We headed to Ellis Island this morning to tour the museum there. We got off the bus at 9:30 and were told to catch the ferry to Ellis Island, eat lunch, catch the ferry to Liberty Island, then catch the ferry to Battery Park. Be at the bus no later than 12 sharp. The line for the ferry to Ellis was close to 400 people. Air temp. was 45, wind speed 30-40. Nice day to stand outside in a line. I haven’t mentioned this before, but at all the National Monuments, we were strip searched. Any potential terrorist targets seem to have this policy. We reached Ellis at 10:30, there was just as long of a line there to go to Liberty, so things were looking bleak for making Battery Park by 12:00. The word came from the guide that we were getting a time reprieve. So we checked out some of Ellis Island and had lunch. We were to be at the line for the Liberty ferry by 12:25. All were present and accounted for, except the ferry! Did I mention the wind? Long, long line and howling, frigid wind. At 1:40 our ferry arrived, but it was a much smaller boat already loaded to the hilt for Liberty. At the last moment the guide decided we were skipping Liberty Island and heading back to Battery Park on a different ferry. Unfortunately, 3 of our group had already boarded the ferry to Liberty! Nice, they got to grab a taxi for the restaurant we were to be at by 5:30.
So, we missed out on Lady Liberty, got a few pics from a distance. We made the 1 hour plus trip back to the hotel for an hour to get ready for the dress up night. Got a few winks in! Everyone gussied up and headed for Dallas BBQ in Manhattan. Whose idea was it to take a bunch of Bama rednecks to a BBQ joint in NYC, I don’t know. Dinner was decent, and we were off to Broadway to see The Lion King. Quite the production if you haven’t seen it. It’s hard to explain, but suffice it to say, a really neat show. We did get a chance to run around Time Square before the show, so several of us went to the ESPN Zone. Clay was in heaven! Picked up a few souvenirs then headed for the show.
Tomorrow is the last day! We get a decent amount of free time to do what we want. Not sure what we are doing, but it will be nice to go where we want and not be on such a tight schedule. I hope we go back to the Empire State Building!
I have been mostly complaining about the trip, but it has really been fine. It just seems like we spend much more time in lines or on the bus than actually seeing the sights. It’s all good. They are doing as good of a job as possible with such a task and so many people. It turns out that most the area is having their Spring Break right now, so all the attractions are packed.
Right now we are on the bus heading back to the hotel and have just come thru the Lincoln Tunnel. When you come out on the New Jersey side, you get an incredible view of Manhattan all lit up. It is truly amazing.
So, we missed out on Lady Liberty, got a few pics from a distance. We made the 1 hour plus trip back to the hotel for an hour to get ready for the dress up night. Got a few winks in! Everyone gussied up and headed for Dallas BBQ in Manhattan. Whose idea was it to take a bunch of Bama rednecks to a BBQ joint in NYC, I don’t know. Dinner was decent, and we were off to Broadway to see The Lion King. Quite the production if you haven’t seen it. It’s hard to explain, but suffice it to say, a really neat show. We did get a chance to run around Time Square before the show, so several of us went to the ESPN Zone. Clay was in heaven! Picked up a few souvenirs then headed for the show.
Tomorrow is the last day! We get a decent amount of free time to do what we want. Not sure what we are doing, but it will be nice to go where we want and not be on such a tight schedule. I hope we go back to the Empire State Building!
I have been mostly complaining about the trip, but it has really been fine. It just seems like we spend much more time in lines or on the bus than actually seeing the sights. It’s all good. They are doing as good of a job as possible with such a task and so many people. It turns out that most the area is having their Spring Break right now, so all the attractions are packed.
Right now we are on the bus heading back to the hotel and have just come thru the Lincoln Tunnel. When you come out on the New Jersey side, you get an incredible view of Manhattan all lit up. It is truly amazing.
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