Trip of a Lifetime: Days 10-12

Well we are finally at the wrap-up of this amazing trip!

After visiting Palmyra we headed to America's city, the city that never sleeps, THE New York City.

We drove there from Cooperstown on friday morning and didn't get to our hotel (in Secaucus, NJ) until late afternoon. If you ever go to New York I would recommend either staying inside New York or if you want the cheaper route, stay right outside New York (i.e. Secaucus, NJ) and just ride the bus to the Subway.

We had planned on going to a Mets game with some friends so we headed to the bus stop completely confused on how the train system works and not only that but we somehow had to figure out what subway to take after that. We were totally deer in headlights with tourists written across our foreheads.

LUCKILY there was a lady standing at the bus stop wearing a Mets jersey so we tagged along with her. If it wasn't for her being there I know for a fact we never would've made it to the game. After that day it's super easy to pick up how the bus/subways work (with the help of an app of course)

Mets kinda suck in all honesty. It was pretty bad, but cool experience.

The next day (Saturday, day 11) we scheduled a tour through the 9/11 memorial. It's a free tour but you have to sign up, I would recommend online. But as we were waiting for the time slot we signed up for we walked past it.

 The picture above shows the space where the towers once stood. You wouldn't be able to see that building in the center. Really crazy. What was cool though is that it is still engraved in everyone's memory. People were respectful and as quiet as New York gets around this area. There is still a lot of construction and rubble which made it so real.

I'm sure we all remember where we were that day. I was on the school bus headed for another day in the 6th grade. Crazy to think that it was really 11 years ago, seems like yesterday.

This building is the new WTC that is going up. It is not in place of where the two towers stood, it is just north of them. What I didn't realize is that there is like 4 WTC buildings. Only the north and south towers fell.

There is a building about a block away from the actual memorial that is a gift shop and where you pick up your tickets. They had this statue covered in pictures, letters, flags, badges, etc. Everything in this building just made the event so much more real to a girl that at age 11 only saw the newspaper and tv. To be at the site of the event was unreal.

The next two pictures are of the memorials themselves. I think they are perfect. When you walk up there are plaques surrounding both of the memorials with names of all those who were lost. Then the pool of water in the bottom left corner of this first picture runs down to the lower level (the bigger rectangle. Then that runs into the hole in the middle. The marble is breathtaking and the idea of the towers and those inside falling.

That is the best I can describe it, there just aren't words. It's an amazing thing to go see.

Here is an aerial shot from the 9/11 Memorial Website.

Next we went to Trinity Church (where many famous people are buried and also where many people such as George Washington attended church).

Here is William Bradford's headstone. Yes, THE William Bradford. The headstones are so old you can barely read them, most have chipped and even broken so they don't have names. I was bummed that I never found Alexander Hamilton's headstone.

 Bucket list check off: eat a New York hot dog off the street.
It actually wasn't that amazing.

Next we took a ferry ride out to Ellis Island. Ok here is another tip: Just purchase a ferry trip to Ellis Island and you get to see that plus go right up to the Statue of Liberty. There is a 'package' that you can get to go to both Statue Island and Ellis Island but really the ferry you are taking goes to both anyways you just don't get off on Statue Island. So you save money and get to see both, unless you feel like walking straight up to here (you can't go inside anymore).

 Totally spotted Jack Sparrow sailing right towards the Statue of Liberty.

Ellis Island. Very cool thing to see, it is almost exactly how it was back when immigrants came here. They have audio tours that explain what each room is and even point out cool facts and stories. It makes it very real how it would've been to come to America. I'm super blessed to have been born here and have the freedoms I have without having to go through this rough process.

They even have rooms where you can see where people drew pictures and wrote their names, etc. while they waited to be released, stand in front of a judge, etc. Some of the languages nobody knows how to interpret.

Finally after a long day of sight-seeing. I had the best meal of the trip. A New York pizza.
Yes that is one slice and yes that is as big as my face. It was delicious I wish I could get more!!

On our way back to the hotel we walked around Times Square for a minute. I totally saw the New Year's ball and it's totally already halfway down...totally.

The one thing I regret not seeing was Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Luckily the boss was outside so I got a picture with him. I was the only white person taking a picture with him haha. Yeahhhh, Samuel Jackson errybody.

That finished off day 11. The next day was Sunday, our last day. Our flight didn't leave until 6 at night so we decided to go see central park and the Manhattan Temple.
When we found the Temple it was like an "ohhh....uh...alright" moment. It doesn't really look like a temple at all but it was still comforting to see something semi familiar in such a strange place.

 Central Park is cool. I was super onrey by the time we were done though. It is so stinkin big it's ridiculous. If we hadn't been trying to find the Balto statue for my little sister it would've been easier for sure. Everyone is there on a sunday. Biking, running, rollerblading, people laying out, sand volleyball, musicians, artists, etc. It was pretty neat. The next picture is my favorite. It is not photoshopped or edited at all. The lake really does look green and yes, New York is beautiful.

Well, that concludes the greatest trip ever.

I loved every minute of it except for the last few hours of the last day, I just wanted to go home.

Here is a quick summary of things pictures can't show.

New York vs. Utah:

New York drivers are super confident and could care less about anyone or anything around them.

Utah drivers are completely handicapped when it comes to common sense and merging.

New York food is so much better, the quality makes you wonder if Utah has ever been inspected.

New York food, however, is much more expensive.

New Yorkers are who they are and aren't shy.

Utahans are often criticized for being judgemental therefore often making everyone look like clones.

New York has the worst, awful, almost-pass-out smell in the subways.

