This is part II of my New York travel (read part I here).
I hadn’t been to the World Trade Center site or read much on the National September 11 Memorial Museum plans and didn’t know what to expect when I arrived. After finding my way from the subway, I came upon the two large pools on the site of the north and south towers. They are both impressive and understated at the same time. I immediately felt emotional reading the names of everyone that was killed.
Once you enter the museum, you walk down a winding ramp passing the stairs some survivors used to escape. I really liked the artwork containing different shades of blue to represent the color of the sky that morning. There is one for each person killed and each are a slightly different shade of blue. The phrase “No Day Shall Erase You from the Memory of Time” appears on this piece of artwork and several mementos that are available for purchase in the museum shop. I found the phrase powerful and moving.
Once at the site of the original foundation level, there is a three part historical exhibition. It starts with 9/11 and then moves to pre- and post-9/11. Like many, I remember exactly where I was when I first heard and saw the events of September 11, 2001 unfolding. The exhibition takes you through a timeline of the day and includes personal artifacts from those involved. There’s no way I could do it justice; it was one of the most moving experiences I’ve had. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting New York.
I didn’t order tickets in advance, but I’d advise doing so. They only allow visitors into the museum on the hour and half hour and the lines can get quite long.
After the heaviness of my morning at the museum, I took the train to Brooklyn to do some more exploring. Brooklyn is eclectic and I felt miles from the hustle of Manhattan. I had been following Catbird on Instagram and wanted to check out their jewelry, particularly their stacking rings. After browsing their cute store, I headed to the Mast Brothers chocolate factory. I had ordered some of their chocolate for holiday gifts a couple of years ago and wanted to check them out in person. The smell upon entering is amazing!
I picked up their Dominican Republic dark chocolate with hints of fresh cherries, molasses and strawberries. One bite and I promise you’ll never want to go back to Hershey’s kisses again!
Looking for a lunch spot, I wandered a bit and came across Depanneur. My judgement may have been clouded by hunger pains, but the turkey sandwich/wrap was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. The service was pleasant and quick.
After lunch, I wandered a bit and then headed back to Manhattan to rest my weary legs. I hope these recaps can be a reference on your next trip to the city!
