9/11 Memorial Tour

We learned soooo much on this tour the morning before we had to leave for our flight.  The last time we were at Ground Zero the entire memorial was surrounded by temporary walls and you had to go through basically airport security to get to the memorial.  Now, you just walk right up to it from the street.  Crazy.

We started our tour at Trinity Church-basically one of the only close buildings to ground zero that was pretty much untouched by the attacks.

Our next stop was the steps of the Brooks Brothers.  Apparently since it was so close, it was turned into a temporary morgue during the aftermath of the attacks.

Next, we went to the Oculus!  It was just the coolest thing ever.  It doesn't really even look that big from the outside, but once you get inside-it is so expansive. There are tons of restaurants, shops, and a huge transportation hub inside.  You can catch the train to NJ from inside this beauty!

It's really cool and used a memorial to all those who were lost on 9/11.  The center skylight opens only on 9/11 from 8:46-10:02am (the time of the attacks) no matter the weather.  It was finished at the end of 2016 so 2017 was the only time it has been opened.  Amazing.  I just wonder who comes up with all of the symbolism?  It is genius.

Uncle Frank and B inside the Oculus.  This thing just keeps going and going.

Freedom Tower in the background

I think this is WT 3.  

Freedom Tower!  Tallest building in the western hemisphere!  One World Trade Center

As we made our way to the memorial, our tour guide showed us so much that wasn't there the last time I was in NYC.   He told us about the Ladder 10 station that had 6 firefighters on duty.  They are known as the First of the First Responders.  There was also a volunteer firefighter who was working in one of the towers as an attorney who stayed back to help others.  They are all memorialized on the side of the new Ladder 10 station.  Apparently his law firm organized the building of the 56 foot bronze memorial on the side of the fire station.  We learned so much!

This crunched up ball was actually then center of the original fountain in front of the original world trade centers.  The have it now in the memorial garden.

We finally made it to the 9/11 memorial and like I said, we've been here before, but didn't know all of the information about it until our tour guide told us.  He said that all of the water running in the pools is to signify tears cried.  No one is ever supposed to feel uncomfortable here.  So the metal is never too hot or too cold to the touch.  Cold water runs through it to keep it cool in the summer and warm water keeps it warm in the winter.  We got to see white roses placed on names to signify birthdays of those who were lost.

Another cool thing we learned is how the names were placed on the memorial.  They placed them so that people would be next to ones they loved or knew.  They made sure to not put people next to each other who for example worked together for 10 years ,but didn't get along.  Or if a husband died in the north tower and his wife was in the south tower-their names were placed next to each other.  Such a moving memorial to witness and learn about.

Here they are near the survivor tree!  The only tree that has 24/7 security to protect it.  The only tree that survived the attacks on 9/11.

After our tour we headed back to the Oculus for shopping and lunch.  We picked up some fun Sugarfina candy, a couple tops at And Other Stories, and had crepes in the dining area.  The Oculus just kept going and going. We thought we were going to find the end of the place to catch a cab, but it seemed like miles long.

Yay!  Bennett!

After we said our good-byes to Uncle Frank we hopped in a cab to get back to the hotel.  This was the absolute worst cab ride I have ever had.  It was hot, no A/C, he drove horribly, I thought I would barf!  We asked him to take us to the airport, but we retracted that statement after the ride.  

We loaded up all of our stuff and called Uber!  We had a nice drive out to the airport and made it through security on time.  We had TSA pre-check on every leg of our journey except for the one home.  I requested a wheel chair at each gate for my dad because he was having such a hard time.  I guess they took away our pre-check after that.  The wheel chair made it so much easier for him!

Bennett and his 5 snacks, headphones, and movie!  He was ready to go!  

We loved our trip, but missed Neil, Henry, and Sarah Kathryn!  I realized on this trip that I LOVE to Travel.  I always have but, I love my people more.  I could not wait to be home.  I wanted to get home and never leave my house!

Thank you to Dad for a wonderful trip of memories that will last a lifetime!  We had so much fun exploring the east coast with you!