Today is the first of two New York tours I have booked. It will turn out that both are wasted money, but one never knows. Rain is coming down and will continue throughout the day, sometimes in spurts, most of the time moderately hard.
Because the tour is scheduled for two in the afternoon, I
have plenty of time to do something else. Although I was in the New York Public
library two days ago, I was there primarily to use the restroom.
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| Vestibule of New York Public Libary |
This time I took photos and slowly ambled through the
various rooms, including the quite room. I don't remember in which movies the
quiet room of the New York Public Library has played a role, but I know I've
seen it in the movies. It's crowded and its quiet. No photos can be taken and I
don't think I would have taken photos anyway. The art and majesty of this New
York landmark cannot be overstated.
I love public libraries. How long they have been in
existence is up for debate. The Egyptians had libraries. The Roman baths had
libraries.
I finish exploring the New York public library and then it
is time to take the bus to St. Paul's Church, which is where the World Trade
Center tour will begin. I get on the bus and ask the bus driver to let me off
at St. Paul's Church. He goes ballistic.
"How am I supposed to know where that is? You're supposed to know."
"No, I'm not supposed to know, I don't live here."
"When I'm in another city, I look at a map. I know the
intersections. You're supposed to know the intersection. How am I supposed to
know?"
After receiving a tongue thrashing I sit down and look up
the intersections, which I have but didn't know the importance of them. I give
him the intersections. His manner makes a 180 degree turn around. He is now
very congenial. I've learned my lesson, for the rest of my stay in New York
I'll know which intersections I need. This will help my find stores I couldn't
find on my first shopping excursion.
I don't tell him, but intersections do not mean anything in
Italy. It is the Piazza that gives relevance to a journey.
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| World Trade Center Memorial |
Where once there stood two buildings that proudly towered
higher than the Empire State building, there are now two granite footprints,
which are the width and length of the once tall buildings. Etched on the granite slabs are the
names of those who lost their lives in that place on that fateful day.
Inside each square water flows into a pool and down into
what appears to be a never ending well of sorrow, remembrance and eternity.
Around the memorial, construction is taking place. America
is busy building a bigger, safer and more prestigious monument to the power it
holds.
Our guide, Annie, is a dramatic woman who tells stories of
heroes who died September 11, 2001. She also gives us an elaborate rendition of
where she was and what she experienced. By the end of the tour she is groveling
for tip money and a positive write up on Trip Advisor.
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| When complete this building will be taller than the World Trade Center buildings |
"You're groveling, you know that don't know," I
say, quietly and with a smile. She stops, thank goodness. I give her five
dollars.
Where am I going next? Since I still have more shopping to
do and the, apparently world famous, Century 21 apparel store is close by I
decided to pay it a visit. There is a huge line for the change room and I know
I'm only going into that line once. I spend time finding things I might like. I
plan to purchase a blouse or two. In Canada and in Mexico my top size is
medium. I generally choose medium size tops to try on.
When I, at long last, get the opportunity to go into a
change room, I discover most of the tops I've chosen have been tried on often
enough that they are soiled, and medium is too big. Let's be honest, the United
States is a fattest nation on earth.
I manage to buy one blouse. I'll find a few two more blouses
at T.J. Max on another day, when I wisely select extra small rather than medium
sizes. They're clean, they fit, and I buy them.
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