Utah has Utah Lake (truthfully the subway takes every cake in this contest)

New Yorkers are friendlier than everything thinks. They say excuse me and sorry if they bump into you.

Utahans have forgotten their manners.

New York is an absolute concrete/germ jungle. Even Central Park as green as it was still felt dirty.

Utah is way more beautiful, peaceful, and easy to breathe.

New York was such a great experience and I definitely want to go back someday. I love the hustle and bustle of everything and seeing history all around.

Utah will always be my home. I missed the mountains (even though they are all on fire at the moment), I missed driving my car and not being in one-way street traffic jams, I missed the clean air, I missed being home. I definitely came to appreciate the little things.

Trip of a Lifetime: Day 9

This was my favorite day of this whole trip. After seeing things I have only seen in textbooks, walked where our founding fathers once walked, and been in absolute history nerd heaven...this day will always have a place in my heart and will be something I'll remember forever.

A place called Palmyra, New York.

We left in the morning and drove 3 hours to a town called Waterloo, New York. Some of you will recognize this name, this is where the Peter Whitmer farm is. The place where the church was born, the place that Joseph Smith finished translating the Book of Mormon.

 There was a spirit every where we went on this day. Going into the upstairs of this home where Joseph Smith spent hours translating the Book of Mormon was just crazy and such a cool experience.

Next up was just about a half hour away, Palmyra, New York.

First we showed up at the Visitor's Center where a cute old lady told us that it would be a while until the next tour and then quickly recommended a good place to grab some quick dinner. Man, that lady knows her stuff because we literally found the secret of Palmyra. A little "Parkers Drive Inn" type place called:

We ordered some food and, by suggestion of the cute sister missionary, a HALF KIDDIE cone. The half kiddie is like the size of a Love It at Cold Stone. You don't want to even know what the "small" is.

After that we met up with our friends and did the tour around the Smith homes and Sacred Grove.

The picture below is of the 'starter' home of the Smith's. They built this small because they were planning on building a larger home down the road later on.

This is also the home that Moroni appeared to Joseph telling him of the gold plates.

The picture above and below is the whole upstairs. Can you believe that they crammed that many kids into such a small living area? Not only that but a being with a countenance comparable to the sun appeared in this room without waking anyone else up haha. Joke but true, God's plan is perfect.

I almost fell on this staircase, you can't put your whole foot down, the steps aren't big enough.

This is a picture of the Palmyra Temple from the road that both of the Smith's homes are on.

Cool story: If you go into the temple that window that you see in the picture is actually the only clear window in any of the temples. Usually there are stain-glass windows depicting different things from the scriptures, etc. This window was left clear because it looks into the Sacred Grove (as I take this picture the sacred grove is behind me about 100 yards)

This is the bigger home that Alvin, the oldest boy, built. It's so pretty!

It was in this home that mobs came looking for the plates which Joseph now had possession of. The box on top of the dresser is a replica of what he might have kept it in.

Some of you may know the stories of different places that Joseph hid the plates. The first one is the picture above. He dug up the bricks on the floor of the fireplace and hid them underneath. When mobs came, they scavenged everywhere but had no idea they were walking on it.

The second place is in the Coopers. (a cooper is someone who makes barrels) If your a baseball fan... Cooper=barrelmaker=barrel of a bat=we just came from cooperstown, home of the baseball hall of fame. Good moment.

Anyways, Joseph originally hid them under the floorboards in the Cooper's barn that is right across from the home. But was later instructed to hide them somewhere else. So he left the box which the plates were usually in underneath the floorboards, but wrapped in cloth, he placed the plates up in the ceiling. Again, as mobs came they checked everywhere including underneath the floorboards but this time it was merely inches above their heads.

This is the most peaceful place on earth. Even comparable to being inside a temple.

If you have a chance to visit the Sacred Grove, do so. I loved every second and literally didn't want to leave. We spread out, I also recommend this, so we just got to walk at our pace in silence and reflect and think. It was so lush green and sunny so I got some really cool shots through the trees. The next few pictures are some that I took.

Right after we walked through the Sacred Grove we got to go do baptisms at the Palmyra Temple!

It was probably the most spiritual high day I've ever had. The temple workers there made the experience so personal and great. Because there isn't too much traffic through that temple and because it's pretty small, it just makes the experience that much more special. The 1st counselor in the temple presidency even came and talked to us before we started, very neat.

To finish out the perfect day we stopped at Hill Cumorah!

I've never had a desire to go see the pageant but I sure do now! I want to go back so bad!

First edition of the Book of Mormon, printed in 1830.

Inside the visitors center they had a bunch of the costumes used in the play and even some famous people that have played major roles.

Then we got to walk up Hill Cumorah... exclusive thought process of Marlisa as she is walking up Hill Cumorah, "This would be such a great hill to sled on in the winter!!!!!"

Seriously though, it even has jumps.

Anyways, this was the best day of the trip for sure. I felt so peaceful and on such a spiritual high, it was amazing. I know the gospel is true, I've known it my whole life. Not because my parents told me or my teachers but because I've felt it without even asking. It bears truthfulness in my life every single day. I definitely gained a huge testimony of Joseph Smith this day. I've known he was a prophet and that he restored this wonderful gospel back to the earth but I didn't fully grasp his LOVE for the gospel and for his father in heaven. I felt it all through Palmyra and from the stories. He put his life on the line, protected the golden plates with everything he had, and just had the bravery and heart to stand up for what he believed through thick and thin. I love this gospel with all my heart.

Next up: New York City