New York

I don't know what it is about New York City, but every time I've been, it is always for less than 24 hours.  One of these days (years) we will need to go and spend a significant amount of time there.  Two weeks ago we were going to be there less than 3 hours, but ended up deciding that was too short of a window to catch an international connecting flight.  So when Jim and Sharla suggested we spend an extra day in the city with them, well -- what a great idea!  So off we went.

 Jim was put in charge of getting us tickets to a show.  We were game for whatever.  The night started off with a yummy Italian dinner and then we had awesome seats to see:

 "They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway."

 David, Sharla, Jim

 Times Square

 We walked right past this on our way back to the hotel.  Of course Sharla and I had to stop, mainly to say that we'd been there.  Oh, and cupcakes.

 The next morning we walked a couple of blocks to the Empire State Building.  The best part was that there were no lines.  NO LINES.  We walked right on in and right on up.

 At the top.

 The tallest building is the new World Trade Center.  The little island to the right of center is Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

 Central Park

 Looking down to the Macy's store.  THE Macy's.

 We're actually inside here taking a picture of a mirror.

After that little adventure, we took a cab down to the 9/11 Memorial Site.

The last time we were in NYC was 20 months after the terrorist attacks and walking by all that devastation and the homemade memorials was very sobering.  I really wanted to go back and see the progress made and have a more positive experience.

 The new WTC building.  Not yet opened.

 The NYC skyline made from steel from the original Twin Towers.

 We visited Saint Paul's Chapel across the street from Ground Zero.

 A fireman's outfit.  Still dirty from ash.

Thousands of badges that people have left in honor of those who fell.

 Me, David, Jim

 At one of the pools.

The names of the nearly 3000 victims are inscribed in bronze parapets all around the two pools.

Whenever it is the birthday of one of the victims, a white rose is placed on their name for the day.

 We walked into Macy's, mainly for the sake of saying we had.  Seriously huge store.

  Sharla and I.

Did we buy anything?  Nope.  Saving our money for the next adventure.

We picked up our luggage at the hotel and a driver took us to JFK airport where we boarded 

Royal Air Maroc for a 7 hour flight to Casablanca.  Morocco -- here we come!

 Stay tuned for more.