One Last Day

This day started grumpy, (I was grumpy) it was my last day and while excited to be going home to my own bed I felt like I hadn't seen all I wanted to. AND on top of those personal feelings, girl next to me went to bed LATE and got up EARLY, 5:30AM early and proceeded to arrange all the stuff in her suitcases for the next 45 minutes! I was tired, she was LOUD and it was grating and she was right by my head (I was on the bottom bunk) the entire time! I wanted to scream at her but I refrained. She finally left and before I could fall asleep, my alarm went off at 6:30am. I was EXHAUSTED and was barely able to get out of bed. I quietly (other girls were still sleeping, unlike rude girl I was being considerate) got all packed up and then Jacqueline and I headed to China Town. PS I was not the only one annoyed and thinking that girl was rude, Jacqueline had woken up even earlier than me because the girl had been in the bathroom with the door opened and light on and it shown right into Jacqueline's eyes. She said she had watched the girl rearrange things and wondered why the heck she was doing it right then, since it wasn't because she needed anything, she was already dressed and ready to go for the day. I had been worried about this type of situation staying in a hostel, I'm glad it only happened once.
By 8:30am we reached Chinatown but nothing was opened. I wanted to find a little street place I remembered from when I was there the first time but the Brooklyn Bridge and Liberty Island were more important. So we headed to the Brooklyn Bridge.

 We decided to take the subway to the Brooklyn side and then walk back to Manhattan. Notice the signs on the road for walkers and bikers and the lanes we belong in :) So funny.

It was warm enough all I needed was a light sweater and it was a gorgeous day.

Also because it was fairly early on a Sunday morning the bridge wasn't busy at all, I was grateful for that, it made for better pictures and less hassle in getting them (I didn't always follow the signs on the road).

I love photography and I really love architecture, so I had a good time walking across the bridge and taking photos.

The New York skyline.

There was a couple at this spot trying to take a picture of themselves and the skyline, so I offered to take their picture for them and in return they offered to take ours. 

So remember the signs on the walkway, well right at the end of the bridge as we were headed back into Manhattan, this lady coming towards us was in the bike side of the path. All of a sudden this fat guy on a bike comes riding up behind her and yells, "hey, hey you!" She was on the phone, not paying attention and didn't hear him, he gets right up next to her, leans over all up in her face and yelling at the top of his lungs swears all these profanities at her. It was unbelievable! SO RUDE! Yes, this lady was not paying attention and should have been in the correct lane, but it was virtually empty and the guy had MORE than enough room between her and us. That was the only time I saw a New Yorker get mad at a tourist and I'm glad I only saw it once, because it was nasty.

After we walked the bridge, I had one final ticket to use to see Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is and Jacqueline went to take a different boat tour. So we said our good-byes in the subway, I was super glad we had met, it was fun to hang out with her. Then I headed to the dock for my ferry to Liberty Island.

This was my first time back to NYC since my first trip to the Big Apple over 10 years ago, in August of 2001. Just over ten years ago, from this same ferry I was about to get on, I took these pictures of the New York Skyline, notice the Twin Towers. (I know the pictures aren't the best, blame the camera.)

They next day I got to tour the Observation Deck of one of the towers, get all the facts of the building and  see the view of New York from the tallest building there. Within a few weeks of returning home, 9/11 happened and I watched live as those towers fell. It wouldn't have felt as personal or significant had I not been there recently and seen them for myself.  All day we watched footage of the towers and heard about the Pentagon and the Pennsylvania plane. That same day after school, I picked up my film from processing. It was eerie, seeing my pictures of places I had seen and stood on that no longer existed.

 This is my favorite picture of the skyline because of the little red boat with all the blue. 

Here is the skyline November 27, 2011 from Liberty Island.

On the dock, as I waited for my ferry to the island.

Last time I visited New York, I stopped and toured Ellis Island.

 I was sad then because I wanted to see the Statue and go to the top, well I was equally disappointed this time too because just at the beginning of November renovations started on the Statue of Liberty. No one was allowed inside. I'm still glad I went to the island though because of the tour the rangers give, it was very interesting and educational.

Many people don't even know that the Statue was a gift to us from France and many of those that do know, like me, believe it was a gift from the French government to our country. I was informed it was from the french people, the government actually hated our democracy at the time. The french people saw the freedom which our country represented and built this statue to symbolize all our country offered. The torch to represent light, knowledge, truth. Look closely at the photo below, her right foot is lifted up and a broken chain is wrapped around it symbolizing breaking away and freedom. Her tablets have the date the Constitution was signed and represent law and order. Her diadem, or crown, has seven rays on it representing the sun, the seven seas, the seven continents, the seven wonders of the world - or in other words representing the world. The artist, Frederic Bartholdi, felt that the United States would bring freedom to all. That is also why it was placed on this island because it is the first thing immigrants saw as they entered the bay from the Atlantic Ocean. Fascinating.

One final fact, France built the Statue with the agreement that the U.S. citizens would fund and build the pedestal on which she would stand. The Statue arrived and had to wait almost a full year while the U.S. finished raising the money and building the pedestal. The lag had been because many U.S. citizens saw it as  New York statue and not their responsibility, others criticized France for not sending a pedestal with it. Joseph Pulitzer helped to raise the money by saying no matter how much was given he would print all donor's names in his paper the World. He raised $102,000 with 80% of it being in donations under a dollar in value.

After the tour, I boarded a ferry back to Manhattan. I had a little time left so I stopped in Chinatown again. I looked all over but couldn't find the street I remembered from last time I was there. I did buy some really inexpensive cute earrings and bracelets. I also was starving and saw a pizza place. It was okay but not as good as 2 Bros Pizza, I don't even remember the name of the pizza place I stopped at. Then I went back to the hostel, gathered up my bags and headed to subway. I took a subway, to a bus stop, where I took a very crowded bus to the airport. I hated being on the bus with all my stuff and a couple people were slightly rude, under their breath remarks and dirty looks, but a couple guys were helpful. I made it to the airport and said good-bye to New York. Tired but happy. 48 States seen! What a great trip.