Hello from New York City - Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, Exploring Downtown Manhattan

What a full day we had yesterday. We had a delightfulthen proceeded to Ground Zero. The area is fenced
breakfast in our bed and breakfast at about 8:30 amoff with various posters showing the history of the
and shared some nice conversations with a youngbuildings, the events of 911, and the names of the more
couple from Sweden and an older couple from Holland,than 2700 victims. The tragedy of 911 is very hard to
the hostess was participating as well. This is one ofgrasp and when you are right there where it
my favourite things about bed and breakfasts, usuallyhappened, you remember all the horrible pictures and
they offer really tasty filling meals and a greatthe even more horrible events of that fateful day, now
conversation to go with it.We got going at around noonmore than 31/2 years ago. It is so hard to imagine
and hopped off the subway just before the Brooklynthese 2 enormous buildings collapsing, surrounded on all
Bridge and ended up exploring the historic Brooklynsides by other highrise towers, and what it must have
Heights neighbourhood a bit, a place with manybeen like that day, with people running through the
well-preserved brownstones and expensive apartmentstreets, debris raining down, rescue workers risking
buildings with a perfect view of downtown Manhattan.their lives to help the victims. The police presence, by
Then we started our walk across the Brooklyn Bridge,the way, was very strong and we weren't sure if
and started to soak in the vistas of the famousthere was a special reason for that or if that was the
skyscrapers.The Manhattan Bridge is very close to thecase every day.After reflecting for a while and
Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building is visibleabsorbing the incomprehensible nature of that tragedy
on the horizon. Tons of walkers and bikers werewe walked south on Liberty Street into Battery Park.
making the trekk across the bridge and the weatherLots of African entrepreneurs were around with
was pretty decent, sunny with about 16 degreessuitcases and bags full of merchandise and it seems
Celsius.After the bridge we arrived at NYC City Hallthey were very careful not to be seen by the police.
which was blocked off to pedestrian traffic and thereWe had a beautiful view across the bay towards the
was a big congregation of media people on the frontstatue of liberty and proceeded to our next destination
steps. Tons of people were sitting around the beautiful- the Staten Island Ferry terminal, where our next
fountain just outside of city hall and with the blue sky,adventure began...Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a
the blooming trees and the surrounding architecturalwebsite called Travel and Transitions( Travel and
arrangements this was just the perfect place to snapTransitions deals with unconventional travel and is
away with the camera. I particularly fell in love with thechock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences,
ornate spires of the Woolworth Building.Then weinterviews with travellers and travel experts, insights
headed further west, explored the yard of St. Paul'sand reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and
Cathedral which is right across from the World Trademany other features. You will also find stories about
Center location. As a first place of refuge after thelife and the transitions that we face as we go through
tragedy, the churchyard has many plaquesour own personal life-long journeys.Submit your own
commemorating the events of 911 and it took moretravel stories in our first travel story contest( and have
than 2 years to clear all the debris from the yard thata chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the
had fallen down with the collapse of the buildings.WeAmazon River.