We took the red eye in and took a nap in the morning, hoping to get an early room check-in. That didn't
work out, so off to the city we go.
Day One included the Freedom Tower, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Restaurant Cielo, and Hamilton.
Took the subway down to the financial district. This is a shopping hub called the Oculus.
We had time before our museum reservations, so we went up in the Freedom Tower to the observation deck.
A view out over Manhattan...
...and the view out over toward the Status of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Here's a closer view of the Statue of Liberty.
They gave us iPads with software to orient and identify the landmarks. You can then click on landmarks
and get some history on them.
A shot down toward the river.
Kimberly ruling over Manhattan.
Out by the fountains. You can tell we only had a few hours of sleep.
After we got out of Freedom Tower, we took a shot back up from the ground.
Where are we?
On to the 9/11 Museum.
Much of the museum is actually down below ground in the actual foundations of the twin towers. On the left
is the slurry wall that was built to hold back the Hudson River while they built the foundations (which are
to the right of this shot).
The remains of hook-and-ladder company 3. Many of the first responders were killed because their command
posts were too close to the falling towers.
To get a sense of how one of the girders bent backward over itself from the forces involved.
Some layers from the original foundations. Up above these at ground level are the fountains.
After finally getting checked into the hotel and getting cleaned up, we went to an Italian restaurant
across the street called Cielo. We shared the Paul Shaffer salad of white asparagus hearts of palm.
Kimberly ordered (surprise) the mushroom ravioli...
...and Wade something similar to carbonara, but with fresh spinach pasta and pancetta.
We started the trip with the best show ever: Hamilton. The writing is absolutely brilliant, and
you really should go see it when it comes to your town. For the record, this is the last known picture
of this umbrella, which Wade left in the theater.
We are in the front row of the mezzanine, but over to the right. Don't tell anyone I illegally took a
picture of the stage.
They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway.
