the 360-degree viewing area, taking lots of pictures, a few I will share here.  After well over an hour, our septuagenarian bodies are telling us we have had about enough excitement and walking for today.  We head for the exit and experience another thrilling ride down as the video walls make it seem like we are in a glider, circling our way around the skyscraper on the way down.

This is a view of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge crossing the East River

View to the SE with Brooklyn in the upper left and a part of Governor's Island, upper right

Looking into the sun at Liberty Island and Ellis Island

We are able to access the R Train in the below ground area of the One World Trade Center without having to go outside.  I'm beginning to think there is about as much below ground around here as above!

The R Train takes us back under the East River where we eventually connect with the D Train and exit at 9th street which is a short walk back to the hotel.  We arrive about 5 PM and spend a quiet night after experiencing a small part of NYC life.

Rain is expected tomorrow afternoon; about the time we are scheduled to travel and board the Queen Anne.  I will spend the time composing this blog and listening to my Iowa Hawkeyes who are on the west coast taking on UCLA.  Boarding time is between 3 and 4 PM, we will take a taxi or Uber.

Next publication will probably be at sea, between here and Miami.  

Until then....