New York City Part II

I wasn't sure if I wanted to visit the site of the World Trade Center. I thought it might be too hard. September 11th 2001 was about 6 months after Jonathon was born. I remember that I felt so sad that I had brought a child into this world. I also remember thinking that I couldn't believe someone could have so much hate in their heart. It was just unfathomable. So, thinking of going to visit the site where so many innocent people lost their lives was something I wasn't sure I could do. Even now, 7 years later. Josh really wanted to go. So we went.

Right across the street was a deli. We thought the food in the window looked good so we went in to have a sandwich. That was when we saw all of these pictures on the wall.


Apparently, very shortly after the buildings fell, this deli was turned into a medical station. I was glad we stopped in there. I was uplifted by the spirit of our culture. The spirit in us that feels an urgent need to help wherever or however we can. I know there are those random reports that people don't help others in need but I think that is the exception rather than the rule. I know that right after Sept. 11th many people wanted to go to New York and help in anyway possible. I know of people that tried and were told there were too many people helping.

The people who hurt us that day are long gone and whatever you believe about who was working with them or who they worked for, I think the thing we should take away from those horrible events is how we pulled together after them.

Now back to your regular programming.

This was one of only two times that we took a cab. That face watched the meter the whole time we were stopped in traffic and I thought at one point he was going to blow a gasket.

We also asked this man to take us a few blocks in his fun bike/carriage.

This was also another very scary experience. He didn't obey one single traffic law while we were in that buggy.
Also, he told us it would be $25 and Josh said he would give him $20. He agreed and got us there safely. Bless his heart, I know it must have been hard work because we are not a couple of lightweights, if you know what I mean. By the time he got us a few blocks away he was sweating profusely. I thought Josh should have given him $30 but he gave him $25.


I know I already mentioned the Rainbow Grille, but I wanted to show a few pics. The table where the waiter is standing is also the one where the guy proposed to his girlfriend. (The ladies at the table left an hour into mine and Josh's dinner)

Yes, Josh and I dined for about 2 and a half hours at that restaurant. That's a long time for us. This was Josh's face right after he saw the menu.

This view was what made it all worth it. 65 stories up and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life.

How'd that get in there?

The next morning we went to the Empire State Building. It is 86 stories high. If you look at the very bottom of the pic you will see the Macy's that we were staying a block away from.

Isn't Central Park beautiful? What? You can't find it? That's because we picked the worst day ever to go to the Empire State Building. It was so foggy you couldn't see anything. But if you really squint and look right past those big buildings you will see a green square back there and that is Central Park.

See the Statue of Liberty? She's standing in the middle of the pic on one of those little islands. Get your bifocals out and take a look.

Ever heard of Madison Square Garden? There it is on the left. The round one. And if you still have the bifocals out squint over to the right and you can see my hotel. The New Yorker. Its right there on the corner with all the crosswalks. Are your eyes crossing, yet?

There's Josh standing right next to the building we ate dinner in the night before. It was funny how short it looked from 20 floors above it.

Okay, guys and gals, that's two down one more to go. You will see the other bloggers and Meridith in the next post I promise.