That's What She Said

My mom in Central Park

The next day my mom and I woke up and took the bus to the airport - after stopping at Fairway Market, the best supermarket ever! I had a really great time hanging out with my mom, and she proved to be an excellent sight-seeing companion - nice relaxed style like me. I wish she would have had one or two more days in NYC just to being the tempo down a little. I also would have liked to take her through the rest of Central Park - we didn't make it to the "wild" area of the park, nor the north end of the park (one of my favorite areas).

Here is what my mom had to say:

I had the best time in New York and was so lucky to have a free tour guide. I could not imagine having to find all the sites myself. I got to see so much and enjoyed every minute of it. We were non-stop all day and I was lucky to have the perfect weather, I would recommend September as a great month to visit. I loved the Statue of Liberty and had many conflicting thoughts at Ground Zero. If you like shopping there is plenty of that. Times Square was very interesting lots of people everywhere. Central Park was awesome would have liked to gone there for a whole day and walk the entire park, with a dog would be cool. Going to the Top of the Rockefeller was amazing, you could see so much. Anyhow I had a great time and would like to thank Darwin for his free flight and my beautiful daughter for spending the time to show me the sites of New York, it would not have been the same on my own. Also was grateful to have a place to stay for free and the many good eats, thanks to Russel and Erica. Someday I will travel back there if my free tour guide can go.

Wow. I sound like the best guide ever! And I probably am, mostly because I've read Lonely Planet New York City so many times and my head is full of fun and random NYC info.

My mom and I in Central Park

Times Square, NYC

My mom and I in Times Square

After Top of the Rock my mom and I headed to Times Square to meet Russell. I am so happy that my mom was still going strong at this point. It was already late and we had done a lot of walking, so kudos for that! I think my mom liked being on the giant Forever 21 screen - that is always fun.

The big screen - Can you spot us?

Times Square is really cool for like 10 minutes - just enough time to take in the lights and people everywhere, but not enough time to start getting frustrated by it all.

That is about how much time we took before heading to Little Italy (where we stumbled upon a huge Italian Festival, I think celebrating Naples), for some delicious dinner and another nice end to another wonderful day.

Top of the Rock - Rockefeller Center

My mom and I on Top of the Rock

After visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, my mom and I headed to the Top of the Rock. We had stopped by the Empire State Building earlier, but is was something like $22 each plus another $15 to go to the very top - lame. I had heard the Top of the Rock was much better since it has two levels that are both accessible, and has a really great interactive light room. When you walk into the room he room knows it and gives you a colored light that follows you wherever you go. When you get close to other people your colors can merge. As more people enter, the room gets filled with more and more color and turns into a giant light show.

It is also nice that when you buys your ticket you get a specific time to take the elevator up. This way, there is really never a big line (unlike the Empire State Building, which always has a looong line). Also, while you wait to go up there are pretty interesting videos playing.

The light room

On the way up, the elevator goes dark and you can look through the clear ceiling, and see the little blue lights that speed past as you go up. Once at the top, there are two levels. The first level is one that you can walk around and includes the light room. In the center of this lower level it the peak of the building, which are reached by stairs from the first level. The peak has an unobstructed 360 degree panorama view of the city and beyond - including a view of the Empire State Building, which was lit up very beautifully.

I have never been to the top of the Empire State Building, but I think I can already say that I would recommend the Top of the Rock over the Empire State Building - especially since Top of the Rock includes so much more for the same price.

Definitely one of my favorite things that I have done in NYC. Spectacular.

Moon over Manhattan from the Top of the Rock

View of the Empire State building from the Top of the Rock

Rockefeller Plaza

New York Island Hoping - Liberty Island

View of Manhattan

Liberty Island is home to - you guessed it - the Statue of Liberty! The night before I had gone online to see if I could get tickets to the crown - no luck. If you want to go to the crown they say to book 6 months early for peak summer, and when I looked in late September the tickets were sold out through the end of November. The general admission adult ticket is $12 - totally worth it - and includes ferry rides from either New York or New Jersey to Liberty Island and Ellis Island (and back, of course). Again, if you plan in advance you can go up to the top of the pedestal for no extra charge (only the crown costs extra), but even these tickets were filled until late October.

The far side of Liberty Island offers up one of the best views of Manhattan, but the best view on the island is the one looking up at the towering Lady Liberty.

My mom and I at the Statue of Liberty

New York Island Hoping - Coney Island

Nathan's Famous hot dogs

The following day my mom and I took the long subway ride to Coney Island. To be honest, I am not sure if I would have ever made it out there if my mom hadn't come to visit, but I'm glad I went. From what I had heard about the place I imagines a lot more "freaks" around, but the boardwalk and beach were nearly empty, and it looked just like any other boardwalk. This could be because we went there on a weekday with summer coming to a close - I've heard it gets packed during peak summer.

Because there were no crowds, we were able to easily grab a bite at Nathan's Famous original hot dog stand (although I got corn on the cob). Nathan's Famous opened on Coney Island in 1916 and quickly became a landmark. An annual hot dog eating contest has been held there on July 4 since its opening.

After eating, my mom and I took a stroll along the boardwalk, made a quick trip down the beach to get our legs wet in the Atlantic, and got back on the train and headed to Liberty Island.

Brighton Beach, Coney Island, NYC

My New Favorite Photo

Moon and Taxis at Columbus Circle

While my mom and I were waiting to meet Russell for dinner (Thai food - yum - and I think my mom's first) the moon rose over Columbus Circle. I love everything about this photo.

Staten Island Ferry

Statue of Liberty from the SI Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry is just south of Bowling Green Park so my mom and I hopped on for a relaxing ride after a long day of walking. The ferry is a great (and free!) way to view the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. The ferry runs 24/7 and has been free since 1997.

