There are varying prices and quality of food around New York. Yesterday, our breakfast was ridiculously cheap: an omelette at $2.25 and a full breakfast at $5. It tasted exactly like $2.25 and $5 (plus tax), too *sigh*. Today we're trying a healthy alternative to have porridge with fresh fruit and fruit juice and the cost is only a little more than yesterday. It is much more delicious and should keep us going for quite a few hours. Food is so cheap here. I am sure there's more than enough to go around the entire world.Our ticket to Statue of Liberty is for 11am so we have a bit of time to kill. We walk down 8th Ave to take a look in some shops. Mum wants to buy some socks. We come across a ridiculously cheap shop that contains everything: Mr Joe. There are watches, luggage, jewellery, mobile phones, jumpers, T-shirts, pants for under $10, sunglasses, perfume, shoes, and socks! I have no idea how they can sell so much crap at such cheap prices. Most of all, I can't believe they can sell so much crap. Mum finds some delightfully sky blue socks with a pretty print and we leave for the ferry.
We arrive at South Ferry with only ten minutes before we're supposed to check-in. The line is long; like about two hundred people long... yikes. The guy checks our tickets and sends us into the very short line. We didn't even realise there were two lines. How fortunate. So we skip almost everyone and end up near the beginning of the line. However, the ever looming issue of Mum's motion sickness starts to stir the worry in our minds. The short and long lines merge near the security tent containing airport-like security. We put on our clothes and belts and shoes after security and then we're herded off to the next tent where there is no distinct queueing system. I feel like a cow waiting to enter the next paddock. The ferry is ready for boarding and the mob moves forward and compresses while the gangway is still being laid out.
Mum stands next to an open window on the ferry for fresh air and starts to feel sick before we depart. I buy a fizzy drink and some jubes to help settle her stomach. The ferry reverses and then takes off and I keep an eye on her. It's quite a smooth ride and it's not long before Mum realises that she doesn't feel sick at all. It looks like she has lost her motion sickness problem - yay! A short while later, the boat starts to lean to one side and we see people staring out the window. We add to the leaning and look out the right side windows to see the Statue of Liberty. We're slowly gliding by her to settle alongside the pier. We all stare up at the Lady in the Harbor as we descend almost single-file over the gangway.
We walk around the base and look up to see people on viewing decks up high. I've always wanted to see the view from up there but I've never had the opportunity. However, after a little searching, we find another security tent where we have to take off our clothes again to go through security. No liquids allowed so we gulp down the bottle of Coke. We're on our way up! In the first room is the original torch lit up from its inside. The first floor contains a museum explaining who designed and constructed the frame of Lady Liberty and her copper sheeting. There are replicas, original pieces, and models to help explain the history. Next is an elevator (and steps) that go up inside the base. At the top of the base are outside viewing platforms that provide an excellent view in all directions of New York, New Jersey, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. There are steps to go up into the statue but it seems you have to book online to reserve a time and there's a four month waiting period! The descent is easy and broken up with a few stairs for each level. There's a viewing platform after each break that provides its own unique perspective in all directions.
Next on the ferry tour is Ellis Island. This is where the Government took over to check each immigrant entering the country. It is now a museum containing items of the era, such as clothes, tools, luggage replicas, and records. It is amazing to be in the same room that so many hopefuls passed through. It is also sad to discover that about 240,000 people were turned away, some due to trachoma (contagious eye disease).
The boat trip is a success and we return to the mainland ready to return to the hotel. However, one thing I've always wanted to see is Grand Central Station. It has been in movies and on that famous YouTube flash mob video but I've never seen it in person. It seems it's going to be easy to achieve, though. One train in the subway and we arrive in the great hall. It's beautiful. There are an incredible number train line entrances and the architecture and layout are beautiful. We come across two levels below ground, including a dining level. It's the end of the work day and people are rushing in every direction. The guards with machine guns remind us that this is a popular place for almost anything.
After returning to the hotel, I feel like going somewhere random. I take Mum to the nearest subway and we head downtown to 14th St. We walk around the block and find a Thai restaurant. It seems our waitress is a Thai lady boy. In fact, there are a few gay people in the restaurant. It certainly wasn't intended but hello... jackpot! Haha! A quick dinner and my desire for randomness is satisfied. Now it's time to go home. On the way back through the subway, we see some cute little sculptures dotted all around the station that brighten the journey.Pics of the day
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