A very late NYC trip report from June 2012

[aims1982]

Originally Posted by mariechez

Great pictures

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Thank you!

[ttey68]

Loving this - thank you for sharing

[aims1982]

A terribly shaky photo of the Chrysler Building



For some reason I didn't take any photos of the food, but I do remember I had a jumbo shrimp, filet mignon which was amazing and then our waiter brought me out a cake for my birthday. Quite how I remember as I did consume quite a few glasses of bubbles!



We had a lovely evening and I would recommend eating here, it was very relaxing and I am hoping we can return for brunch in August.



Despite having a very busy day we soaked up the atmosphere that was Times Square. Considering it was near midnight it was still so busy!

[aims1982]

More Times Square photos

















We were now feeling quite tired and so made our way back to hotel and crashed out... another busy day was planned for tomorrow.

[aims1982]

Originally Posted by ttey68

Loving this - thank you for sharing

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You're welcome, thank you for the feedback!

[Cupcake]

Lovely reliving your trip Amy :-)

[aims1982]

Originally Posted by Cupcake

Lovely reliving your trip Amy :-)

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Thank you, it really has. Such a special time

[aims1982]

... Continued

We woke up around 8am and decided to try breakfast in the hotel which was lovely, service was not very good and we had a very a couple of businessmen having a breakfast meeting next to us who were trying to compete who could be the loudest in the restaurant!

Our plans today were the 9/11 memorial, Battery Park and Ellis Island. We caught the subway and made our way to the World Trade Centre subway, even now it still feels weird having the station called that.

Our first sight on coming out of the subway were all the hawkers selling 9/11 "memorabilia" open on the pages when the planes struck. It was all rather horrid and I felt quite distasteful. Sorry, rant over!

Some photos on the approach to the site.







We joined the queue which was very long and got ready to clear security.



Security was very chaotic but we soon made our way through. Once we were inside the atmosphere changed and it was very calm and serene.

The last time I had been in New York was 2007 and we came through the WTC subway. Back then the area was still a massive construction/ building site and I was shocked by the sheer size of the foundations and nothing could have prepared me for seeing the transformation of the site in the flesh. The size of the towers is something I will never get over.

South Pool









St Paul's Chapel which did not suffer any physical damage when both towers fell.

[aims1982]

Freedom Tower







The only surviving tree



We walked around the area for a while. Toby heard a firefighter talk about what his experience was of 9/11 which Toby found to be very interesting. We both agreed the whole experience was very powerful and I saw names round both pools that I recognised from documentaries and other programs which puts everything into perspective.

We then walked to the 9/11 memorial area where interviews were shown with relatives and survivors as well as items from that tragic day.





We then had a wander towards Battery Park and as we felt a bit peckish we called in at the Ritz Carlton for some lunch. My SIL had recommended the bar which overlooked the Hudson but sadly had closed a few months before to private events only, so we had something to eat in the casual restaurant. One of the managers spoke to us and was asking how could we have left when the jubilee was going on and starting chatting to us about the Olympics. We then got chatting about the tennis which was on in the bar area and discussing what an amazing summer of sport England (UK!) had... little did we all know how good

We made our way to our table, I had a croque monsieur



Toby had a soup and I didn't take a photo. The service here was outstanding and all the staff were really lovely and we didn't feel out of place. This hotel was on my list prior to choosing the London. We didn't choose it as it is so far away from everything. Well 20-25 minutes on the subway isn't so far, but in the evening etc we felt better off uptown. Toby and I love Battery Park and the whole area. It feels very relaxed and reminds me a lot of Canary Wharf. Anyway I digress!

We had tickets to for Ellis Island and I knew security was going to be horrific. We made our way over to Battery Park to get our boat... and queued, queued some more and queued some more.





Security was worse than anything I'd ever experienced at an airport and I was selected for a full pat-down and was told off for something

[aims1982]

All aboard we departed and were on our way





Ellis Island



First stop but we didn't get off as we were only doing Ellis Island.





I spotted this boat and I couldn't help but thinking. Rather them than me! Crossing the Atlantic on that!



Inside Ellis Island



We watched a film giving more insight into Ellis Island and the awful journeys immigrants had to make with no guarantee of acceptance. It definitely gave me an appreciation of where I live!


We looked at the immigration computer to see if we had any relatives, but I could only find a namesake from Poland and I know we don't have any links so it wasn't us!



We walked around some more and we decided to have a walk around outside and look at the names on the wall outside.



Some 'us' shots