one more time around the block?

Today we walked non stop for nine hours. Below is a little summary of everything we saw. If you want get a picture of where we walked, google a map of Manhattan and look for all the places we mention. That’s  how far we walked!

Liberty Island 

We took the subway all the way to the southern most part of Manhattan this morning and boarded a ferry that would take us over to Liberty Island. As the name suggests, this is where the Statue of Liberty lives. At first Ollie and I were a little disappointed because from across the water she didn’t look as big as we expected. However once we got closer we realised how far away from her we had been. Ms Liberty’s (is she a ms? the audio tour didn’t get into that information!) head was 17ft alone so she’s a big ol’ girl really! And she really is that green although she’s blackened a little down the side of her tablet clutching arm. We enjoyed the boat ride across and seeing the famous Manhattan sky line, now with it’s big gap were the towers once stood. 

Once on the island we picked up our audio tour head sets. Why? Because Ollie had decided we should take the audio tour when he paid an extra $7 dollars each for our tickets! Putting on our headsets and looking as geeky as hell we pressed play and started the half an hour long slog that was the tour. It began by giving us a few sound bites from other happy visitors and then a typical American woman’s voice began the sincere bit about pride, honour and America’s liberty. All this came with the classic ‘stirring’ military orchestral music that American’s seem to love using so much to make a point about how great their country is and how proud they are of it. Think the start (or is it the end?!) of Saving Private Ryan and you’ll get the gist of what it sounded like! For me though it was a bit cheesy! The tour was actually quite interesting though and we learnt loads of facts. For example the reason the statue is green, that it is actually hollow, where Ms Liberty is looking and only about an inch thick and that it was a present for the French (which i already knew but didn’t know how in ore of America the French had been). I have to be hones though, Ollie and I did spend most of the time giggling at the voice over saying certain words, trying to ‘sync’ our headsets and doing actions to the words. 

Moomin came with us and wanted his picture taken below Ms Liberty and of course we obliged. 

He also had an unfortunate incident when he was admiring a statue of one of the engineers who designed the statue (see below). Luckily no bones were broken...he just got a very muddy nose!

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol for Americans. They believe in her and what she stands for however much this has changed over time. In the modern world I think she stands for hope and as a symbol that no matter what America suffers, it will will always stand strong. Whether they are as strong as the make out I’m not so sure. The level of security is so strong here and although the security is, I’m sure, meant to show how in control they are it seems to me that America is, if they were honest, very scared. Being in this city I feel as if the security forces aren’t trying to prevent another attack they are anticipating one. There is no obvious worry in the city at this time but deep down in everyone there is definite unrest. Vigilance is strong.

Wall street

Walking down the streets of Wall St feels as if you’re no actually outside. The skyscrapers towering above completely block out most of the sky and what’s left of it feels so, so far away. It’s like being borrower walking through a giant’s world. Or like in ‘5th Element’ when everyone flies around up high and only the lowest of the low actually walk the streets far below. And I suppose in a way that’s actually how it is. All those rich business men high up in their money towers completely oblivious to anything that’s actually going on below, in the real word. We saw a few suits walking around, one stopped and spoke to another and Ollie heard him say ‘Just had lunch with Gordon Brown’. If we’d known old Gordy was in town we have dropped in to say hi! But as I said only a few of Wall St were about because most were probably hiding away. There is a huge on going protest in Wall St and a massive Police presence and most roads cordoned off. The protestors have formed a camp in the centre and are really getting lots of attention. For me though it was hard to destinguish the people with a real protest to make from all the bandwagoners. Yes I agree with the points some of the people were trying to make but I don’t want some guy waving an incense stick in my face and telling me to ‘chill out dude’! 

We walked to ground zero. I guess I was expecting it to still be a mass of rubble and a chaotic, roar and aching mess. But this was ten years later. American’s have decided to move on; in a positive sense. No more is the gapping hole that those planes created. Instead new skyscrapers are under construction. Nearly as high and just as imposing, ‘America will never back down’ they suggest. A 9/11 memorial is being created around the exact spot of the two towers and from the simulated pictures we saw it will be tasteful. But building a ‘visitor’s centre’ there seems a bit much. Why can’t they just build the memorial and leave it as that? A silent and respectful reminder of what tragedy happened there. Why the need to try and turn it into a tourist attraction? The very thought makes me feel sick.

Chinatown 

A noisy bustling neighborhood (spelt it the American way ‘cos it seemed fitting!) which was a magnificent mix of strange and alluring smells, sights, sounds, shops, underground parlors and signs I couldn’t read. It really was like being in a different country. I felt completely lost, in a good way, in another way of life entirely and I loved just wondering around looking on in total fascination. Ollie wanted me to try some dried fish but I have to admit that was a step too far! A great experience and I only wish we had longer to explore deeper into this little world.

Little Italy 

Little Italy is right next to Chinatown and yet the two couldn’t be more different. On one side of the street I was in the full loud rush of CT and then on the other I was suddenly in a completely different world. The atmosphere changed in remarkably just a few steps. Little Italy is calm, relaxed and so much quieter than it’s neighbour. Ollie and I felt a change within our own temperament too. Suddenly we were walking slower, taking our time and chatting. I don’t know how a vibe can change just like that or even why but it was crazy to experience. Little Italy has tons of fabulous looking restaurants, boutique shops and cafes. It seems so intriguing to me how one city can have so many different parts to it, each totally individual and when in them you feel a million miles from the others.

Soho 

And then back to the madness of New York! Again one minute we were strolling down a little Italian street when all of a sudden we were hit by a mass of noise, car horns, people and giant store fronts. Here was Soho! This is the place to shop! Every big named, expensive, demonstrative and world wide store was right here. We window shopped for ages trying desperately not to part with any money and only succeeding because we knew whatever we bought we had to carry and out packs were already heavy enough! In the Converse store you could create your own design to be printed on your trainers! We got lost in the Hollister store which was a dark and weirdly intriguing place that felt almost like a frat club. Here we saw people )who must have been seriously loaded) sitting in armchairs surrounded by piles of clothes that they were going to buy and not looking at all phased or excited by the whole experience! I suppose they go there alot. Ollie and I went into a fantastic super posh food market and saw all sorts of amazing deli counters, fruit and veg, sweet counters, sacks of coffee beans and delicious cakes. Further east in Soho the shops became more bohemian and there was a great little market stuck in a deserted plot between to buildings. 

Finally we walked back towards Greenwich village because we loved it so much last night and wanted one last chance to take a look. Then exhausted we decided to make our way back to our hostel. We stopped by a supermarket to get some change for the bus and I saw a guy in a suit with the butt of a gun sticking out the top of his trousers. No holster, just a gun in his trousers! I’ve never seen a real gun that hasn’t been strapped to a Policeman before and certainly not one who’s owner is enquiring on the whereabouts of ‘baby wipes’!

New York city has grown on me. Well parts of it anyway! I’m not a fan of all the tourist attractions, sky scrapers and garish lights. For me it’s all about the the little village neighborhoods that make up lower Manhattan and the people that live there. Here you don’t feel like you’re in one of the world’s biggest cities at all. Here you’re provided with an escape from corporate greed, from the bankers, the money spinners, the politicians and all that disgusting greed. These places are full of real people. There is an overpowering sense of community. Here you will find hearts; real, live, living hearts. And that is something those steel and glass scrapers can never have.

12/10/11

Please note - If you find any errors of spelling or grammar please let me know...it's 11P.M, I'm really tired, I have to be up at 6 and can't find the strength to proof read. Cheers!