Day 20 | Statue of Liberty, New York
This morning we are off to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. We are taking the ferry from Liberty State Park on the Jersey side of the Hudson River. We’re driving down from the apartment, it is only 5 km so we leave ourselves an hour to get there by 9 am.
Despite the ponderous carpark attendant, we make it in good time as the traffic seems light even with the big yellow school buses doing their thing. The wind off the bay is freezing and we queue for the security (there’s an airport-style security protocol to get to the island). When they start processing they suddenly announce that the ferry is full and we’ll have to wait for the next one in an hour of so. We got the next one under a clear blue sky and the ferry doesn’t even seem full.
We all disembarked at the second stop – Liberty Island with the iconic Statue of Liberty perched on top of the awesome pedestal structure. Our tickets included access to the pedestal structure which leads out to a narrow walkway about 50 m above the water. The wind is cutting so we quickly join the throng and take a few photos. The statue is still another 30 m up. It is some testament that it hasn’t ever blown over. Hurricane Sandy came through this area in 2012 and the statue would have sustained 130 km/h winds.
From the pedestal level (there are 200 steps up to this) you can look up the inside of the statue as is mainly empty but dominated by the double spiral staircase (another 162 high steps up from here). Then back down the stairs. Jemmz and McKay went to the foundation areas and proposed marriage to each other. Touching place for and event. It certainly drew a little applause from onlookers.
We enjoyed lunch on the Island before enjoying the trip back to Liberty Park.
We returned to the apartment and caught the sunset on the roof. It was gorgeously clear today. Later we took the PATH train out to get dinner at the Newport Cheesecake Factory. All and all a good day.
Highlights:
Angus | Statue of Liberty
Rosie | Statue of Liberty (and of course the proposal) and the perfect weather (bit chilly though)
O’Regan | Boat ride to lunch on Liberty Island
Jemmz | Statue of Liberty proposal
McKay | Statue of Liberty especially the proposal
Panoramic view from our apartment roof