Train Travel Across the States: New York, New York!

Thursday 20th September 2012 NEW YORK

We're here, in New York! Wow, would you believe it? We arrived late last night, about 10.30 pm. The train was late, but Alan will tell you about that. When we finally arrived at the Beacon Hotel on Broadway & W75th we were put in room 905. It stank of cigarette smoke. When we complained, right away - because of the air condition experience in Chicago, the desk man did not seem surprised. Floor nine has the option to smoke. As we do not smoke he said he would move us after one night; unable to move us straight away as the Hotel was full. The Beacon has 25+ floors with 20+ rooms per floor; aren't they lucky to be full. We will see!! (Yes! Whilst we were out next day our repacked cases were moved to room 1213, on the 12th floor. Nice View!)

After complaining we bought some soup, bread for toast, for a late dinner and also granola and yoghurt for breakfast. All of which we purchased from the handy 'Fairway' store, come market, across the road. We ate and settled down for the night. A coach trip around New York was booked for 9 am to show us the basic sights including a boat trip round the Statue of Liberty. Most of us managed to get up for the trip. It was understandable that a few people were tired of whistle-stop tours round; we have had them in each city. Hence a few had a well deserved rest and the day to themselves. The rest of us were bussed hither and thither round Manhatten. We went down Broadway (and realised how close the Hotel was to lots of the places we wanted to see); also drove down 5th Avenue, to see Museums and the homes of living and dead famous people, including John Lennon, Jackie Kennedy/Onasis, Laurel Bacall and Mia Farrow. We circled round Central Park, passed through Times Square, even stopped by the Conservatory Garden and were able to photograph the Three Graces (statue of 3 young ladies frolicking beneath the fountain) and stopping for a photo opportunity, restroom break and chance to purchase a sandwich for lunch at Grand Central Station. Slowly we weaved our way through the traffic to the Pier where we joined a boat trip round Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

We were given the opportunity to alight from the coach at Times Square because some of us wanted to get theatre tickets; we did not but wanted to see Times Square and walk back to the Beacon Hotel. This we did and Alan managed to get a reasonably inexpensive SD card (32 dollars in a pharmacy after a camera shop tried to steal 69 down to 59 dollars.) However later in Staples for saw them on sale for 7.99 dollars. Such a vast difference!
As we were coming passed the Lincoln Center on Columbus Aveunue and W62nd Street, we noticed a crowd, professional photographers and a 'step and repeat' backdrop for guests publicity shots. A couple in the crowd told us that it was the first night of the Ballet and the Stars and a celebrity audience were expected for a preview and dinner. I noticed the pro-photographers had names on the floor area they could stand on and I photographed this. A woman photographer started arguing with another woman photographer about the position she was standing in. The second woman refused to move; she was first in line and she was staying put. The first woman continued to argue and squeeze in and she also started telephoning someone to complain. She wanted to move the second woman so she could stand in her space in order to take better pictures. It seemed amazing to Alan and I that they thought themselves so important because they take photographs of people most people would not recognise.

At 5 pm we waited for Pam and Gerald, had a drink and shared a cake on the ground floor of a cafe by Ground Zero. Unbeknown to us they were upstairs having a snack in the very same cafe. We went outside and Gerald saw us so we went back into the cafe. A few minutes later we collected the Ground Zero tickets and went into the Memorial grounds.

I was expecting a quiet place, but the first thing you sense is the sound of the continuous water flowing up and over into two large voids. A Reflection in Absence.The sense of loss is evident; you feel it, hear it as life ebbs and flows down into the depths and springs back up, close enough for young children to touch. You see all the names around the voids, noting each and every person that died. The names are grouped together with the others who shared their lives and then their fate on that day. Visitors have placed roses and small flags to mark a personal loss. The four hundred Swamp White Oak trees will witness the changing seasons and give a sense of peace to the area. As they grow they will provide a roof and surround, as if to protect, the only tree to survive that day. A Callery Pear tree became known as the Survivor Tree as it was transported from the debrie and nurtured in the Bronx and then returned to the site ten years later. The Memorial is truely life affirming. From an evil manmade chaos comes order and peace with an edge of defiant survival and hope. The whole thing is a very fitting tribute.