29 and 30 October New York, New York

After an excellent sleep we awoke to a perfect clear New York morning and we were due to arrive at 12.30pm, but we arrived early because of the need to get out of Boston before the mammoth storm arrived. 

We were excited to see in the distance the high rise towers of New York City and we can just make out the Statue of Liberty, which we pass off our port side with wonderful views and great excitement.  We decide to wait for a late breakfast until we have passed the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It is a wise decision and we get great photos and wonderful scenes.  In the background we can see the Liberty Tower.  We then decide to sit and watch the ship berth at the famed Pier88 alongside The Intrepid Museum.

 We then realise we are also very near the Circle Line Cruise / Ferry terminal at Pier 83 and close to the High Line, which we are interested in walking if time permits tomorrow afternoon.

Then we take our time to enjoy lunch in the Grand Dining Room before we change for our afternoon departure and to catch a show called "Sistas" the musical. 

We depart the ship at approximately 2.30pm and catch a cab from West 42nd Street downtown toward Time Square, where we spent an amazing 45 minutes taking in the sights and all of the new signs etc.

Then we walked back to the Theatre, but stopped for a beer and soda at an Italian Brasserie for a drink before strolling next door to the Church Hall and now converted theatre for the Musical named Sistas, which is a musical engaging the history of thebAfrican American Suffragete through the hits of the time from the. 1930-1980's and the five female performers were simply stunning in the breadth of the music and also in the combination of acting and singing.  Another highlight was the superb audience participants and the wonderful singing perfectly pitched from the audience.  We were one of only 2 non African American couples in the total audience of about 140 people.  The production lasted about 100 minutes and was acclaimed by rapturous applause from the foot tapping, clapping and singing audience.  In no way did we feel uncomfortable , rather we found the whole event inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable.

Following the show we walked about fir some 15 minutes before catching a cab back to Pier 88 and the Regatta.  We subsequently dined in house and concluded our evening by taking in the New York skyline from the rear of the ship.

We can only describe it as a magical day in an amazing city. 

morning came very fast and we had slept extremely wel, given the pressures of the last several days with high winds and storms.  We dressed for the day and had breakfast in the Dining Room and prepared for our trip again downtown to do a tour of the 911 Memorial and liberty tower. 

We met our guide at 10.00 outside St Paul's Chappel and subsequently learnt much of the history of this symbolic church and its role as a key operational control centre following the 9/11 disaster when the two buildings were brought down by the terrorist plane hijacks which crashed into the monumental World Trade Centre buildings bringing the buildings down with a loss of life exceeding 2500 people. 

Billy our guide had worked as a trader on the 100 floor of one of the towers until several weeks before the attacks.  On the morning of the crash he was working in a building over the road from The World Trade Centre heard the crash and the fire and described panic, fear and then the dreadful after effect when people were trapped in the higher levels and that over 600 people lost with no remains found.  But he gave a graphic description of the sheer scale of the attack, the damage to the whole site and adjoining buildings.  He told the harrowing story of the house, dust and uncontrollable panic despite the efforts of the NY firefighters, when the first tower collapsed.  Bill described turning and running ahead of the white dust cloud and then sinking to his knees as it passed over him, leaving him covered in a gray/ white dust.

Then he continued on to explain how the front of many buildings including the Millenium Hilton, were just blown out and how the Marriott was destroyed.  He graphically then described the scenario after the second building was hit and then the long time frame as it burned and then eventually also collapsed.  He gave detailed information, some of which was totally hew to yes as to the whole destruction and then the plans for renewal, how the financial firms, are no longer congregated around this location, how the Port Authority has rebuilt after great controversy the Liberty Tower, which even today is not fully occupied and certainly the financial firms no longer dominate this area. Rather they have decentralised into other areas. 

This was simply a stunning tour and his in depth descriptions added immeasurably to the history.  We sense that he has never been able to return to his former work, but this role allows him to move forward. 

The tour then moved from St Paul's Chappel to the area bounding the site known as ground zero, where everything was destroyed and then had to be demolished and cleared toallow the rebuilding.  The below grind area is entered through an amazing white structure and building called xxxxx, which leads to an immense retail plaza developed by Westfield (an Australian firm) which also leads to the rebuilt and reconfigured underground railway stations serving several rail lines including the Met and services by Amtrak etc to New Jersey. 

Billy then led us on a tour of the footprint of the 2 demolished towers of the destroyed World Trade Centre, where there are now awe inspiring fountains and also grassed and trees areas.  It is a stunning memorial to all who died and those injured in this terrible events. 

Jeanette and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and delighted in the quality and sympathetic memorial. It is tastefully done, beautiful in its simplicity and encouraging to all people.  We determined not to visit the Museum, this tour was a raw enough experience, but we are very glad we visited.  It us a must see.  We were also pleased to see the white roses pinned against various names, these roses are placed to record the birthday of every victim every year by volunteers who support and preserve the space. 

Anything after this would be a bit of a let down, but we decided to ride the hop on hop off bus on the downtown segment / tour.  So at about 12.30pm we boarded the bus and rode it from stop 11 in Broadway Streetaround Battery place, then near Wall,Street, then the impressive redeveloped South Street Seaport, then into Lower East side , East Village, the United Nations buildings and embassy presincts before arriving at the Rockefeller Centre.  From here into the theatre district and mid town before arriving at Times Square, where we were yesterday and then on to the terminus at Port Authority  building.  We also visited the Grand Central rail terminal, St Patrick's Cathedral, Empire State Building and Chrysler building.   

We got off and visited the facilities, had a drink and then looked at our watch.  We very much wanted to go up 5th Avenue and visit Central Park, but time was against us.  So we walked back some 25 minutes through a variety of streets to Pier 88 having enjoyed our two days here in New York.  We have visited on several occasions, but never get sick or tired of this amazing city with its vibrant pulse of life.