World Cruise – NYC – 1/1-1/3/2023
Since my ship was leaving out of NYC and the airlines are so unreliable I decided to fly in two days early and explore the city! Thankfully I did that because I had one of the worst travel days that took 15 hours instead of the scheduled 5 hours. This crazy travel day was forgotten when we flew over the Statue of Liberty on our decent and I saw for the first time the Queen Mary 2.
Early on Monday I headed out to explore the city. When I was 22 and went to NYC for the first time I fell in love with the city and continue to love this incredible city that blends so many cultures. Heading to Battery Park to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island was first on my list because even though I have been to NYC 50 times I have never visited the statue. It was a foggy morning but as she came into view, as the boat got closer I was in awe! She is so special and I could image how immigrants from Europe, including my ancestors felt when they saw her for the first time.
Ellis island reminded me that as a county we have always had issues with immigrants and most have been discriminated against at some point in our history. A legacy in our country that continues to divide us today.
I walked from Battery Park to Central Park a journey of over 8 miles so I could absorb the city from Chinatown, to little Italy, and Wall Street to Time Square. The city has changed since COVID with many of the small deli’s and businesses gone replaced with chain operations. But walking with bagel in hand, I quickly got my NYC stride down so I was never stopped at a light!!
Macy’s was still decorated for the holiday, Bryant park holiday market was still operating and Time Square was recovering from the New Years Eve celebration. The very next day it was all gone.
I visited the catacombs of the Basilica of St Patrick’s, (located in Little Italy) which was the original St. Patrick’s replaced, by the much larger uptown church. Gangs threated this church because Catholics were not welcomed at the time. Under the church are the catacombs where several bishops and other important church member were buried. The tombs cost about 2.5 million each in today dollars so there are no poor people under the church.
I loved the police smart car (I used to own a smart car)! Image a car chase…lol!!
Wednesday the day I boarded the ship was rainy and I was caught out in the rain getting soaked but it didn’t stop me from roaming around the city I love.
The adventure on the Queen Mary 2 is about to begin and I can’t wait!!!
Some of the pictures look wonky but since the internet is so fricken slow I am going ahead an posting and will work this out later….hopefully!!!
Oh Mary!
I am so happy for you and not at all surprised by your energy and love of life. Your long walk through NYC had to be rewarding after all of the effort you put forward to be in such good shape.
What a great beginning to a trip of a lifetime. Go Mary, go!!
Mary, love your narrative and pictures!
Sounds like a perfect start to me. You seem to always persevere over a rocky start on a lot of your adventures, but look at you already reaping the rewards. I think the pictures are fantastic. Journey on my friend! <3
Hi, Mary! I’m just catching up. What a great time you had in New York! What a wonderful way to start your big adventure.