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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment