NY, NY

Our weekend saga continues...with New York City!

After a quick evening in Philly, We hope back into our giant, black, Ford Expedition and drove up to New York.  A few months back we had bought tickets to tour the Statue of Liberty and climb up to her crown.  We did our major NYC trip last October, but it so happened that our trip fell during the fiscal crisis, which shut down all National Park's.  Statue of Liberty just so happens to be a National Park...luckily we didn't buy our tickets in advance, so we didn't loose anything.  We almost lost out on this trip, with Wanda's car hiccup....but we were able to salvage most of our trip so far.  We only lost a day.  Which isn't so bad considering.

We got up super early to make the 8am ferry out to the Statue.

We only had 1 day (instead of the 2 we had originally planned) so we wanted to make the most of it!

Here is our Lady Liberty.

It was a beautiful day!

 On the Island, looking around before we started our climb up to the crown.

 Climbing up the stairs inside Lady Liberty.

 It was about 500 stairs, which is nothing to us after Europe!

 Lady Liberty's face from inside.

It was interesting to find out that the copper is as only as thick as a penny.  all the infrastructure and scaffolding inside is what gives her strength and stability...I feel an object lesson coming on.

 Here we all are, at the top of her crown. That's her hair above us.

Hunter is here, but he is behind the bar.  Sad we can't see him.

 Matt touching Liberty's hair.

 There's my Hunter.

Somewhere on this move, we lost that jacket.  It was a good jacket!

Anya wanted to touch her hair too.

 Looking down out one of the crown windows.

 We love New York!

 NYC skyline behind us.

After Liberty we took a quick tour of Ellis Island.

 Next, we really wanted to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

My awesome Cousin and her hubby met us about half way across!

Then we went to Grimaldi's for some fabulous NY pizza for lunch.

We went to John's on Bleeker last time we met up with them.  Now we just need to go back and eat at Lombardi's and we will complete the NYC pizza trifecta!

 Here is my awesome Cousin!!

She just graduated from Columbia, she is so great with the kids, we just love her!

We were able to find some delicious ice cream.

 Here is my awesome cousin's husband...my cousin in law I guess.  We just love him to pieces too!  Riding the subway is so much more fun with locals!

 We stopped to see the Manhattan Temple.

It actually has a church building in the basement.  We got to go down and use the restrooms.  It was so cool.

 Our crazy crew, in front of the Temple.

 My cuz and I taking a selfie!

I was wearing Matt's space age sun glasses, because I had left mine in Wanda....in D.C.

 Group Hug!

Saying good bye!

 Love these guys!

 After parting ways with our cousins, we headed down to the Twin towers 9/11 memorial.

 We missed this last time we came to NYC.  I guess we weren't sure where to go, but we found it this time.  I am so glad we made the time to stop by.  It was so heart wrenching and sacred to see. I hope we always remember the sacrifices and courage these people represent, I hope we never forget as a country.

 Here is the one tower, kind of brings tears to my eyes to look at it.

We took the ferry back to New Jersey's Liberty Park, where we had parked our beast.

We were rewarded with this great view of the New York City skyline.

It was a fun day in NYC. 

I wish we could have stayed longer, caught a show or something...but we need to get back to D.C., pick up our vehicles and stuff and start driving West to our new home!