From the Little Apple to the Big Apple

Nancy, Debbie, Susan and I spent a couple days of our Spring Break in New York.  (Well, technically Debbie doesn't get a spring break and come to think of it, neither does Nancy)  We went to two Broadway shows - War Horse and Wicked, took a day long tour of Manhattan, visited Ellis Island, went to the observation decks of The Empire State Building and Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, visited the 9/11 Memorial site, and walked a lot.    The Late Show's studio was just a few steps from our hotel. We stayed on 7th Avenue and 53rd Street, very near Times Square.  We had a great time!

My two favorite ladies. You can click on any photo to see a bigger version.

Inside Saint Patrick's Cathedral

Susan used her Ipad to take photos

Debbie, what do you see? Grant's Tomb

Debbie and Susan outside Grant's Tomb. I wouldn't say Grant's Tomb was high on our list of sights to see, but our bus tour stopped in the area so we went in.

Take from one of our harbor boat rides. This is at the very southern tip of Manhattan looking back to the north.

Brooklyn Bridge, it connects Manhattan and Brooklyn

Nancy and Susan with the Statue of Liberty, taken on our boat ride on of the harbor.

More of the same.

The second tallest building in this photo - with silver 2/3 of the way up and black the rest of the way up (and a crane on top) is the new World Trade Center building 1.

Nancy, Debbie and Susan walking to Rockefeller Center where we went to the 70 floor (known as top of the Rock) to view the city.  The flags in front of the ladies surround the ice skating rink that is often seen on the Today Show or Christmas programs.  It is also where the famous Christmas tree is placed.

Looking up to the top of Rockefeller Center where we viewed the city.

Getting closer to the entrance. Radio City is just to the left across the street.

The viewing area at the Top of the Rock is surrounded by thick glass. Central Park is in the background. Central Park is 843 acres and approximately 2.5 miles long and .5 miles wide.

On our way to another observation deck.

This is not the Top of the Rock, this photo was taken on top of the Empire State Building on the 86th floor. We were looking south towards World Trade Center. In fact, the tall building above Debbie's left shoulder is World Trade Center 1.  Our tour guide told us New Yorkers are not using ground zero as terminology for area, instead they are using World Trade Center or 9/11 Memorial.

Back to Rockefeller Center or Top of the Rock observation deck. Of the two observation decks, I like Empire State Building a little better because you feel the wind and elements. The Top of the Rock is enclosed by glass, so it is almost like being inside a building.  They both have great views.  The Empire State  is a beautiful building and really gives you a feeling of 1930's design.  We went to the Empire State Building at sunset so we were able to see the city change from daylight to night.

I found my soul mate in this woman.

We walked down Wall Street and saw a few Occupy Wall Street protestors. 

We visited the 9/11 Memorial which is still under construction.  The names of those who died on 9/11 (at WTC, pentagon, and in Pennsylvania) as well as those who died in the attack in on the WTC in 1993 are sketched in the metal that surrounds the footprint of where the building stood. There are two of these - one for WTC 1 and one for WTC 2 - with water falling from the top to the bottom.  The silver building in the background is the 9/11 Memorial Museum, it isn't open yet.

Looking up at WTC building 1

Siefers sisters on top of the Empire State Building as the sun sets on New York and the night lights come on.

More of the Empire State Building - The well-lit building between Nancy and Susan is WTC 1.

Times Square

Tired.

On top of the world observation point over Manhattan, Kansas.