S: New York City - October 2009
BC: Wish you were here enjoying all New York has to offer. | To: Everyone @ Home
FC: New York October 2009
1: New York City | Crowne Plaza Times Square
2: We ventured out in the rain to enjoy the lights on Times Square
4: A red stage is in the middle of Times Square with plenty of tables set up for people to linger.
5: Wicked was a wonderful show. Everyone should see at least once.
6: We caught the Gray Line Hop On / Hop Off bus first thing Friday morning to see the Downtown sites.
8: We passed by the famous landmarks - Empire State Building, Flat Iron Building, Courthouse, etc.
10: Bus took us through Soho and Greenwich Village. Church was in Sex in the City episode. The fence has many notes left from Sept 11 tragedy.
11: Seinfeld's famous Soup Nazi shop. Moved from original site.
14: Brooklyn Bridge
15: Subway stop near Battery Park | On our way to visit Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island | Right - Sculpture that was damaged on 9/11. Moved here during clean up. | Left - Castle Clinton in Battery Park
19: Lady Liberty
22: We walked through the same doors that many immigrants passed through. They came with their belongings in trunks and boxes hoping for entrance to the US. They faced many tests and long lines while seeing a glimpse of NY through the windows. The 'Registry Room' below was packed with families waiting for the battery of tests to determine if they could stay or if they would be turned away.
24: The hallway was once bustling with activity as the immigrants were passed along from room to room
25: They were check for Trachoma with an instrument that looked like a button-hook. | Among the test, they were required to read from selected cards
28: Many females made the journey as 'mail order brides. The potential groom sent letters home in hopes of finding a mate that shared his heritage and beliefs. Many did not meet till the day they wed. In a few cases, the marriage didn't take place once they saw each other.. One of the Marriage Contracts is on the left.
29: Many children were in limbo while their parents fate was being decided. | In some cases families were split - some allowed to enter and others were deported.. One grandmother was turned away due to a bump on her fingernail. | The plaster had many different languages were those waiting past the time by writing on the walls.
30: Once Ellis island closed, the items remained till it became a National Park. This is some of the items that were left behind.
32: New Yorks' Korean War Memorial
33: Famous bull statue for Wall Street - it's always crowded and impossible to get a photo.
34: Trinity Church - first church held in 1697. Fire destroyed and rebuilt. George Washington and founding fathers once visited this church.
37: Alexander Hamilton is buried among the grave sites.
40: St. Paul's Chapel - On Sept 11, fireman and police often went into this church to pray
41: St. Paul's Chapel is the oldest public building in continuous use in New York City. Now has a tribute to those that perished on 9/11 is housed inside the church.
42: South Street Seaport - you can tour old boats, or book a cruise in the East River. | We drove under the Manhattan Bridge and through East Village. Condos were built by the government for returning soldiers
43: Public showers | CHINA TOWN
44: United Nations | Federal building - no windows on bottom to withstand car bomb | Luxury condos - many celebrities own here | Empire State Building
45: Trump Tower - residence of Donald Trump | The Waldorf Astoria
46: Radio City Music Hall | The Warwick - hotel to the stars.
47: The Plaza - hotel by Central Park | Howard Huges once rented top floor and hid from society for months
49: Times Square
51: Taken from Seaport which provides views of 3 bridges - Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg
53: St Patrick's Cathedral built 1888. Country's most richly decorated. Noted for 7300 pipe organ, 26 ft Rose window and 60 intricate stained glass windows made in Chartes, France.
59: Original shop for 'Soup Nazi' on Seinfeld | We stumbled across a media protest. They were strolling the streets between the networks.
60: Uptown loop | Trump Tower near Sesame Street
61: Building where John Lennan lived. Shot leaving building.
63: HARLEM
64: Metropolitan Museum along Central Park - originally Rockefeller's home.
65: Plaza Hotel and Central Park view from bus
73: Central Park
75: Cathedral of St John the Divine, corner stone set in 1892 and is still unfinished.. They offer over 30 services a week.
78: We heard some beautiful violin music as we walked through the cathedral - finally found the chapel were she played. | The Rose window is 4o ft in diameter and contains over 10000 pieces of glass. | The figure of Christ is in the center of the Rose window and is 5 feet 7 inches tall.
82: The outside is as ornate as those in Europe
83: Statue of St. Michael defeating Satan. Park also contained small statues made by students - see Noah's Ark below.