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BradnDad2014
Today began with a lazy start, as it's cold and overcast and raining sporadically.
We are meeting my Niece, Claire, this evening in Manhattan. Claire is from the Scotland based side of the clan. She is completing a Marketing internship with a Finance company in New York.
With the weather clearing around lunch time, we headed uptown to Wall Street and the financial district. Suits, suits and more suits. Does anyone know why it’s called "Wall Street" ?
As we traipsed along Broadway in search of the famous “Bull of Wall Street” (which isn’t actually on Wall Street…), we passed the striking “Red Cube” by Isamu Noguchi. Not sure of the reasoning behind the cube (which isn’t actually a cube…), but it sure is striking against the drab brown / grey of the buildings. Finding the Bull completely surrounded by tourist, we waited our turn to have the obligatory tourist snap. But not before reminding a couple of Asian’s of queue etiquette….
Heading uptown, we came across St Paul’s Chapel. Built in the mid 1700’s for local parishioners it survived the great fire of New York in 1776 (yet another damn fire !!).
The fact I found most incredible, was that although the Chapel backs onto the World Trade Centre, it survived the collapse of the buildings without even shattering a window! Apparently a large sycamore tree in the attaching cemetery shielded the Chapel from most of the debris, finally collapsing to completely cover and protect the headstones of the cemetery from damage…
Puts tingles up my spine…
Continuing on and turning right onto Vessey street, we came to the corner of what was once The World Trade Centre.
The enormity of the devastation that must have taken place that day begins to dawn as we are faced with a massive (16 acre) re- construction area.
To have been here on Sept 11th 2001, would have been a complete mental overload. The unimaginable was taking place, right before your eyes. The horror of watching the events unfurl would be impossible to forget, and I guess they never will.
I’m not sure of exact dates, but I think most of the replacement low rise buildings (<50 stories) have been completed. The main building “One World Trade Centre” which is 104 stories tall is just about complete.
Again, I’m not 100% sure of my facts, but apparently they are dealing with a slight design flaw… Large amounts of snow collects on the “non-vertical” sides of the building. Eventually turning to ice, sliding off the side of the building and crashing to the pavement below…. From 104 stories high !!
Oooops… my bad…
Unfortunately the memorial was closed by the time we arrived, but would re-open tomorrow.
From here we caught the subway uptown to Times Square and met Claire for a bite to eat and a drink at a local restaurant / bar. Claire is a 25 yr old bundle of effervescent energy. Claire and New York just “Click”.. I’m sorry to inform you Allison, but I think your little girl has gone for good !
Heading back home around 10.30pm, we managed to get ourselves completely undone on the subway and didn’t arrive back at our place until 1.00am… Damn uptown, downtown, Red, Green. Orange, N, Q lines…
We are meeting my Niece, Claire, this evening in Manhattan. Claire is from the Scotland based side of the clan. She is completing a Marketing internship with a Finance company in New York.
With the weather clearing around lunch time, we headed uptown to Wall Street and the financial district. Suits, suits and more suits. Does anyone know why it’s called "Wall Street" ?
As we traipsed along Broadway in search of the famous “Bull of Wall Street” (which isn’t actually on Wall Street…), we passed the striking “Red Cube” by Isamu Noguchi. Not sure of the reasoning behind the cube (which isn’t actually a cube…), but it sure is striking against the drab brown / grey of the buildings. Finding the Bull completely surrounded by tourist, we waited our turn to have the obligatory tourist snap. But not before reminding a couple of Asian’s of queue etiquette….
Heading uptown, we came across St Paul’s Chapel. Built in the mid 1700’s for local parishioners it survived the great fire of New York in 1776 (yet another damn fire !!).
The fact I found most incredible, was that although the Chapel backs onto the World Trade Centre, it survived the collapse of the buildings without even shattering a window! Apparently a large sycamore tree in the attaching cemetery shielded the Chapel from most of the debris, finally collapsing to completely cover and protect the headstones of the cemetery from damage…
Puts tingles up my spine…
Continuing on and turning right onto Vessey street, we came to the corner of what was once The World Trade Centre.
The enormity of the devastation that must have taken place that day begins to dawn as we are faced with a massive (16 acre) re- construction area.
To have been here on Sept 11th 2001, would have been a complete mental overload. The unimaginable was taking place, right before your eyes. The horror of watching the events unfurl would be impossible to forget, and I guess they never will.
I’m not sure of exact dates, but I think most of the replacement low rise buildings (<50 stories) have been completed. The main building “One World Trade Centre” which is 104 stories tall is just about complete.
Again, I’m not 100% sure of my facts, but apparently they are dealing with a slight design flaw… Large amounts of snow collects on the “non-vertical” sides of the building. Eventually turning to ice, sliding off the side of the building and crashing to the pavement below…. From 104 stories high !!
Oooops… my bad…
Unfortunately the memorial was closed by the time we arrived, but would re-open tomorrow.
From here we caught the subway uptown to Times Square and met Claire for a bite to eat and a drink at a local restaurant / bar. Claire is a 25 yr old bundle of effervescent energy. Claire and New York just “Click”.. I’m sorry to inform you Allison, but I think your little girl has gone for good !
Heading back home around 10.30pm, we managed to get ourselves completely undone on the subway and didn’t arrive back at our place until 1.00am… Damn uptown, downtown, Red, Green. Orange, N, Q lines…
- comments
Di What an amazing trip......you should be on getaway darl....can't wait to hear all your funny stories..glad you are having a ball
susan_dougherty Brad I found Emiloo!!!!!!