11/12/2019 - New York - from Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn

After a few days of housework, we decided to venture into the 'city that never sleeps' today. We started our tour in the southern part of Lower Manhattan, where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center once stood. The gloomy sky and rainy weather suited this visit very well, as 2,983 people lost their lives here on September 11, 2001. Today, in the exact spots where the destroyed towers stood, there are two large water basins known as the 'Footprints'. The rims of the memorial fountains have been engraved with the names of all the victims who were killed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. Even after so many years, many people still come to the memorial, mourn the deceased, and leave traces of love. However, there is one survivor - the Survivor Tree. This Chinese pear tree was planted in the plaza of the original World Trade Center in the 1970s. The tree was recovered from the debris at Ground Zero after September 11 and was nursed back to health in a park in New York City. It survived being uprooted by a strong storm. Today, it stands again on the grounds of the WTC, symbolizing the story of survival and resilience. One spectacular building that can be found here on the grounds is the Oculus. When you stand inside, it resembles a huge white cathedral. The floor is made entirely of white Italian marble, and the roof of the building features curved steel ribs that are meant to resemble the wings of a dove. However, the Oculus is actually a train station that sees 250,000 people flock through it every day. We strolled through the Christmas-decorated train hall and continued through the canyons of Manhattan. Then we arrived at the most famous street in the New York Financial District and the heart of the international financial world, Wall Street. Here, you can find the New York Stock Exchange, the world's largest securities exchange, and numerous other financial institutions that handle millions of dollars. Among the many skyscrapers of the financial world, we could spot the Trinity Church at the end of Wall Street, which was the tallest building in New York until 1860. Of course, we couldn't miss capturing the landmark of Wall Street, the Charging Bull, on our camera. But first, we had to wait in line for a while to take a picture with the famous bronze statue. We then continued on foot towards The Battery. From this historic park, we could already spot the Statue of Liberty in the distance. Passing churches, skyscrapers, and New York City Hall, we now headed towards the city's most famous bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge is a combination of suspension and cable-stayed bridge that spans the East River, connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. When it was completed in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and quickly became a new symbol of the city. Like many other tourists, we enjoyed the ever-changing view of the bridge and the Manhattan skyline. Slowly, the clouds broke and the sun came out. We walked along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade in the sunshine and enjoyed our time together.