The Exciting Eppersons: East Coast Trip part 6: New York City

Saturday was New York!!! I love cities and this might just be the best one I've visited! I love how busy they are and the noise and the fact that you can always find something to do. I love that in NYC you can literally find anything and I love all the different cultures you get to experience in one place! We were so lucky because it was a beautiful day in New York while we were there and we walked about 10 miles all over Manhattan but you know what I didn't even notice because I was having too much fun!

We saw a lot in Manhattan and I was so happy we had Mike as our tour guide. We only had one day to spend in the city so we had to be quick and efficient but honestly I could've just spent the entire trip in New York and been very happy. This was the first time I was happy we didn't have Dan with us because he would have been miserable and we would've only seen about half of the stuff we did. We traveled from Central Park down to Battery Park in lower Manhattan and then back up. I also to experience the subway for the first time on this trip...that is definitely an experience.

We started the day in Central Park and went to see the Balto Statue. I love Central Park. It is so beautiful and surprisingly peaceful considering its in the middle of New York City. You completely forget where you are and just enjoy it. This was one time that I really missed Daniel because he loves being outside and he would have loved the park and the water and animals. Its huge though and we didn't even scratch the surface of whats there. We did find this really cute area where they have chess boards in this little building and outside and people can just sit and play chess all day if they want.

Just a reminder of where you are

Someday we'll be able to afford a nice carriage ride around the park

I remember wishing that I could play chess because this was a really nice place but we didn't have enough time anyway. There were tables with pieces but only inside. Stacey, Mike, Doug and Josh were happy to model there best playing chess poses.

Mike served his mission in New York City. He was in the boroughs of Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island but he did get to go to the Manhattan Temple and his mission president is now the temple president. Mike wanted to stop by the temple and see if we could say hi but when we got there he had already left for the day...sad especially since we only missed him by minutes. We really liked getting to see the temple though. Its really cool the way it blends into the city and if you didn't know it was there you would probably miss it. The temple also has a stake center in the middle of it so it has two elevators depending on whether you're going to the temple or just to church.

Across the street from the temple, you can find Julliard and Lincoln Center. It would have been fun to go inside but you have to have an appointment but it was still beautiful.

When we were done exploring this area, we walked to the subway to head down to lower Manhattan. We were planning to go to the 9/11 memorial and also to Battery Park. This was my first experience on the subway. Mike was telling me so many stories about them that I was a little worried we were going to see rats and not have any room to move on the subway. I was surprised though at how clean they were (from what I was expecting) and they really weren't very crowded. Mike and Doug tried to plan the routes so we didn't have to change trains too often which was nice because it took me a few stops to get used to the train and it would've been worse if we kept switching.

This was my first time going to lower Manhattan and I loved it. Mike showed us the Brooklyn Bridge and I got some more shots of the huge buildings that always make me feel so small. I love all the parks in New York. They really do try to make it beautiful in the middle of this craziness. We did see lots of tour buses though.

In 1999 my family went to the Statue of Liberty and on that trip we also got to see the Twin Towers. That was the only time I got to see them and so I was looking forward to seeing the new World Trade Center and also going to the 9/11 Memorial. The new wtc is amazing. It is so amazing to be right next to it. We saw someone on the outside cleaning the windows, I don't know how they can be up that high. It is beautiful though.

The 9/11 Memorial is a very humbling experience. It was amazing to be in such a crowded place but still feel like each person was having his or her own unique reaction to that place and what happened there. It is a beautiful memorial. There is something about standing in the same spot that the towers stood that just sent chills up my spine and the size of the two memorials just puts things into a bit of a better perspective. I really can't put into words what it was like to be there but if you get the chance to go then do it.

The North Tower

We also got the only group picture on the whole trip.

Battery Park is just a few blocks from the 9/11 Memorial. Stacey really wanted to see the Statue of Liberty so we walked over to get some pictures and eat some lunch. We had hot dogs and pretzels from a cart while we sat and people watched. It would have been nice to go on a ferry ride and go to the statue but their wasn't time. Guess we'll just have to go back...darn ;)

After the park we headed toward Wall Street but on the way we found the Native American Museum. Wall Street was super busy so Mike, Stacey and Doug just went to get a picture of the bull and Joshua and I went to the museum to wait for them.

The museum used to be the building where immigrants would first go when they arrived in the city. The entrance had a complete history of the building and the people who first arrived and when they came.

We took the subway back uptown towards Times Square to go to the New York Public Library. This was the most beautiful building I'd seen in the city. I've been to the Library of Congress in DC but this was so much better. I loved all the columns and the marble. The ceilings were all carved too. So much detail.