May 26 - June 2, 2015 New York, NY

Day 1: A pleasant cruise up the South Bay and under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and into the North Bay. We cruised past the Stanton Island Ferry Terminal, The Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island before turning in at Jersey City and Liberty Landing Marina - just across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan. Backed into our slip, got a waste pump-out, and then had a late lunch of "Fish and Chips" at the local restaurant. Then Ger gave the boat a great washing while Judie did laundry. Basically, got our work behind us. It was beautiful to see NY as it got dark and all the lights came on!

The Stanton Island Ferry

The front of the Statue of Liberty

View of "One World Trade Center" from the boat.

Day 2: We got up early and caught the first ferry, which left from a dock next to our marina, to Ellis Island to walk the same route Ger's dad had taken at age 3 when he and his family came to the US in 1915 from Belgium. Since we got there before the crowds, we were able to see most of it with very few noisy children on school tours. We had an audio tour system to listen to and saw lots of displays about tests/procedures the immigrants had to go thru. Most passed easily, but if the doctors had any concerns, more tests followed, and often, hospitalization or quarantine until healthy. Two percent of the immigrants were rejected and sent home; steamships were required to provide free return trips. A tragic thought. Those that passed were either met by family or friends, or like Ger's family, walked across a bridge and next door to the train station to head for points west.
We then caught the next ferry to the Statue of Liberty. We had tried to visit here with the kids back in about 1986, but missed the last ferry and had to settle for a view of her back from the very same terminal our ferry left from today. After a quick lunch, we picked up our next audio tour equipment and toured the base and walked around the exterior so Judie could get pictures of the front. We were a little low on energy and decided not to get a tour up the pedestal of into the statue itself - we were just happy to be on the island and appreciating the front side. She is amazing and beautiful.

The Train Station

Main Hall at Ellis Island

Sleeping rooms for overnight stays

The original torch.

Even the same color scheme!

Exterior of Ellis Island

Day 3: World Trade Center Museum and 9-11 Monument (Ground Zero). Another sunny day and we caught a ferry from our marina across the Hudson to Lower Manhattan - 12 minutes and $5.50/each. A short walk of 4 blocks and we were at the 9-11 memorial. The two fountains into the footprint of the buildings was impressive and very overwhelming. It is hard to imagine all the destruction of buildings and life that took place there and the beautiful park and memorial to the people. All of their names are carved into granite around the fountains and it becomes very personal and real.  We then proceeded into the Museum, again with first-in-line tickets, and spent the next 4 hours viewing the salvaged pieces of the building, learning the stories of the victims and the survivors, and gaining a better understanding of what happened that fateful day and in the months/years that followed. If you ever get close to NY city, you have to set aside time for this. Very few areas in the museum allow pictures, sorry.
Afterwards we bought multi-day Gray Line tour bus tickets and toured north to China Town, the seaport, Little Italy, Carnegie Hall, Empire State building, The Waldorf and Plaza Hotels, Seagram's Building, and much more. Got off the bus and had Pizza near Times Square at a great little place Mike knew before catching a cab back to the ferry and R Island.

Tower 2 fountain

Tower 1 fountain with lower part of new tower

Last column signed by rescue crews

Part of tower 1 antenna

Cab of Ladder Co 3 destroyed when the tower  collapsed

The way it was.

Day 4: We were back on the ferry to Manhattan and caught the Gray Line back to the Theater District and bought tickets for the play "Jersey Boys" the following day. Had hotdogs for lunch from a street cart, and then took a tour of Radio City Music Hall. What a beautiful old building all done in Art-Deco and very well restored and preserved. Met a Rockett, but chose not get our picture taken with her. We then walked thru Rockefeller Center, Times Square and took the rest of the Gray Line tour we had started the day before. We met up with Mike and Lois for dinner. It was in a shopping mall type setting and the meat counter let you pick out your own meat from the case and after you pay for it, for an additional $8.00 they would cook it and provide a salad and backed potato. We split a nice rib eye steak and added crème-brulee' and a couple of glasses of wine. Very enjoyable! Back on the ferry and into bed!

After a drink in Fraunce's tavern where Geo. Washington celebrated first inauguration.

Rockefeller Plaza

Info center for Garment Dist.

Dinner at the meat market.

United Nations

"The Plaza" Hotel

Central Park

Times Square

Day 5: Our 45th Wedding Anniversary! May 30, 1970 - also a Saturday.. We had a lazy morning, then caught the ferry and a cab to the theater for "Jersey Boys" the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We were in the first row of the first (and only) balcony - center seats. Great  performance, great music, great crowd, and a standing ovation from the entire audience. We returned to the boat and ordered Chinese food for dinner.

Day 6: We were just about worn out - so slept in and actually took the noon ferry across and went to a movie - The Avengers - Rise of Ultron. Action packed mindless entertainment and just what the doctor ordered. Left-over Chinese for dinner.

Day 7: This is our second day of rain and, along with Mike and Lois, took the ferry (yes we know the entire crew by first name) and a cab to the Tenement Museum on the lower east side of Manhattan. An old building that was built in 1863 and housed over 7,000 renters in 22 apartments until it was closed in 1935. The German Beer Hall in the lower level and 2 apartments were restored to their original condition from pictures from the relatives of those tenants. Very interesting to learn of how changes took place and the different ethnic groups that lived there changed as the immigration laws changed. Again - very worth the effort. Judie bought a cook book that actually has the recipe for an old Belgian one-pot dish Ger's dad used to cook - "Etsaput" ( that's the way the book spells it!). Again, no pictures allowed inside - except we took pictures of pictures in the museum store.

Partially restored building

Kitchen area of 325 SF apartment just before building closed.

Day8: We are supposed to move on today, but it's raining pretty hard and so Judie is doing some odd jobs and I am working on this blog!