Succumbing to persisting guilt, and a bit of haranguing about not visiting my long term friend Tom from Saigon days
45 years ago, I finally got my act together and planned a trip. Jean
came along too for her first visit to the contiguous/mainland United States.
First, it was
to New York, although we lost a full day due to a technical problem on our
plane in London. It was a frustrating
start as we missed some planned activities, but we greatly enjoyed our time
there despite the delay. The weather was
mostly warm and sunny with temperatures well above normal for November and we
had a great hotel location with a view over Central Park.
View north across Central Park
Top of the
Rock at Rockefeller Centre provided a fantastic 360⁰ view of the city at night,
67 floors up, with the Empire State Building straight in front.
With a little
time to spare before we took a boat trip around Manhattan Island, I rushed
around the Intrepid, getting a look at the Enterprise Shuttle as well as many
other planes on display.
Ice Rink at Rockefeller Centre
View South from Top of the Rock
Intrepid, and a traveller nearby!
Space Shuttle Enterprise
The missing word is Jet, not Jean (below)!
On this fine
day, we took in the sights of Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn and 59th
St Bridges (remembering Simon & Garfunkel’s song about the same) in addition
to having great commentary and views about various landmarks. The new One World Trade Centre Tower stood
proud and defiant at the south end of the island.
One World Trade Centre
Herself of Liberty
Brooklyn Bridge
A leaning building going up, or falling over?
59th St Bridge
Harlem River
Pretty Close, only when the tide's low!
Railway swing-bridge at NW corner of Manhattan Island
Visiting the
site of this awful act of terrorism, the ‘infinity pools’ sit on top of the
site of the two towers, all names cut into bronze surrounds illuminated at
night, water cascading down all side and flowing into square holes in the
centre, the bottom of which cannot be seen.
These pools alone, with a flower or flag inserted into a name, were
truly moving even before we went below ground into the 9/11 Museum. Although so many perished, it is remarkable
that the number was not much higher, given the typical tens of thousands who
would have normally been in the towers on a daily basis.
One World Trade Centre
(Part of) sculpture to firemen of New York
Memorial to 343 Firemen lost on 9/11
Infinity Pool
Cascading water provides a perfect reflection
The museum is
cavernous and centred around the bases of the two towers, their steel struts have
been cut down flush to the concrete bases.
The last column to be removed from Ground Zero was on display with
pictures and messages placed by rescue workers.
Its removal from the site in May 2002, draped in the Stars & Stripes,
was flanked by an honour guard and must have marked a turning point from rescue
and recovery to rebuilding.
Tower steel columns cut down to concrete
to surround exhibition for one tower
One column left proud
Scale of retaining flood wall and last column
can be seen from people below
'SQ41' in the middle - some of FDNY Squad 41 who were missing,
painted on it when their remains were discovered nearby
The Last Column, pictured before removal
Crushed fire engine
Original staircase, with escalator built alongside
Part of North Tower TV Antenna
The museum
holds stories and items that graphically illustrate the horror of that day and
visitors were noticeably sombre as they toured and absorbed this very well designed
exhibition. It is impossible to leave it
without an immense feeling of shock and sorrow as to what took place.
Work still
goes on around the site as other buildings spring up around One World Trade
Centre, but it will be some years yet before the rebuilding is complete.
Nearby, the
9/11 Tribute Centre has two walls of pictures of those innocent victims.
Messages or mementos attach to some and the display is simple, very personal
and graphic, once more a sombre place to be.
I had last
visited the Empire State building in late ’71 on the way home from Saigon the
long way round. On our visit, it was a bit of a dull day, so the views were
tempered accordingly, but it was still worth the visit. We went up to the 82nd but passed
on the 102nd because of a surcharge and my recollection that it is
smaller and behind glass.
That leaning building again!
Chrysler Building
A sickly, or dopey, pigeon?
South to One World Trade Centre and beyond
Grand Central
Station, a very grand place indeed, was not far away, so we called in for a
look around and quick drink.
Having seen
Jersey Boys in London, we checked out the Broadway version and it was tremendous,
particularly made so by the guy playing Frankie Valli. On our last morning
after breakfast, Jean decided to yomp into Central Park as far as she
could. I had a text just before her planned
return time to say she was lost! Seeking
directions from others and having passed some places more than once, she did
make it back in time, only just, and very hot indeed!
The colours of Central Park
And and ice rink!
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