Wednesday, November 13th

We all slept better despite the craziness around here.  It is so strange to hear and feel the rumble of the subway way under us.  Although we are only on the 2nd floor so I suppose that's why.  Today was the day for the southern most part of Manhatten. We decided to do the bus today, hop on hop off kind.  The first stop was the 911 Memorial.  Very touching, powerful, sad place.  We first went to the 911 Tribute Center.  Oh my!  Sad!  Pictures after pictures of people never found.  Quotes of last phone calls to loved ones.  And more.  Then we went to the actual Memorial Site.  Very peaceful and sad!  Jeff and I said that if this didn't 'touch' you, you weren't human!  Two of the four new World Trade Center buildings are up, in fact one of them was officially opened today. One of them is 1776 feet high because of our country being founded in 1776. 

Next we headed to the Statue of Liberty.  What a warm American feeling to see that statue!  We took a boat ride around the island and got some great pictures.  The tour guide also talked about Ellis Island with all the immigrants that passed through there.  It was fun!  We were ready to go back to the hotel and relax for a bit, so we waited for that dang hop on hop off bus.  It's about 3.00pm.  So guess what, everyone else was 'hoppin on' too and the first bus (after at least a 30 minute wait....in the cold) was completely full!  So this nice, local, vendor guy (that we bought Garrett a hat and Jeff sunglasses from) says 'hey go up to Broadway, there's a stop there you can get on.'  I say how far and he says to follow him...so he led us the whole way there very swiftly, although we've been walking very swiftly, it's New York-ya walk fast!  So after I flagged down the bus driver by jumping into the street (well I kinda did) we got on.  Just to follow the same route and end up back where we'd been waiting and everyone else that was waiting was gone by then. So we ride awhile on the top, open deck to get the feel for the city.  Actually quite close to the stop lights!  Yes we froze our butts off up there.  Eventually got off and walked and caught another bus to get closest to our stop rather than go all the way around.  We sat on top again but this time we were in Times Square so with all the lights (it was dark by now) it was pretty cool!!!!  And colder than cold.  Finally after what felt like forever, we got to the hotel.  We warmed up and then went to dinner with our new NY friends at a little Italian place that we had to walk to. It was fun (and a little warmer by then, no wind) to walk around NY with some locals!  Delicious food!