New York trip highlights 2019 (pt 2)

After a good night’s sleep, we were eager to set out and properly explore the city. We focused on lower Manhattan first and took the subway to the World Trade Center. The PATH station of the World Trade Center is a magnificent piece of architecture. Built from the remains of the former WTC station in the vicinity of the WTC complex after the tragic incident of 9/11, this building serves as the centerpiece for a train terminal. The building is gorgeous and a feast for the eyes.

Incidentally, it was early in the morning on a weekend and there weren’t a large crowd out and about within the train terminal itself. We had breakfast there at Pret a Manger while enjoying the beautiful architecture. Just behind the station is the Freedom Tower, built on the aftermath of 9/11.

The Freedom Tower is tall and elegant. All glass and steel structure, it is the tallest structure in New York with an observatory for tourists like me to admire the New York’s city skyline from above. The building also boasts one of the fastest elevators in the Western Hemisphere ever built allowing visitors to travel from 0 to about 390 meters in about 60 seconds.

It was a thrilling ride, but what was more thrilling was admiring the jaw dropping city skyline of New York from above.

Seeing one of the greatest cities on Earth from above is something you don’t get to enjoy on a daily basis. And to see New York in all it’s glory on a beautiful morning was a sight to behold. From the moment I saw New York City from the observatory at Freedom Tower, that was when I realized that I have finally made it here!

When we got our share of the sights of NYC, we headed down to the 9/11 memorial pool, the exact sites where the former twin tower resided before succumbing to the terror attacks that took thousands of lives.

For me personally, it was such a poignant and solemn moment, watching the reflection pool with all the names of those NYC lost during the terror attacks etched on the edges of the pool. It’s a beautiful sight and a fitting way to remember those that were lost during 9/11.

After paying our respects, we took a short stroll to pass by Wall Street, particularly The New York Stock Exchange. While we were there, there was a huge banner on the NYSE building congratulating Levis on their IPO.

This is the scene of so many movies filmed in NYC. And to be there is so surreal. Apparently the fearless girl statue was there near the building and there were so many people taking photos of her. We headed further south to the Charging Bull, where we saw a line of tourists queuing up, waiting for their turn to take pictures with the bull that symbolizes the prosperity and dynamism of capitalism and the global stock market.