NYC - Day 4a

I just deleted my original first sentence because I wrote, "This may have been my favorite day." But, it's hard to pick a favorite in NYC. Then again, yeah - this was my favorite. It started at St. Paul's Chapel - which is part of Trinity Church parish but actually about 4 blocks away (we'll visit there before the day is over). St. Paul's chapel not only survived the great NYC fire of the revolution in 1776, but became know as the "little chapel that stood" after 9/11. Located across the street from the World Trade Center Buildings, it is remarkable that it came through unscathed. It then served as a go-to for first responders and other workers needing rest in its pews, a quick meal, or a sounding-board found in the many volunteers who came to help. You can read more about it here.

This bell was presented to the City of NY

by the City of London after 9/11.

An inscription reads,

"Forged in Adversity 11 September 2001"

Don't ever tell a New Yorker that this building, 

WTC 1, replaced

the World Trade Centers (7 total) of 9/11. It stands in

honor of those Twin Towers as do any other WTC buildings - #1 (2014), 4 (2013), and 7 (2006) are 

opened and #3 is expected to open this year. 

There are two reflecting pools,

one on the site of each of the Twin Towers.

Etched in the bronze panels around the edges

are the names of everyone who died in not only

the 2001 attack, but also the 1993 attack.

Occasionally, you will see a rose by a name

signifying that it is the birthday of the deceased.

 From there, Scott and I parted ways for a couple of hours.

I toured the 9/11 Memorial Museum in October. 

We may have seen it separately but we both agreed

that the atmosphere inside is like no other museum.

It is generally quiet and somber.

Here are just a few of many pictures that we took:

In October, I had briefly ventured inside

Westfield World Trade Center - the wierd

looking mall pictured below. It almost

looks like an ice rink from the upper level.

I went inside to see what else was there. 
What you see isn't what you get - there's

much more. The shops extend beyond

for a block or more down each side.

After I stumbled upon Eataly and finally

exited outside, I was so far from where I

had entered that it was mentally dizzying!

Per that marketplace of info,

Wikapedia:"Eataly is the largest Italian marketplace in the world, comprising a variety of restaurants, food and beverage counters, bakery, retail items, and a cooking school.Check out there website and see if you too would want to stumble upon it in NY (2 locations), Chicago, LA, or Boston." 

Cheese anyone? Just a
small sampling of what's
available. 

My Scott-less adventure wasn't over!

I began walking down the street in the

direction of Trinity Church, thinking I would sit

and relax in the old cemetery on the property, 

when I came upon a large retaining wall to the side of it.

I ascended the staircase next to the wall

and walked in to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKUB6UFK0wA

I'm not completely sure all that was being celebrated

but there was a large cake for Deacon Somebody's

birthday along with hamburgers, hot dogs,

chicken wings, chicken skewers, sides, other desserts

and plenty to drink. I was invited to join their parish

picnic. I did. As the people began to disperse,

there was still plenty of food left so I made a

plate for Scott. He joined me and we went to

the other side of the church to visit the most

famous grave in the old cemetery:

Alexander Hamilton's mark is all over the city!

This is Trinity Church - the building between

the picnic side of the cemetery (sounds kinda strange)

and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton's grave.

Walking down the street to see the

Wall Street Bull, we stumbled upon

Pa and junior here: 

It's kind of like a bull fight to get next to

this beast for a picture. Even more

are taking selfies around the defiant

little girl facing off with the bull.

Her story is here. 

"Big Bus" is a hop-on/hop-off tour and

the Battery Park stop is at the tip end

of Manhattan - a ride we were very much

ready to stay on after considerable walking.

Only a small portion of what we saw is

represented in these pictures - more to come

on the Big Bus...

Brooklyn skyline from Battery Park

 A portion of NYC's salt supply  under the Brooklyn Bridge

- not needed in the record high temps

experienced the week we were there.

One of my favorite scenes - school age

boys playing on a baseball field

at the edge of the Brooklyn Bridge

 Our closest experience with the Brooklyn Bridge

Representations of the largest China Town in the U.S.

 

The UN Building - which is a representation of nothing. 

 I made this one large enough to read in case you want to move in next week:

Just a view from the bus that I enjoyed
 

Some guy named Tony was handing out

awards and we passed by as he rolled out

his red carpet. 

Day 4 was so exciting that it felt like 2 days - 
4b is still to come. 

NYC - Day 1 
NYC - Day 2 
NYC - Day 3 
NYC - Day 4a 
NYC - Day 4b 
NYC - Day 5 
NYC - Day 6 
NYC - Day 7
NYC - Buildings 
Sabbatical Trip Part 2 - Day 8
Sabbatical Trip Part 2 - Day 9
Sabbatical Trip Part 2 - US Naval Academy
Sabbatical Trip Part 2 - The Last Days including Ocean City, NJ, West Point Academy, Flushing Meadow-Corona Park