New York Days 1&2

New York is a place that I have wanted to go to for years and finally I am able to cross it off my bucket list.

Day 1 – 18/06/16
Arriving in New York at around 1pm local time, we were already tired from the long day of travelling as well as the jet lag. However, this did not stop us from getting out and about, exploring the area around the hotel in which we were staying. If you’re curious, I stayed at the Room Mate Grace Hotel*.

We were very lucky in the fact that there was a street market right around the corner from our hotel the night we got there, meaning that we got to experience the market on the last night that it was there. There were countless stalls lined up throughout the street, selling various items from clothing, sunglasses, food and drink, including fried ice cream (it’s safe to say I didn’t try that one).

We went for a meal later on in the night and then had a little wander around the area, walking through Times Square and past the Rockefeller Centre, NBC studios and many theatres showing a variety of stage shows.

We then headed off for an early night in order to wake up refreshed the next morning, ready for a busy day.

Day 2 – 19/06/16
The next morning we wanted to go and visit the 9/11 memorial site. We had tickets for the memorial centre which we also visited. We walked there via the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn bridge through one of New York’s beautiful parks. People were sitting feeding birds and squirrels and it amazed me how tame the animals were, comfortable approaching the people for food.

We first went to the 9/11 memorial site. It was so emotional seeing the memorial, and even though I was young when the events of the tragedy occurred, I still found it terribly emotional seeing the vast amount of names listed. What caught my eye was one particular name, after which was written ‘…and her unborn child’. It makes me sick to my stomach that these things happen in the world, and it’s even more horrendous knowing that children, yet to be born into the world, have their lives taken. It’s so important not to forget the events of 9/11, and to remember that we need to work together to prevent a repeat of them from happening. I didn’t take any photos at the actual memorial as I felt it inappropriate; it was a place that people, including family members of the victims, came to pay their respects and I didn’t want to treat it like a tourist attraction.

Following this, we walked down to Wall Street (sadly, Leo was not there) and went to see the famous Wall Street bull. It was crowded by a group of people all wanting to touch the bull as it supposedly brings good luck. It was impossible to get a photo without taking a photo of a random stranger posing next it, hence the man who I had to crop out of this photo…

Next up on the agenda was a ferry tour to the Statue of Liberty. We walked down to the pier and boarded the ferry, taking it past the Brooklyn Bridge, around Manhattan and Brooklyn island and over to the Statue of Liberty. If you’re thinking of going on the ferry ride then make sure to take a poncho if you plan to stand at the edge because you will get quite a spray from the waves!

That night we went for a meal at a lovely restaurant and then to an Irish Bar where there was a singer performing. The jet lag soon caught up with us and it was time for bed!

Just to be clear, I didn’t see Les Mis, this was on the pavement!