Hey, we must be getting used to East Coast time … woke up at 4:30am. Both of us down to Rick’s Café by 5:30am and greeted the kitchen staff as they arrived. Filled with bagels, eggs, muffins, and fresh fruit, Diane took me by the hand for my first New York subway ride.
Can’t say I enjoyed it much. Obviously very efficient, but so loud and so disorienting (for me); glad Diane was there to get me through it. I just worry too much - had 9am reservations at Castle Clinton for the boat ride to Liberty Island, didn’t understand the subway very well, didn’t know how far we would be from Battery Park when we emerged, didn’t know where we were to go once we got to Battery Park. But all went well, and we were in line for the first boat before I knew it.
We had a glorious day today, weather-wise. Gentle breeze, about 75 degrees, and clear blue skies. Being out on the water was a pleasure, and pulling closer and closer to Lady Liberty was really moving. Remembering that a great part of this 5-week “journey” to Ireland and Sweden was all about family immigration, well, seeing the Statue of Liberty had great impact. Over and over, I imagined what my grandparents might have been thinking as they saw her: relief, joy, anxiety, hope…all the emotions of a new immigrant. Several times during the day today, my photos weren’t centered well – hard to focus through eyes filled with tears.
What a great time to visit Lady Liberty. On the 4th of July, she will be celebrating her 125th Anniversary! We picked up our audio tape (well worth the extra $8 for both Liberty and Ellis Island) and headed to Liberty’s pedestal. For those of you who have not visited the statue, you have access to the island, then can pay for access to the pedestal, and then pay for access to the crown. Tickets are best purchased online in advance as there is no guarantee that pedestal viewing will be available, and crown entry would be a pipe dream.
Entering the pedestal, one immediately is given view to the original torch of Lady Liberty. You can walk around the torch as well as view it from above. Many small pieces (relatively speaking) of yellow glass make the flame – held together just like stained glass windows. In the museum, you can stand next to her face, her foot, and even check out her ear! The process of forming, framing, hammering, and attaching the copper plates is demonstrated. Displays also chronicled her fund-raising, arrival and assembly, her dedication and unveiling. Diane (as a Womans Studies major) was especially interested in the fact that despite the fact that Lady Liberty is, well, a lady, women of the day were not allowed to attend her unveiling! The suffragettes hired boats and surrounded Liberty Island in protest.
Several other stations discussed Liberty as an American icon used in wartime, for marketing, for protest, for pop culture advertising. And most moving, of course, was the display of letters written to “Lady Liberty” by Americans who first saw her as immigrants themselves. Unbelievably touching. My eyes are tearing up again as I’m typing this. One can’t help but to moved by the words one reads and the emotion behind them.
So, in a questionable design set-up, one must now begin an assent up quite a few stairs (with fogged up eyes), noting brace work, giant screws to hold Liberty to her base, and numbered walls that allowed the base to be successfully reassembled (between France and the US). At the top of these stairs, one can stand in 4 designated areas and look straight up into Liberty herself – a tangled web of metal straps, framework, and screws. In the middle is the circular staircase that goes up into her crown. Round, and around, and around, and around, and around (you get the picture), it goes. 10 people at a time can enter her crown. After July 4th, the crown will be closed for approximately 2 years for restoration – just in case you were considering popping in for a look yourself.
Then Diane and went out on the platform. Great views on all sides, but the best one was straight up at Liberty herself. Heading down to the next level, it gets even better as the base is wider and increases your perspective. So many people patiently waiting to have their picture taken under her. Offering to take photos of others. Smiling. Laughing. Speaking every language imaginable. But then, being silent - with their own thoughts as the enormity of what she symbolizes hits them. Another eye-fogging moment. Without a doubt, everyone has his or her own personal moment of silence – and this is what makes the visit to see the Statue of Liberty so great. God, I love being an American!
So, back onto the boat we go with two huge bars of chocolate candy (just so I can get the “125th Anniversary” paper wrapper for use in scrapbooking), and sticky fingers. Next stop, Ellis Island.
Lee Iacocca is okay by me. Anyone who spearheaded the restoration of such a significant piece of American history deserves a monument named after him. Ellis Island is outstanding. First, the building itself is beautiful from an architectural standpoint. Glass, brick, marble, tile work – it is simply a beautiful building. Then, the content of the restored building including detailed photos, letters, instruments, clothing … everything you could imagine of importance to an immigrant are displayed in such a way as you can imagine what people might have felt as they underwent their medical inspection and admittance into the country.
We first went to the Immigration Center for some professional help (exactly 25 minutes) from a docent. Although unable to locate a grandmother’s first visit to America, found the second and printed the ships manifest. Found some more clues to a grandfather that I will research further upon my return home. A very successful half-hour, and time well spent!
Three hours later, Diane and I had learned many wonderful things about this special place called Ellis Island, and had developed a further appreciation of the process our family went through to come to America from Sweden and Ireland. Impressive to say the least. Once again, as our boat pulled away from the Ellis Island dock, we were treated to the sight of Lady Liberty. There is now a deeper understanding of our roots having walked the hall and rooms of Ellis Island, and a more significant realization of what that monument might have symbolized to our newly arrived family members. Quite a day.
But wait! There’s more! A quick nap, shower, and its Broadway Showtime! Off we go to see “The Lion King”. Wow! Story line, music, costumes – amazing how people were turned into animals … well beyond “Cats”. And after the show, we were treated to a bird’s eye view of Times Square, as well as costumes from the show. A wonderful production, and a fun night. First thing Diane and I are going to do is pull out and dust off the old VHS and watch “The Lion King” when we get home. Such a great story!
As recommended by one of my patients, finished our night with a light 11:30pm dinner at Café Un, Deux, Trois located at 123 W. 44th Street. A perfect ending to a perfect day/night in Manhattan. Off to bed now – tomorrow is our last day in New York, so have to hit the sack!
No comments:
Post a Comment