Lee and Elaine's RV Adventures: New York City, Part 2

We visited the 9-11 Memorial on September 12 because the anniversary date is reserved for family members and First Responders. Walking through the Memorial was a surreal experience. I had been to the World Trade Center in 1979 with my daughter, Diana, who was two years old at the time. I remember what it was like to be on the 107th floor at the indoor observation deck and looking down on the streets so far below. It is still hard to believe what happened on September 11, 2001.

1 World Trade Center

One of two reflecting pools at the 9-11 Memorial Site, the pools are set in the footprints of the original Twin Towers

The buildings in the center of this picture are actually reflections in the glass of a much larger building.

The "Survivor Tree" is a Callery pear tree planted on the original World Trade Center plaza in the 1970's. The tree was damaged in the WTC attack and was reduced to an 8' stump. It was taken to a New York City park and nursed back to health. It suffered more damage when it was uprooted in a storm in March, 2010, but it survived. In December, 2010, it was returned to the WTC site and continues to be nursed back to health.

St. Paul's Chapel opened in 1766, survived the "Great Fire" of 1776. It suffered no damage in the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center, despite its proximity, and became home to relief ministry for recovery workers at Ground Zero. Mementos of 9/11 are displayed inside.

St. Paul's Chapel interior

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

Once we booked the rally in 2012, I decided to read the book, "The Great Bridge", about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. It was written by David McCullough in 1972 and was an extremely long book but also very interesting. He writes in great detail about the people involved and the actual construction. It certainly made me look at the bridge in a different way. Who would think of how the support towers were constructed, or how the wire cables were made, or how politics played a part back in the 1870's. The bridge opened in 1883 and at the time was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. The uppermost deck is open to pedestrians and bicyclists, the lower deck is for cars. Buses and trucks are not allowed on the bridge. It is currently undergoing some renovations.

The Brooklyn Bridge

Pedestrian deck of the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge, the white stuff on the side is canvas, that is where renovations are being done.

CHINATOWN

Chinatown, Lower Manhattan

Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church, Chinatown, Lower Manhattan

Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church

Chinese hamburger, anyone?

CENTRAL PARK

Strawberry Fields, a tribute to John Lennon

What is New York City without a carriage ride in Central Park? Central Park carriage rides have been around as long as the park has. Now, the fore-runner in the mayoral race, Bill De Blasio, wants to ban horse drawn carriages because animal rights activists say it's cruel to the horses. All I have to say is I don't agree.

The San Remo, a 27-story co-op apartment, built in 1930

Alice in Wonderland

Our days were so filled with sightseeing that by the time our 8-day rally ended, we were exhausted. We had wonderful meals at Peking Duck House, Katz's Deli, B Smith's, Mustang Harry's, DeNico's in Little Italy and our favorite dinner was at Churrascaria Plataforma, a Brazilian Rodizio Steak House. Of course, add to that, lunches out every day, I think we gained 10 pounds! We went to two Broadway shows, Cinderella and Wicked. Both were excellent. We were in Little Italy during the San Gennaro Festival, an annual salute to the Patron Saint of Naples. The backstage tour of Radio City Music Hall was very interesting and although rehearsals for "America's Got Talent" were going on, the performers were hidden from view. When we did have time to wander around the streets of New York we were happy knowing we didn't have to live like this on a daily basis. I think it would be an exciting life if we were younger because many of the neighborhoods were so quaint and away from the hustle and bustle of the "big city" but yet so convenient to things like markets, shopping, and transportation.

SIGNS, SIGNS, EVERYWHERE A SIGN. . .

Just a few of the signs we saw around New York City. They never failed to amuse me!