Day 2 Empire State Building

Looking up from the 103rd floor


Christmas display on the first floor






Carson "helping" me carry Hannah.

We had tickets to go to the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building. It was a good experience but a little overrated. I would never wait in the 3+ hour continuously looping que lines again-especially carrying Hannah in the snugglie. (That's right...no strollers allowed!) Just when you thought you were getting somewhere, you would go up 3 floors only to get out and wait in another huge line.

The interior was beautiful though. It had different colored marble and little tiles in bright colors that looked like jewels. When we finally made it to the top, the viewing area was so crowded you could barely squeeze to the front to see anything. Once we did, the view was breathtaking and windy!

Carson was more interested in playing with the pigeons perched on the viewing area. He was trying to feed them marshmallows-which they pecked at but never wanted to eat. A nasty pigeon landed on my back and I started wiggling and thrashing around like crazy to get the thing off. It wouldn't budge finally my brave Mom had to whack the thing off of me. I now hate pigeons. :)

Day 2 Trinity Church

Trinity Church stands across the street from the World Trade Center Site. Many of the buildings surrounding the Twin Towers were badly damaged from the buildings collapsing but, Trinity Church stood untouched.



(My mom, liked this old headstone, with the skull picture on it. A small old cemetery surrounds the church)

Because of its proximity it became a refuge for the rescue workers at the site. Beds were offered, food was served, and any aid that was needed was given at the church. No one was turned away.


Each day when a cot was prepared for a new person a small teddy bear or other stuffed animal was placed on the bed for its recipient with a note of gratitude. Schools, churches, and volunteers donated the bears and it was a sweet offering to weary rescue workers.

There were two books being sold and the author was there signing copies. Of course my Mom and I (book lovers) had to buy the cute children stories. One was called "The Little Chapel that Stood" and "T. Bear's Tale" Both are children's books that tell the story of 9/11. T. Bear's Tale tells the story through the eyes of one of the donated Teddy Bears.

Day 2-World Trade Center Site

After seeing the sights we wanted to on the bus, we walked to the World Trade Center Site. It was so sad to see all the memorials around the different buildings surrounding the area where the twin towers once stood.

The site was in walking distance of the apartment and was easily viewed from our apartment window. Now, (obviously) all we could see are the huge cranes at the site, moving debris and working on the new buildings there. I am sure to many New Yorkers there is a huge hole in the skyline.

I imagined being in the apartment we stayed in and living through that. It is difficult to think about. We were so close. Even after 8+ years the devastation and hurt still feels so close to the surface in New York. I am sure that will never go away.


You really can't see that much at the actual site. There is a large fence around it with small holes to look through. We could see the foundation of the twin towers though.


On the same block there was a Fire Department that played a big role in the rescue efforts. Because of this, it is now a famous tourist spot. When we were there one of the firemen came to the firetruck. Carson immediately turned to me, and asked if he could have his picture taken with him. I told him he could ask, not sure what the fireman would say. Carson asked and he smiled and said "of course!" This is one of my favorite pictures from New York. It made Carson's day. Of course the T-shirt Carson wanted to take home from NYC was a FDNY shirt.

Day 2 Hairspray and Stardust Diner

Cam received (free!) tickets to see Hairspray on Broadway and thanks to "Granny-Nanny" (aka my Mom) we were able to go. We went with his coworker Nate and his wife. The show was really good. It was a little more risk-kay (spell?) then the movie. (hint a lot of hip thrusting dance moves and innuendos :)). We had great seats and a really good time. After we went searching for a place to eat. Cam saw Stardust Diner and knowing nothing about it said "let's go there." So off we went.

The Diner was your basic American style/classier than usual hamburger joint. But the waitresses and waitors were all Broadway stars (in between gigs) or wanna be Broadway stars. They would sing a song as they served you your drink. It was very entertaining. They also danced all over the booths and right above your head.

The food was good and I ate the best Macaroni and Cheese. I am lame and never try new foods... :)

We walked around the Theater District and then headed home. While we were waiting for the subway, I saw a big fat rat run around the subway tracks. I thought that was very New York-ish. :)

Day 3 Battery Park

Carson loved chasing the many squirrels around the park.

This statue used to sit between the twin towers. After the 9/11 attack it was moved to Battery Park. You can see the damage that was done to it.

Carson posing with this awesome Statue of Liberty. Carson liked this guy. He thought it was pretty cool. Everyone's trying to make a living in NYC...

These pictures were taken at Battery Park. We were planning on going to the Statue of Liberty this day, but after finding out there were no more monument passes, we decided to arrive earlier on Sunday to try and get a pass.

Day 3 Goldman Sachs

Cam walked to work everyday (about a 20 minute walk from the apartment). There wasn't a subway that would take him any closer than walking. We walked to his building which was pretty close to the stock exchange. His building had 40 floors on it and he worked on the 37th floor. This is one out of five offices/buildings that Goldman Sachs has in NYC

Day 3 Wall Street

Financial District (Wall Street) Happenings...

One View of Trinity Church (right behind it is the World Trade Center Site)

Federal Hall-Carson posing like George Washington

New York Stock Exchange...dead on a Saturday

The famous bull and some other guy...


My famous mom, the famous bull and some other guy's arm again.

PS...what is so funny about posing offensively with the bull? It was nearly impossible to get a picture without one of those "jokesters." Not funny. Seriously. I don't get it...