A Quick Trip to the Big City

We flew up to New York on Wednesday morning.  My husband's company had a reception and dinner for all employees whose 25th anniversary of service was this year.  It was very nice.

The next morning there was a lovely breakfast buffet.  Did I mention that all of these events took place in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel?

We opted to stay an additional day.  After breakfast we took a cab to lower Manhattan to visit the World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial.  On the way, we passed the apartment complex where I lived until I was three or four years old.  Stuyvesant Town was built for GI's returning from WWII to have an affordable place to live with their families.  It looks a little grim from the road, but has parks, fountains, and now some trees.  I had not seen Stuy Town in sixty years!

It was a beautiful day to see the new World Trade Center.  It is not yet occupied, but they were preparing  pavers and sidewalks outside.  It looks like it is just days away from being finished.  At a symbolic 1776 feet tall, it is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

At its base is the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.  There is a pool/fountain with the names of all the victims of the terrorist attacks engraved into the top of the wall.

From the memorial, we walked over to the September 11 museum and waited in line just like at Disney World.  Security to get in was just like going through airport security.  It was a very moving and emotional experience to see the exhibits, many of which were multimedia presentations.

Of interest to quilters were two of the quilts made in remembrance of that day which hang in the museum.

I also loved this colorful mural made with children's artwork and messages written on hearts.

Be prepared to re-experience the horror of that day when you visit the memorial.  There is also an effort to remember each of the victims with a photo and a statement about their lives.

After that we had some pizza at an Italian restaurant nearby, and then took a long cab ride up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I have been to the MOMA, but don't recall ever going in the MMA.  I was craving some loveliness after that experience in the 9/11 museum.

We went straight to the Impressionist wing and enjoyed room after room of Monets, Renoirs, and other great artists.  But my favorite of all was this Van Gogh, titled Wheat Field with Cypresses.  There is so much energy in the painting, and the colors glow next to all the muted paintings in the same room.

That night we went out to a French restaurant within a few blocks of the Waldorf.  

Le Relais de Venise has a fixed menu of salad, steak, and "Pommes Frites" or French fries.  But the best was the dessert.  Pictured here are my profiteroles.  Sinful ecstasy!

Look at the nice night light that helped us on our walk home to the hotel!  It is my favorite art deco example in New York, the Chrysler Building.

We had a wonderful time with mild temperatures and clear skies on our visit.  But I am always glad to get home to beautiful, green North Carolina after a trip to the concrete, glass and steel buildings of New York.