New York - Day 1

This morning we woke up and there was snow on the ground!  Eric went for a run in the snow, whilst the rest of us started preparing for the day - including staring at the snow!

We headed out and walked to a subway so we could start exploring the city.  First stop was the statue of the Raging Bull and the newer statue of the Fearless Girl in the Financial District, followed by a walk to the NY Stock Exchange and the Federal Hall where George Washington was inaugurated as the 1st President of the USA.

NY Stock Exchange, built 1901-1903

Federal Hall

Even the dogs wear their winter woollies, including booties!

As we left there, we spotted Tiffany's, so popped in there for a wee look around - as you do on a freezing morning!

Robin holding a Tiffany's bear, worth over US$300!!  That's as close to it as he'll get for a while!

Next stop was the Staten Island Ferry for our free cruise past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  Great views of that stately lady, and it didn't cost us a cent.  Once on Staten Island, we found a diner, Gavel Grill, and enjoyed a hot lunch.  It is close to the courts, and was obviously a popular choice of the local police force.  I had a run around in the snow, and we were all excited to have snow falling on us!

Back to Manhatten and we walked through Battery Park to Clinton Castle, a National Monument where the boys were able to gain their 1st National Park Service Junior Ranger Badge for this trip.  Castle Clinton in 1811-1822 was a defensive fort and stood on a small island.  From 1824 until 1854, it became a public venue for cultural events, and hosted such events and dignitaries as opera singer Jenny Lind, presidents visited and Samuel Morse sent a telegraph message from there.  1855-1890 saw what had become known as Castle Garden be used as an immigration centre (at this stage, landfill had been added and it was now joined to the mainland), and from 1896-1941 (after the immigration centre moved to Ellis Island) it was turned into an aquarium.  When it closed, the sea creatures were sent to the Bronx Zoo then to Coney Island.  From 1946, Castle Clinton became a national monument.  (It is named after a former NYC mayor and governor, DeWitt Clinton, not for any present-day Clinton's!).

Flying the 1812 flag

Statue honouring immigrants coming to the USA

Our final stop for the day was the 9/11 Memorial and Museum (free entry on Tuesday evening - good timings for us - we did make donations, however, as it does not receive government funding).  What a place.  Eric and I watched on the TV as the North Tower got hit by the plane, and we saw them both come down, so to be there on the site, and to read about the events on the day, and to see the images and the artifacts, it was truly humbling.  Robin says what happened was horrifying.  Karl says it was daunting being there.

Robin was quite interested in the automated coat racks

We grabbed some soup and heated it up at the apartment for dinner - a late night for all of us after a day filled with views and snow and noise and cars and statues and people.