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Published: October 2nd 2006
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Today was my last full day in NYC and I wanted to see as much as my feet would allow. Locker Room Lady suggested I check out the Museum of the City of New York. To get there, I could catch a subway or a bus across town, but instead I decided to walk there.
Doing so allowed me to cut through Central Park. It’s amazing that in the city that prides itself on being the best city in the world, they’ve got a park to live up to the reputation as well. At times there were a pack of morning joggers and walkers along the paths and at other times, I felt like I was the only the person in the park. It was a tranquil place in the middle of this bustling city that almost ate me for dinner the other night. I think I would like to stay here a little longer…
It took about an hour to walk from my hostel all the way to the eastern edge of Central Park, but I was a little disappointed to find out that the museum was closed on Mondays. I shrugged my shoulders and caught the
6 (made famous by J-Lo) downtown and try to figure out what to do. I got off at 42nd and Grand Station, which was no match for the grandness of Washington’s Union Station. At least some promotional company tried to make up for it by selling raffle tickets at $1000 a pop to win a Lamborghini.
I walked east along Lexington towards my first official stop of the day, the United Nations HQ. The World HQ isn’t actually a part of New York, but is considered part of International Territory. I enjoy a stay of about two hours in no mans land, visiting the General Assembly hall. This would have been the best place to be two weeks ago, when Hugo Chavez was launching into his anti American tirade. The South Korean tour guide makes time to show us the Security Council chamber; no doubt some of the world’s history has been shaped in this room. The hallway just inside the main building has a photographic exhibit about the effects of global warming and how it will change our world if we don’t do anything. At times, prominent people belittle the role of the UN but already it’s made
a difference with me. I thank my South Korean tour guide on behalf of all Australians and continue exploring the rest of the UN.
I got some stamps made up of Kaz and I and posted them all home for everyone to see what we were up to. I made sure that I sent Natalie (a girl at work) one from NYC since she would probably really like this city as well. Once I’m done, I catch a bus crosstown (Noo Yawk!) and have lunch at my Alma Mater (BK), while trying to decide what I want to do next and taking into consideration that my feet are aching.
It seems that everything I have done here is totally ad hoc. Instead of following that kind lady’s advice the first night I got here by jumping on a bus, I have walked to everything I have done. And do I regret it? Probably not, as its cheaper. But I’m paying with it as my feet get sore and it hurts so much to walk. I could blow my MasterCard buying a pair of sneakers in NYC.
I decide that I’ll go towards the financial district of NYC
and head to the site of the World Trade Center. This is now America’s memorial to the terrorist attacks that have changed the world since September 11, 2001. There are lots of people taking happy snaps, before pondering how this place has changed their life.
I remember that Tuesday night very well, or was it that Wednesday morning? The day before, I had returned from Canberra and Mum had just returned from East Timor on Monday morning.
I woke up when the phone rang at some absurd hour and it was a school friend, but I thought he was probably drunk and wanted someone to talk to. I let the phone ring out and he could leave his drunken message on my voicemail. It went something like, “Bones, you gotta turn on the TV. AMERICA IS BEING BOMBED!”
Dave had to be smoking some fat joints to be coming up with that. I went into the lounge room and my older sister and Dad were both in front of the TV. I didn’t know how to process seeing the second plane slam into the other tower. Finally, those towers gave way and I didn’t know if I was still dreaming. But this was no dream. This was September 11, 2001.
There are plans to build another tower that is even bigger than the original twin towers, reaching high into the sky and showing defiance on behalf of all Americans. While there is a sense of sadness here there is also a sign of remembrance, pride and the will to fight. I walk past hand painted murals by kids for the loved ones they lost. Some of them don’t understand yet that they won’t see them ever again. I take a walk down Liberty St and into the WTC Museum. The chaos of that day is replicated on an exhibit that has missing posters of people plastered all over it. There’s another wall with photos of the lost in happier times that the museum collated. Its overbearing for one lady and she has to leave. I leave a simple message in the museum guestbook and continue on my way.
I catch the subway back to 34th St and make my way to the Empire State Building. One of the girls at work suggested I come here and watch the sunset. It would be really romantic to
bring someone here at this particular time, but all I have is Kaz, the stuffed toy kangaroo that my workmates give me. No doubt Baz was probably doing his own romancing back at the hostel!
I didn’t have to line up like everyone else when it came to ticket sales, however I had to go through a security check, a pointless souvenir photo shot and then we were herded past a stall that told us to buy headsets to give us an audio commentary once we were on the observation deck as there was no such guide or signage to indicate anything up there. Filthy liars. I didn’t spend the obscene amount of dollars required to get it but once I was up there, there were signs pointing out buildings and landmarks. I took photos in all directions and surveyed the sights that I had gone and done today. The sun was beginning to set over New Jersey to the west and I took up prime position to watch this marvellous spectacle. What a great way to end my stay here in NYC.
The place was getting a little overcrowded to my liking so I bustled past the
people lining up for the lift and walked down 5 levels to catch the main elevator down to street level. The filthy bastards made me go through another line up, looking at the souvenir photos that I didn’t want taken nor want to purchase. It was a slight stain on what was otherwise a great time.
I went at a snail’s pace west towards Times Square and took more photos. This place was amazing by night. So too is the Toys ‘R Us that is located there, with an indoor ferris wheel and endless rows of toys. I decided to stock up on more souvenirs here but I still couldn’t find the Mickey Mouse watch my Mum was after. But if I looked any harder, I’d sure Mickey could carry me home because my legs were about to fall off.
Once I got back to the hostel, I had a quick bite to eat before heading upstairs to pack my bags for the next stop. NYC was very rewarding to me. All I had to do was get out there and be a part of it.
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