Young and old, wheelchairs and walkers, lined up on every deck braving the cool morning air as we cruised into New York Harbor
The wind and rain didn’t matter. No one was going to miss this experience. Perhaps the widest smiles of all were on the faces of the crew members, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, who have never been to New York before.
At 5:30 AM we sailed up the Hudson River and when we passed under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge it felt so close that those on the top deck could practically jump up and touch it. Then Manhattan came into view. And there she was: Lady Liberty standing proudly before us on the port side. It’s the most impressive sight I’ve ever seen.
1962 images flashed back in my head. When I saw the Lady on that cold December 13 morning I knew I was in America.
After we docked at the downtown Manhattan Passenger Ship Terminal, Dickie and I took a taxi to Battery Park. From there we rode the ferry to Liberty Island and started our trip through the American history books.
I love the look of this colossal liberty-loving lady. She is dressed in a stola. Her shoes are sandals. Around her ankles are broken shackles. In her left hand she holds a tablet inscribed “July 4, 1776” in Roman numerals. In her right hand is a torch, “The Torch of Liberty.” She is more than a monument. She is a Wonder. She is awesome. And she stands for something awesome. She has already stood more than twice as long as the Colossus of Rhodes.
After we had seen enough of the statue we waited for the next ferry to Ellis Island, where, between 1892 and 1954 all third class passengers - “steerage” - were stopped before entering the United States. Some of them were allowed in, but many others did not pass the necessary health checks and were either send back home for another grueling journey, or treated at the nearby hospitals. (First and second class passengers were offered a simple courtesy check on the mainland).
I became a bit emotional when I saw the name of my grandmother’s sister at the American Immigrant Wall of Honor, who came to these shores in 1900 with the hopes and dreams of starting a better life. I imagined how frightening the process must have been for her, who probably didn’t speak a word of English, being herded here and there and not knowing what the future will hold. Yep, she and millions of other brave immigrants have shaped what America has come to be today. (Dick’s ancestors didn’t have to go through Ellis Island, because Samuel Stowell arrived in Hingham Mass in 1635, and his mother’s family came through Canada).
After a long day full of history we were ready to take the ferry back to the main land and taxied back to the ship. Dickie was pooped and I headed back out in search for wine. Somewhere along West 48th Street and 6th Avenue I found the mother lode. 10 bottles of South African Sauvignon Blanc and 10 bottles of Argentine Malbec. My arms are now 2 inches longer and I was soaked to the skin, but my back is holding up fine.
As I walked back to the ship I couldn’t help but hum Leonard Bernstein’s tune “New York, New York, it’s a helluva town.” Indeed it is. It may be fast paced, loud and obnoxious, but never boring. I LOVE NEW YORK!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHVaWXNNRnU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
Click on the above YouTube link to see the pictures.
The wind and rain didn’t matter. No one was going to miss this experience. Perhaps the widest smiles of all were on the faces of the crew members, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, who have never been to New York before.
1962 images flashed back in my head. When I saw the Lady on that cold December 13 morning I knew I was in America.
After we docked at the downtown Manhattan Passenger Ship Terminal, Dickie and I took a taxi to Battery Park. From there we rode the ferry to Liberty Island and started our trip through the American history books.
I love the look of this colossal liberty-loving lady. She is dressed in a stola. Her shoes are sandals. Around her ankles are broken shackles. In her left hand she holds a tablet inscribed “July 4, 1776” in Roman numerals. In her right hand is a torch, “The Torch of Liberty.” She is more than a monument. She is a Wonder. She is awesome. And she stands for something awesome. She has already stood more than twice as long as the Colossus of Rhodes.
I became a bit emotional when I saw the name of my grandmother’s sister at the American Immigrant Wall of Honor, who came to these shores in 1900 with the hopes and dreams of starting a better life. I imagined how frightening the process must have been for her, who probably didn’t speak a word of English, being herded here and there and not knowing what the future will hold. Yep, she and millions of other brave immigrants have shaped what America has come to be today. (Dick’s ancestors didn’t have to go through Ellis Island, because Samuel Stowell arrived in Hingham Mass in 1635, and his mother’s family came through Canada).
After a long day full of history we were ready to take the ferry back to the main land and taxied back to the ship. Dickie was pooped and I headed back out in search for wine. Somewhere along West 48th Street and 6th Avenue I found the mother lode. 10 bottles of South African Sauvignon Blanc and 10 bottles of Argentine Malbec. My arms are now 2 inches longer and I was soaked to the skin, but my back is holding up fine.
As I walked back to the ship I couldn’t help but hum Leonard Bernstein’s tune “New York, New York, it’s a helluva town.” Indeed it is. It may be fast paced, loud and obnoxious, but never boring. I LOVE NEW YORK!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHVaWXNNRnU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
Click on the above YouTube link to see the pictures.