Off to see the lady

Busy day today! We are negotiating the subway and off to see the Statue of Liberty.

  Making sure you are on the right side …going uptown or downtown.

    Tiles decorate the subway. It can be a pattern, letter or picture representing the name of the subway station or area..

Most of the subways are old ,  extra warm and look like they need a good scrub but are a quick way to negotiate the city. That is if you take the right one…it is an adventure isn’t.

Well are you impressed? We are at Battery Park. Negotiating the ticketing and are good to go and it is only 9.20am. There has been a defensive post on this site since the first European settlement. Now it is the ticketing office for the Statue of Liberty cruise. Battery Park is a War Memorial site, garden and leisure area

     
     
The creation of the statue was quite a feat. The design includes references to the abolition of slavery and symbols of freedom.  The internal sections of the copper are supported by a skeleton designed by Eiffel who created the Eiffel Tower. Constant displays of the statue construction helped pay for the production in France. Americans created the base.

Next stop….Ellis Island. As immigration increased, a place to process the incoming immigrants was needed. Ellis island was chosen. Over the years it was extended to accommodate 2000 people. In 1954 it was closed with just 1 sailor waiting to be shipped out.    Left to decay, it was decided to turn it into a museum of immigration in 1987. Photos show a sad place unlike the vibrant building of today.

Different nationalitiesI flocked to America. For some it was to escape danger or persecution or others like the Irish during the potato famine, because of extreme poverty and hunger. America was advertised as a land of opportunities and riches.

This journal was a romantic portrayal of the country

Immigrants could only carry a few precious pieces from home. Each item was a symbol of what they had left forever or a way to earn a living in their new life.

Did you find the advice to the ladies amusing? They were told their husbands are used to American women’s appearance. He may not like traditional dress  any more. They should perhaps lose their head scarves and look for different styled clothes to make sure their husbands still wanted them. Poor wives…Passports are particularly valued as they show who they were and now who they have become in this new land.

Are you still good for the sunset cruise? Great let’s go book the tickets. Done. We have a few hours to occupy.
Sea,Air and Space museum.

All the exhibits are examples of equipment used in America over the years.    

American’s tried it with  just one astronaut. You don’t look happy Ken! Did Barbie give you permission to go in that capsule? Fun fact : the space shuttle was originally named Constitution but people petitioned for it to be called Enterprise after the space ship in the TV show.

Cruise time!

Before we came to New York , we were told we would have to try -A hotdog, a New York sandwich and a slice of pizza. Today we ate hotdogs…..your opinion?