New York City and Ellis Island

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New York City and Ellis Island

A weekend trip to New York City held promise of a whirlwind adventure. It was my first trip to New York, while Dave’s business travels had brought him to this great city dozens of times. With his knowledge of the city he would be my personal travel guide, for when it comes to public transportation, he's the best there is. We planned to visit the site of the 911 tragedy, which in 2006 still held many memorials and tributes. Also on our agenda was a visit to Ellis Island so that I could see firsthand where my ancestors had stepped foot in America when they arrived. It would be the perfect ending to my ten year family research odyssey.

Of course one can’t visit NYC without seeing a Broadway show, walking through Times Square, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Battery Park, the streets of Manhattan and neighborhoods like Soho, Tribeca, Greenwich village or a Yankees game during baseball season. We put on our walking shoes and literally wore them out as we walked from one end of Manhattan to the other getting the flavor of these neighborhoods and their people.

Walking through Central Park was a treasured moment. I was thrilled when we happened upon Strawberry Fields, a living memorial close to the Dakota building where John Lennon had lived and died. The entrance is at Central Park West at 72nd Street. There is also a large IMAGINE mosaic nearby that is usually covered in flowers, candles and memorabilia left by fans.

We hopped on the subway near Central Park and were in the Bronx and in Yankee Stadium in no time. What a thrill it was to be in this baseball park, with its great memories and memorable players who had once stepped into the batter's box. This was another one of those goose bump moments. Since we knew we would be in New York this particular weekend, we checked to see if the Yankees were in town and we secured tickets before we arrived to be assured of seats.

If you want to save money for a Broadway Show, tickets are usually half-price on the same day at ticket discount outlets. Not all shows are available but there are plenty of popular ones to choose. Have two or three choices ready to pick from. Just visit the TKTS booth in Times Square. (they only accept cash or travelers checks) The line that I stood in seemed very long as it stretched for an entire city block, but it moved quickly and I was able to get two tickets for The Light in the Piazza at the Lincoln Center Theater, one of our three choices. A great savings opportunity not to be overlooked. The adventurous walkers that we were, we started out on foot from our hotel, the Paramount, to the theater two miles away, stopping for a rooftop dinner at a Mexican restaurant on the way. It's a pleasant walk if you can handle it.

On Friday , we took the subway to Battery Park to get on the ferry to Ellis Island, but found the wait in line was 90 minutes to two hours, so we decided to try again on Sunday, and made the decision to walk from the southern tip of Manhattan back to our hotel near Times Square, which we thought would be an enlightening adventure. We estimated the hike to be about six miles, but we saw many neighborhoods, businesses, people and activities abound. A lively and crowded street fair was being held on Canal Street in Soho; we stopped in a bakery in Tribeca and bought a sweet snack; we bought a New York hotdog from a street vendor; and sidewalk musicians were entertaining the crowd at Union Square where we stopped to rest. We then went up to the top of the Empire State Building. Again, the line was long, so you need patience and perhaps a book or something to read while you are waiting, which some people had, because you are waiting inside of a building and there really isn't much to look at.

A beautiful panoramic view of the city from atop the Empire State Building. The views were breathtaking and quite remarkable. Many landmarks are pointed out on maps inside the viewing deck. In the picture on the right you can see the Statue of Liberty as she proudly stands on Liberty Island in New York harbor.

Walking through Ground Zero was probably one of the most solemn experiences I have had, next to visiting Normandy Beach in Northern France. All of the images from television and the newspapers played in my head as I walked the same streets where many had perished and so many tears had been shed. As I looked at the names of the street signs, I could vividly remember hearing those same words on television, Liberty Street, Church Street, etc. We walked to St. Paul's Cathedral not knowing what it was until we went inside. This was the chapel that was used as refuge and rest for weary volunteers which now held memorials, banners adorning the rafters, artifacts, pictures, and so many sad words to be read by visitors.

This is a memorial inside St. Paul’s Chapel near the former World Trade Center. Being in this chapel was an incredible and moving experience, much more than being at the actual WTC sight, since there was really nothing there except a big hole in the ground.

Found amid the rubble at Ground Zero, this twenty foot cross, was named the “Hero’s Cross” and was a symbol of hope and faith for the American people. It was moved and placed on a pedestal at the WTC plaza on Church Street, near Liberty Street where it continued as a shrine and tourist attraction. The cross was eventually moved to St. Peter's Church in October 2006, which faces the WTC plaza. Plans are for this cross to be included in the 911 Museum expected to open in 2009.

On Sunday we hopped on the subway again and headed to Battery Park to catch the ferry to Ellis Island. We stood in line for an hour, but standing outside on a beautiful day made the wait bearable, and we finally boarded with the first stop being Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is. Yes, it was wonderful to look up at her from the pedestal where she stood, so tall and majestic. Even though this is a huge attraction to visitors from around the world, I was anxious to get to Ellis Island!

We got back on the ferry and headed to Ellis Island. As I stepped off and set foot on the ground in front of this building, I couldn't help but think of the thoughts and emotions the immigrants had when they did the exact same thing. I was now walking the same stairs and hallways and congregating in the same rooms where they had been. After going through the rooms which held a history of immigration I was ready to see the Wall of Honor which held the names of my paternal grandparents. They had both died before I was born, so I had never met them. When I found their names on the wall, it was another goose bump, misty eyed moment and I know they were looking down on me smiling, proud of the work that I did to bring them alive to all their family members who came after them. Creating an everlasting memorial to them was done with much love and affection.

The above picture is approaching Ellis Island from the ferry. From 1892 to 1954 twelve million immigrants were processed here. The building was restored after 30 years of abandonment and re-opened as a museum in 1990. Some of the luggage left behind is on display in the museum. The American Immigrant Wall of Honor is behind the Great Hall and overlooks the lower Manhattan skyline. All inscribed names are contributed by family members who fill out the necessary online forms along with the associated fee for each name.

This is the United Nations with the city skyline reflection adding to its splendor. I took these pictures while riding the Double Decker Hop On Hop Off Tour Bus. Dave was at his meeting and I wanted to explore the city and thought the 3 hour narrated bus tour would be perfect. I would highly recommend this tour, it was very informative and I learned so much about the city and the buildings. The other benefit of this tour is that I was able to see areas and landmarks that I wanted to revisit and spend more time at. The other tour that I will take next time is the Sex and the City Tour, which takes tourists to all of the filming locations for the HBO television series, which is one of my favorite shows.

I discovered on one of my walking adventures a peaceful, serene park behind the New York Public Library called Bryant Park with free wireless internet (wi-fi hotspot) with tables and benches to sit while surfing the net. A quiet, charming park and It's only one block from Times Square.

In Times Square I watched the filming of the Disney Movie, Enchanted, which was released in 2007. Times Square is definitely a place to hang out day or night. It comes alive at night with the lights and should be on your 'to do list' when in New York. You never know what or who you'll see!

I did have an invitation to be in the audience for Good Morning America on Monday morning, but I couldn't get my exhausted self out of bed to be at the studios in Times Square at 6:00 a.m! This invitation can be obtained in advance from the internet. Looking back I should have made the effort to follow through on this because I know I missed something memorable.

Yes, the weekend was a whirlwind of adventure and I should have bought one of those - I New York t-shirts, because I really did! I'm looking forward to a return visit.