This day started out with a van tour around the neighborhoods of New York. We had never really
done this type of tour, and thought it might be fun and educational.
Starting over by Central Park West, this was one of the first buildings where New York started to
build up and not just out.
We take a short walk into Central Park, in an area called Strawberry Fields, ...
...where there is a monument to John Lennon, and a guy playing Beatles songs.
That building is also where John and Yoko lived, and this side of the building is where he was shot.
The Atlas statue in front of Rockefeller Center.
Across the street is St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Inside Rockefeller Center around where the ice rink is in winter. This handsome fellow is our tour guide, Walter.
Rockefeller Center from the outside...
...and beautiful murals on the inside.
A shot on the street back toward the Empire State Building.
The tour includes a ride on the Staten Island Ferry, which is now free to ride.
Here we are getting on the boat.
Out in the harbor, looking back north toward Manhattan on the left and the bridges
connecting it to Brooklyn.
On the left is Manhattan, with One World Trade dominating the skyline.
The happy wanderers.
Looking over towards New Jersey.
The ferry passes right by and gives a good view of the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island to the right of it.
The Verrazzano Narrows bridge across the inlet to New York Harbor.
The memorial takes up the footprints of the old One and Two World Trade Center.
The bronze rim contains the names of the victims, and the fountains represent the tears shed.
Those tears disappear into this pit symbolizing infinity. In the background is the new
metro station for the World Trade Center.
The newly-rebuilt One World Trade comes in at 1776 feet including the tower.
That night, we go to see Water for Elephants, based on the book of the same name.
This opening backdrop does not do credit to the high energy acrobatics that the show includes.
