We didn't get to see ground zero on Monday so that was our first stop on Tuesday.
First we walked up this enclosed walkway/bridge thing and was able to see out windows where the towers used to be. In all honesty, I was a little disappointed. It was filled with construction and workers and chaos. I didn't know what to expect but I was expecting it to be a little more than that.
We kept walking across the bridge into this place
He gave us directions and off we went.
"May we never forget"
"Dedicated to those who fell and to those who carry on"
It was probably the best $5 I have spent or will spend on this whole trip.
It's taking me forever to load up pictures at the hotel i'm at right now but I took quite a few that day and I think it's really important for me to share what I took with all of you, if you have not been to the center.
This trip experience shook me to my core. Being in the city, across the street from where the towers once stood... seeing items recovered from that day, the faces of those who perished, the words of the survivors... it was overwhelming. I spent the majority of my time in the center with tears streaming down my face and at one point i actually had to move into a new part of the area because I was about to start sobbing.
There were columns throughout the main room, documenting the timeline of attacks
airplane window.
I don't know how someone can read these quotes and not start crying. So, so emotional.
recovered items.
The walls in this main room were COVERED like this... covered with missing posters that people made looking for there loved ones one and around 9/11.
Desperate pleas for any information on their loved ones...their happy, smiling loved ones. Most of whom would never be found. or at least found alive.
This is the part where I had to walk away. A room in which three walls were COVERED in photographs of people who died. I just couldn't look at the faces of these people knowing they are no longer here.
This part was really cool.
This talked about how in 1955 in Japan, a little girl was dying as the result of exposure to radiation from the bombing of Hiroshima. She made paper canes to attain her wish that she would get well. She did not, but after her death, paper cranes became a sybol of peace.
This talked about how in 1955 in Japan, a little girl was dying as the result of exposure to radiation from the bombing of Hiroshima. She made paper canes to attain her wish that she would get well. She did not, but after her death, paper cranes became a sybol of peace.
Following 9/11, the Japanese sent 10,000 cranes to NYC as hope for peace in the world.
On the lower level of the Center, there was an area where people could fill out cards sharing their 9/11 experience. On the wall, certain cards were posted publicly. This is one that really stood out to me.
We left the Tribute Center and walked to St. Pauls Church just a few blocks away where many of the firefighters, police officers, and volunteers would come for some refuge. We walked around outside first.
An example of a cot that a volunteer would have to rest on for a few hours between working shifts.
more paper cranes
After we finished walking through the church we took the subway to the upper west side in Manhatten to meet up with Francesca's aunt and uncle who live in an apartment there.
We stopped and got a piece of New York pizza which is Francesca's favorite.
We walked a bit around Central Park
there was a guy painting. i literally took thsi picture from across the park. i love the excessive zoom i have on my camera :)
We went out to dinner with Francesca's Uncle Jeff, Aunt Mia and Aunt Christina at a Japanese restaurant. It was very yummy :)
We saw a super pretty sunset on our walk back.
Aunt Mia took us to the top of the Empire Hotel where this is this rooftop bar. The view was fantastic.
Inside of the bar
the view outside
