Day 9 — New York City — October 7, 2022

 Our local guide gave us a wonderful day tour of the “Big Apple.” Temperatures were in the 70’s with clear skies so a great day to be outside. We first dove around famous parts of New York City and then we took a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island. Although we didn’t go inside the statue, we were able to walk around her. Again,  we were of by ferry to Ellis Island where many of our ancestors had landed after immigrating to our country. The local guide lives only four blocks away from the World Trade Centers, so she had vivid recollections of the day the planes hit them. We had some solemn moments when looking at the remarkable 9/11 Memorial. The hustling and bustling of Times Square was experienced in the evening at Times Square. The New York skyline at night was beautiful as we headed back to our hotel.

Crossing under the Hudson River from New Jersey to Manhattan in the 1.5 mile Lincoln Tunnel

Vertical parking ramp

Dedicated bicycle lane

Port Authority Bus Terminal

New York— Hell’s Kitchen

New York — Garment District

Flatiron Plaza

Flatiron Building, Manhattan

Stock Market Charging Bull

Grace Church in Greenwich Village

Canal Street

View of the Statue of Liberty from the ferry

Arlen was telling some of the local New Yorker’s all about immigration.

We chose steps over the elevator

Concrete walls of names of veterans lost at sea

Ground zero

One World Observatory

The battered “Sphere for Plaza Fountain” is the only piece of World Trade Center artwork to survive the attack of Sept. 11 sits in Liberty Park now. It was originally 25 feet tall and weighed 45,000 pounds.

Pear Tree that survived the 9/11 attacks was nursed back to health

Local florist adds a white rose on the birthdays of those that died during that day

The Oculus — symbolic of a hand releasing a dove

2021 new art piece at One World Trade called “XO World.” It is 12 feet high. The Jack is made up of crossed arms, which is love in sign language and the O is the globe.

View of Central Park from the bus — we didn’t stop on this trip

The Maine Monument at the South end of Central Park symbolizes the naval strength of the USA

New York cheesecake at Juniors was our dessert after a yummy dinner.

Times Square concert uniting Faith and the Blue (cops)