New York, New York

So, I'm just back from New York City and, as I mentioned in the previous post, a great time was had by all. We did all the usual things you should do when you go: see a Yankee game, visit the Empire State Building, go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, see a Broadway Show (or two!) and try to sample as much of the local cuisine as possible. For the most part we traveled by subway - or walked, including a memorable stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge - and the people we encountered were friendly and helpful. The weather cooperated as well with gorgeous sunshine and light breezes to keep us from getting overheated. If you've never been or if, like me, it's been awhile, I highly recommend a visit.

Two things to remember: First, whatever amount you think it's going to cost, add at least 30%. And, make time in your wanderings for a visit here.

I'm going to attempt to post a few pics from the trip. I haven't done this before, so I hope it works.

This is from a terrific butterfly exhibit at the Museum of Natural History.

The original "torch" from the Statue of Liberty. There is a wonderful backstory to this: it turns out that the torch was never meant to be "lit" from within; instead, the design was for it to be reflective in nature, to "shine" by reflecting the natural light of the sun and the moon. However, when the statue was first erected, the U.S. Government gave stewardship of it to the Lighthouse Board, which tried to make use of the torch as, well, a lighthouse, forgetting what a light like this would attract - i.e. birds. Needless to say, it made for a messy situation. When the torch was replaced in the 1980's, gold leaf was applied to make it more reflective, with external lamps surrounding it to add illumination.

This is an inside view of the statue, taken from the highest point that you can now climb on the monument. In addition to the infrastructure, this shot reveals the circular staircase that people used to be able to take up to the statue's head. I have vivid - and scary - memories of climbing that staircase as a young boy.

"The Sphere" by Fritz Koenig. This sculpture once stood in the World Trade Center Plaza. It survived the destruction in this condition and was moved to Battery Park as a memorial.

A look inside the Trade Center site.

A remembrance. Let us never, ever forget.