Lower Manhattan

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You didn't think I was finished talking about the Ha family's recent trip to New York, did you? Sorry, dear readers. I'm just getting warmed up.

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Our adventures in Lower Manhattan began at Battery Park. In addition to the stunning views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty, it is also the temporary home of the Sphere and the Eternal Flame. Both are memorials to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.

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The boy and I hung out along the shoreline while the hubby went to inquire about tickets for the Statue of Liberty. We already knew that it would be impossible to make the climb to the crown as the tickets must be purchased 4-6 months in advance. We made plans a mere three weeks prior to departure.

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The hubby soon discovered that there was a two hour wait just to purchase tickets followed by an hour wait for the ferry. He wisely made the executive decision to forgo three hours standing in line and we made our way to the Staten Island Ferry.

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The ferry, which can be ridden free of charge, runs every thirty minutes. The boys and I quickly made our way to the back deck of the boat and enjoyed spectacular views of Lady Liberty and the Manhattan skyline on our way to Staten Island. Upon arrival, we exited one ferry, walked around through the lobby and directly onto another waiting boat for the return trip.

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After a quick visit with the Bull, we made our way to Trinity Church. Don't you love the Gothic architecture? 

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One point of interest... 

On the day of the September 11 terrorist attacks, huge amounts of debris fell on the grounds of the church. The church escaped virtually unscathed because a massive sycamore tree shielded it from damage. The roots of the tree were excavated and bronze replica will be placed next to the church. A temporary sculpture is there now.

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Our next stop was St. Paul's Chapel. St. Paul's, which is the oldest surviving church in Manhattan, is located directly across the street from Ground Zero. I loved the old cemetery.

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During the months following the September 11 attacks, the chapel was used as a place of rest for the hundreds of recovery workers. Meals were served and workers were able to sleep in the dozens of cots that filled the chapel.

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Today, the chapel is filled with many of the memorials and mementos originally placed on the fence surrounding the church grounds in the days and months after the attacks. Even eight years later, I was surprised by how emotional I was as we toured the church.

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Ground Zero is now fenced off from the public since construction has begun. A storefront across the street has scaled down model of the plans and other information about the memorials and buildings that will eventually fill the World Trade Center site.

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Our final stop in Lower Manhattan was the South Street Seaport. With the relocation of the Fulton Fish Market to the Bronx in 2005, many of the old restaurants and shops have closed. While slightly disappointing, the boy still enjoyed checking out the old ships that line the port.

More about our trip tomorrow...