On the Immigrants Trail

Joe went off to California around 5 a.m….whilst I snoozed, Nicola was also out early, followed by me to get down to Battery Park, and buy my tickets for a big day ahead on Liberty and Ellis Island’s , getting tickets was no problem, getting through security was - although I was there before 9, there was already a large queue, taking around an hour before I could board the ferry, and travel out to firstly Liberty Island,http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm  home to the iconic ‘Statue of Liberty’.

As I neared the island, I got to realise how big the statue is, and the tremendous sight so many people must have had when first seeing this statue, at the end of a crossing of the Ocean… once on the island, I joined a ‘walking tour’ of the island, given by a park ranger, with lots of informative and differing facts, before he got us into the queue to go around the museum and pedestal area of the statue, although unfortunately not able to go up to the crown, the tickets having about a ‘3 month waiting list’ !

The views from the pedestal area, both up at the statue, and across the water to New York and area, were tremendous - again it was a cold, but sunny day, so helicopters were buzzing over the water…I spent some time in this area, then as lunch was beckoning decided to grab something to eat, whilst I waited for the 1-30 p.m. ferry across to Ellis Island.

As the ferry crossed the short distance between Liberty and Ellis Islands, I wondered what the early immigrants felt, as they had a similar view, and wondering whether they would ‘pass the test’ for admission into The United States ? It must have been quite a time, so near, yet they could still be rejected and sent back to where they came from!

As I stepped off the ferry, and approached what was the Immigration building, I wondered of the sights to come - the entire island is now a living museum…and rightly so. Inside were stories of lots of immigrants, what they faced, what they were coming from, and what they were hoping for http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm I particularly liked the story that one immigrant sent home…. I thought American streets were paved with Gold…I came here and found they weren’t, in fact they weren’t paved at all, and I had to pave them !’’

People from all over the world have come through Ellis Island, and into United States, and for me the most interesting part…They weren’t ALL Irish !, in fact very few in comparison were, and yet the Irish influence in America (and anywhere they emigrated to..) is well known ,influential and extensive….

Eventually I caught one of the last ferry’s back to NYCity, and Battery Park, then walked along the sea front, past Statten Island Ferry Terminal, to Pier 83, where I was to take an evening cruise, seeing the lights of NYC, and area…

Firstly as I got to the pier area, saw some great old sailing ships, moored alongside, with lots of differing facts and history about them.

Then it was into the Pier 83 shopping centre, for a quick look round…and some food, and at 7-30 p.m. went down to the Pier for my cruise http://www.circleline42.com/new-york-cruises.aspx , there were not many on, but that didn’t deter the DJ ! Who had a ‘rap’ composed to pick out the sights as we went along, and keep us amused - brilliant sights , and good fun. As we stopped near Liberty Island he even took pictures for everyone, on your own cameras, and produced a glass of ‘bubbly’ for us all… back to the pier for 9p.m…. the night was not yet finished..!

Then it was back along the sea front, and Subway to Times Square, for a real night time sample of the lights, and busyness…then it was back home for about 10-30 p.m. and collapse !

A Great,long day..