Each way is about 5 miles and takes 25 minutes. With the wind blowing through our hair, the trip proved to be a nice 50 minutes of relaxation.

Lower Manhattan Skyline

Charging Bull at Bowling Green

Charging Bull at Bowling Green

Once we had walked Wall Street, I took my mom to Bowling Green to see the statue of the Charging Bull - because a trip to New York isn't complete without seeing that thing.

The Charging Bull is located at Bowling Green, New York's oldest - and possibly tiniest - public park. It is said that this is where Dutch settler Peter Minuit paid Native Americans the equivalent of $24 to purchase Manhattan Island.

The Charging Bull was permanently placed here after it mysteriously appeared in front of the New York Stock Exchange in 1989, two years after a market collapse. I've taken photos of both the front and back ends - the bull has not been castrated.

Walking Wall Street

Federal Hall

Going to Wall Street with my mom was the first time I have been there on a weekday - and what a difference. On weekends the place is pretty much dead, but weekday are a different story. On weekdays, Wall Street becomes a bustling little center with hoards of men in black suits, heavily armed police, and tight security outside of the NY Stock Exchange, plus a nice sprinkling of tourists.

Wall Street is where you'll find Federal Hall National Memorial. Federal Hall is where George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the United States on April 30, 1789 and where the first US Congress convened. Out front is a huge statue of George Washington.

New York Stock Exchange

Across the street is the New York Stock Exchange. Wall Street has become a well-known symbol of American capitalism and greed and unsurprisingly is home to the worlds best know stock exchange - the New York Stock Exchange. This is where about a billion shares, valued around $44 billion, changes hands daily - $44 billion, daily...

The Charging Bull once resided on Wall Street after it surprisingly landed in front of the NY Stock Exchange in 1989. It now sits at Bowling Green Park.

Trinity Church, Wall Street, NYC

Front view of Trinity Church

Back view - note the lovely & large organ pipes

The first time I went to Trinity Church it was closed (you need to arrive before 4pm and a $2 donation is suggested). The second time I went, church was in service. This time, though, my mom and I were able to stroll inside the chapel as well as take a rest in the peaceful cemetery, where ancient gravestones have been made smooth by the passage of time.

My mom in Trinity Church

Trinity Church was founded in 1697 by King William III and in 1864 the third structure on the site (the chapel we see today) was constructed, introducing the neo-Gothic movement to America. At the time of its construction, the 280 foot bell tower made it New York City's tallest structure. I also find it interesting that this church, which represents peace and giving, is situated at the dead end of Wall Street, home of never-can-be-satisfied greed. I'm sure Alexander Hamilton, who is buried here, is rolling in his grave (see a photo of it here!).

I found this to be very beautiful.

While in Trinity Church the security guard took a liking to me and pointed out a few parts of the church, but what was most unexpected was that he told me to go up onto the altar. I took some photo while he pointed at interesting things. Then he pushed me to go farther onto the alter to see more up close. While I was up there a few people tried to walk onto the stage where I was but the security told them that they were not allowed. I was the only person he allowed to go onto the alter and look around and take photos. Maybe he did this because he could tell I was so enamored with the beauty of the place. Regardless of the reason, I am still grateful that I was able to go up there, and grateful that got some nice photos!

My Mom's First Visit to Ground Zero

After we went to St Paul's Chapel, my mom and I took a walk around Ground Zero, which is a pretty big area to walk around.

Progress on the new building is moving fast - the building has certainly grown since my first visit to Ground Zero three months ago. And take a look at the building's infrastructure - heavy metal!

My mom in front of one of the new towers.

Ground Zero sits close to the water, so I took my mom through the World Financial Center over to the water side for a view of the Hudson River opening into the bay and the Statue of Liberty. This is also where the Fire Fighters Memorial is located. The dying and wilted flowers were still there from the most recent September 11 anniversary.

Fire Fighters' Memorial

Leaving the waterfront, we turned back towards the city to finish our walk around Ground Zero. After some delicious New York style pizza, we stepped into the temporary 9/11 museum (it will be moved once the new buildings and plaza are finished).

A remembrance wall in the 9/11 Memorial Museum

Saint Paul's Chapel, New York City

Bring a rescue worker's patch to add to the collection

My mom came to visit me in NYC! She arrived on Monday night and first thing Tuesday we commenced sight seeing!

First, downtown! We took the 1 train to Chambers street, which puts you right in front of St Paul's Chapel. St Paul's Chapel is Manhattan's oldest public building in continuous use and George Washington came here to worship after his 1789 inauguration. This was the chapel's main claim to fame until the Twin Towers came crashing down across the street, covering it with a thick layer of white dust and debris. It survived the attack and became a spiritual center for all those who needed it and became a place where rescue workers came to sleep and relax. It now houses a permanent memorial.

St Paul's Chapel

Every time I go to St Paul's Chapel I look at all the headstones that are now washed away and nameless, and think about how ephemeral life, and even death, is. Death is a notion that those who are still alive created. One moment you are alive, and the next, dead - but you have to be alive to even contemplate death. For some reason this is strange to me. Often when I go to the Chapel, I sit in the cemetery overlooking ground zero and think about series of events that were set into motion when those towers came down - events that are still happening today. Next my thoughts jump to all of the people - service men and women, journalists, civilians, even the terrorists - all different kinds of people, who have died because of that series of events. I begin feeling anger with a touch of sadness. Then I look at the headstones, completely worn down, and think, what is the point of it all? We can eff up the world and each other as much (or as little - that is an option too!) as we want, and it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.