New York, New York

Leaving Black Bear Campground at 8 am on a tour bus with 23 of our friends, Al, our tour guide, and "Danny the Driver", we headed for the city of New York. Al has lived on Long Island for most of his life (he is 80 but looks and talks 60). He's a typical New Yorker: a bit gruff, short on patience, but with a heart of gold. Al is so knowledgeable about the City and it's history that he could teach a college course on it. Wonderful guy. Anyway, forty-five minutes later, we dropped down into the Lincoln Tunnel and crossed from New Jersey, under the Hudson River, into New York.

And popped out on the island of Manhattan just south of Central Park. This area was at one time home to thousands of immigrants that lived in these tenement buildings. Limited to six stories in height due to structural concerns, they are slowly being replaced by high-rise apartment buildings with modern conveniences.

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Traffic was a little heavy, but Danny maneuvered that bus like it was a sports car. Of course, normal driving rules are suspended in New York City, so, knowing that size matters, Danny was very cool, calm and collected. He did have a couple of comments about tourists, and he did keep saying: "What are you doing? It's all so simple!"

We disembarked in Midtown near Times Square for a walk through the Theater District while Danny circled the block because there was absolutely no place to park. City regulations prevent him from parking and idling his engine in any case, so he simply circled. Hmmmm…….

As we walked toward Times Square, we marveled at the ability of apartment dwellers to provide a little bit of greenery in their city.

Looking from Times Square north through the Canyon of Heroes where the famous ticker tape parades are held give a little perspective on the size of the buildings!

And south is Times Square, and the tower that so famously announces the New Year.

After a short visit to Trinity Church, one of only three structures that didn't sustain any visible damage in the 9/11 disaster (the other two were churches also),

We headed for Wall Street.

Entrance is by invitation only, so we were only able to wave at all that money from outside!

A statue of George Washington is outside the old City Hall Building on Wall Street where Mr. Washington took the oath of office at his first inauguration. In fact, New York was the first Capitol, and City Hall was the most appropriate building in the city, and so was "borrowed" until Washington, DC, could be prepared.

Also on Wall Street is the original Tiffany & Co. Donna soon found out that appointments are necessary for entrance, so the kids inheritance remains in place for awhile!

Ever wondered how Wall Street got it's name? No? Well, here you go anyway: Early on, goats grazed in the area and caused no end of inconvenience on the steps of City Hall. After repeated attempts to shoo them off, a tall wood wall was constructed to keep them out. Get it? The bases of the posts still remain in the brick pedestrian only street.

From almost any point in Lower Manhattan the Freedom Tower can be seen.

Just east of the footprint for the North Tower, a memorial structure know as "The Dove" is nearing completion. The design of the two pools located exactly on the footprint of the Twin Towers is brilliant. The low wall surrounding each pool is engraved with the names of those who perished, but in a unique stroke, the noise of the falling water is precisely the volume necessary to completely block out noise from the surrounding city, allowing survivors to have a close, uninterrupted, communion with their loved one.

Construction is the norm in NYC. If you are knowledgable in construction, come get a job! After 15 years, soot continues to be removed from some surrounding buildings, and at least two buildings are still in reconstruction stages, including the Greek Orthodox Church.

Just northwest of the North Tower Memorial Pool is a lovely tree. Known as the "Survivor Tree", it was stripped of all it's leaves in the horror of 9/11. The area was used as a staging area for the debris being removed later in the year, but somehow this tree was not removed as so many of its brothers were. In the early spring, one lonely leaf appeared at the end of one bare branch. Immediately removed by arborists and nurtured until the Memorial was completed, it was then replanted and, as you can see, is thriving. What a story!

Around on the Jersey side of the Hudson River in Liberty State Park, we got a great look at the Freedom Tower, all 1,776 feet of it.  Just to the right, the medium sized rectangular building is the new Tower 4.

Even though the temp was 95, and felt like 98, Donna was able to smile. A little bit.

Our first ferry stop was at Ellis Island. So many thousands immigrants tearfully welcomed the sight of the Statue of Liberty, and then stepped into the maze of bureaucracy that was Ellis Island.

They were directed into the processing center, which was a labyrinth of lines of waiting people. Imagine carrying all your possessions on your back, keeping your family intact, and attempting to communicate in a language that you didn't know. But they did it! This room was the main processing room on the second floor.

Ellis Island has been restored to it's former glory, and is a beautiful building.

Leaving Ellis Island, we approached the Stature of Liberty.

We walked around the perimeter of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and then boarded the ferry for the return trip to New Jersey.

As we passed Ellis Island again, I couldn't help but visualize those thousands of hopeful immigrants, looking forward to a new beginning. They didn't expect a handout, they didn't expect much help. What they expected was a chance to earn a respectable place in the fabric of their adopted country. Wanting to be called Americans, they learned a new language and new customs and became our fathers and mothers.

After being examined, poked and prodded, immigrants were taken by ferry to the railroad terminal.

 Where they boarded hundreds of railway cars and dispersed across the country. Many had no say in their destination due to language difficulties, but most managed, sometimes with the help of friends, to connect with family and begin their new life.

Imagine the noise of the railroad, the crying children and angry, frustrated parents. Imagine having come so far and still be unsure of where they were going to sleep that night.

Your grandfather and grandmother, perhaps, or your great-grandparents. A distant cousin or long lost uncle. They may have stood on these platforms….waiting, anticipating, and fearful.