NYC - part 2

Day 3

On the third day we start by visiting Ground Zero. This was a surprisingly emotional trip for me. I really didn't expect to feel saddened by this experience, but viewing the photos, looking at the destruction, and having some guy playing Amazing Grace on the flute was almost enough for me to shed a tear.

After some emotional reflection the guys and gals decided it was time to go our separate ways. The ladies went shopping for purses and shoes... while the guys went to Yankee Stadium! For $15 we were able to take a tour of the entire stadium. We even went on the field and sat in the dugout! It was awesome.

Here is a shot of the new Yankee Stadium, and pictures of the neighbourhood around the ballpark.

After our separate adventures everybody met up back at the hotel to swap stories for some much needed rest. I, however, was still full of energy. I used this time to run back to Central Park and find the Dakota and Strawberry Fields.

While at Strawberry Fields I noticed an unusual state of peace. It may be the first time in my life that I felt a "vibe" or some kind of spiritual awareness. It was as silent as a library. People were speaking only at a whisper while they placed their symbols of homage on the stone surface. It seemed that the sounds of honking horns and hustle and bustle were somehow being blocked from this little slice of park. I decided to sit on a park bench for a while. A man soon sat next to me and continued to play the most beautiful acoustic versions of Hey Jude and All You Need is Love. The 10 minutes that I spent in that small space of New York are 10 minutes that I will remember for the rest of my life.

I rushed back to the hotel, only stopping for a hot dog on the street. We all made plans to go for dinner and then take a trip to the Empire State Building. I didn't have a strap for my camera so the only good picture of the Empire State Building is this one of the lobby.

Day 4

The fourth day was our last day. Our flight left at 8pm and we wanted to get to Newark Airport at about 5:30 or 6. Are schedule for the day was tight. We started out by getting a bite to eat at some diner. It ended up being the best breakfast we had the entire visit. From there we went straight to the Circle Line boat tour. Which took us past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, as well as under the Brooklyn Bridge and gave us a great view of Manhattan.

After the tour ended we took a taxi straight to the United Nations. It was really neat sitting in the General Assembly hall listening to the representatives discuss the AIDS crisis. These are a few of the pictures that I was allowed to take.

So that was our trip to New York. There are still many stories to tell. To see more photos sign up to FaceBook and look me up. It's easy, fun and free!

One final story. We flew back into Toronto on Victoria Day. It was a very special gift to witness the fireworks of the city while landing. We could see both Ashridges Bay and Canada's Wonderland at the same time! I was most amazed by how many people in the city actually celebrate!