New York Day 4

This morning we caught the subway for the first time.  There is a station on the corner of our block on 57 West and we took the R line to Rector Street and walked around to the 9/11 Memorial.  We had to queue up and go through security and then we were let in (we were the first tour of the morning).  There are two big rectangular reflection pools representing the twin towers, one is for the first responders and emergency service people who died and the other is for the citizens who died.  There is a wide ledge around the pools  and all the names of those who died are etched into it.  The water is a cascade and falls into a void.  The pools are in the footprints of the buildings. It is very beautiful and a lovely memorial.  There is also a special tree there called the Hope Tree which was on the original site and was just a stump after 9/11.  It was nursed back to health and planted in the memorial garden but was then nearly wiped out by Hurricane Sandy.  It survived and is growing again.

We walked to Battery Point where a lot of the tour boats leave from.  As we walked along we saw some squirrels, they were so cute.  After a break at the Clinton Fort,we walked along further to catch the Staten Island Ferry.  The ferry is free and there were huge crowds.  Once the doors open there is a mad scramble to get to the upper decks and get a spot on the rail.  I managed to get one and fantastic views of the city, Brooklyn, New Jersey, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  We caught the next ferry back as we have a tour of the Statue of Liberty on another day.  We had lunch in the ferry terminal and then caught the hop on hop off bus to Pier 17.  There are lots of shops and eating places here and we also went on a Circle line cruise which was great.  It was Abigail new boat and was air conditioned which we were thankful for as it was a very hot and humid day.  We went up the Hudson River and up to the Statue of Liberty and back again.  There was commentary as well so it was really Interesting.

We had our photo taken when we were boards g and as we got off it was ready.  It turned out okay so we bought the set.  We both then had a massage to relieve the aching bones.

Then on to the hop on hop off  bus and home to recharge the camera battery.  I had a bit of a nanna nap and when I woke up we went out to dinner.  We went to 9th Avenue which is a bit like Lygon Street in Melbourne with restaurants and eateries up both sides.  We ended up eating at a Thai restaurant.

We then walked to Times Square and went to the Disney Store and the M & M store.  So many people out and about, there is a real atmosphere in this city.

We were both exhausted so we walked home.

Cheers for now.
Roz