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The ferry takes about fifteen minutes from
dock to Liberty Island and then another ten or so to Ellis Island. The entrance of gateway to land of opportunity is quite obviously more elaborate today than it was in 1920s and '30s when thousands of immigrants entered country. The exhibits inside, however, do a lot more to present realities of conditions surrounding post war influx and multitude that entered U.S. at that time. One of those individuals was my grandfather, so I spent some time at family history computer terminal looking him up. Despite large numbers of immigrants to choose from information turned up rather quickly. I could have paid a few dollars to get a print out of actual entry form with his name on it but a very helpful information desk clerk named Mike was able to inform me that this could be obtained on internet at www.ellisisland.org. For those that want their relatives name immortalized on memorial wall outside main building it can be done for a larger additional fee.
I'd be lying if I said that ferry back to Manhattan wasn't accompanied by a hint of nostalgia. Moreover, view of city from water has it's own poetic existence. It is true that city doesn't sleep, but from deck of a slowly moving ship it can appear somewhat docile; like slow bubbling of a volcano drifting into dormancy. It isn't until you get back to land do you again feel hum of life that great city has to offer
As I was already near financial district, I decided to take a walk past site of ground zero. It was a few years ago, before monstrous buildings of steel, concrete, and paperwork came hurting to ground like some dusty house of cards that I had opportunity to stand on observation deck of south building of Word Trade Center. Returning to site I expected wondrous confusion and sadness you might expect fro a modern day tragedy written with such a large cast of players in mind. I got more. Rather than lifeless remnants of a 1945 Hiroshima this pace had something more. Movement. People. The past was tragedy, present life, leaving only hope for future. Regardless, I left on a subway train back uptown feeling somber and introspective. It wasn't until I resurfaced that those feelings subsided to those of hunger. Keeping myself going with a few in-season selections from street-side fruit stands I searched and found a Hale and Hearty Soups (a common soup house in "Big Apple"). The turkey chili went well with some rolls left over from previous night. I enjoyed my makeshift dinner back in my room at Hotel Bedford watching old cartoons in my own personal living room (did ITo read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link:
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David Lazzarino, Jetsetters Magazine Editor – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com
David Lazzarino, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
