We are definitely all feeling the pace of city breaks on the legs. Although we’re still going to sleep at about 8pm locally, the boys particularly are doing the teenager thing of sleeping in late.
The plan for the day was a bit of shopping and then do the 9/11 museum. It started with a trip to a nearby American diner. Amy and Harrison couldn’t resist the pancakes and I went for omelette. Even though it was breakfast, Callan spotted the chicken burger and went for his favourite sweet potato fries (I had some of those too..)
Feeling very full, we set off for Grand Central Station. Harrison particularly was excited about this after seeing it in various movies and apparently triumphantly winning a battle in one of his online games. The building is spectacular when you’re in the main hall. No sign of any trains at that point, just lots of marble and a huge void that feels very grand.
At one end of the station, the mezzanine has been turned into an Apple Store. This prompted a visit and a swift change in direction about what Amy and Harrison wanted for their Birthday presents. Amy was treated to an iPad and Harrison a watch, both of them very pleased.
It was then a short walk along Fifth Avenue whilst we headed for the Lego shop. On the way we realised we were near St Patricks Cathedral. The reference to St Patricks Church in Nuthall where Amy and I were married had prompted Mike and Elaine to get us a replica for our Christmas Village. The building in real life was quite spectacular.
Next stop was Lego. Harrison had settled in his mind that any income stream, both holiday, birthday and pocket money had been directed towards his Apple Watch meant that Lego was off the table. It didn’t stop Callan having some more Lego architecture series, this time of London. It led prompted a strange look from the cashier and a conversation about London, New York and shopping trips to date. Harrison did find someone to chat to though.
Knowing that soon would be a long trip in a rental car to Lake Placid, Callan wanted some books. Barnes & Noble reminds me of Borders and that comforting smell of paper tinged with coffee. He managed to find something entirely predictable that he though would entertain him for the journey, Jurassic Park.
As we began to make our way through the City towards the 9/11 museum we discovered Harrison had branched out into the restaurant industry.
Back in the financial district we arrived at the Museum. The boys had been keen from the start to go and see the exhibits and the memorial. It wasn’t on my list, Amy also feeling slightly similar having lived through that day and watching it on TV. I remember coming in from an early turn and realising every channel was showing the same thing. I sat on the sofa and watched the plane hit the second tower live. Of course, the day also holds an entirely different poignancy for me as it was that evening we lost my Mum.
I wanted the holiday to be one of discovery for the boys and on reflection, this event shaped the world and continues to do so. We stood in the queue waiting to go in. I could already feel the knot in my stomach and saw a tear form on Amy’s cheek.
In most places within the museum they don’t allow photography so I’ll have to describe some of what we saw. After the airport style security you descend into a huge underground space. The boys were still unsure of what exactly had happened that morning in New York and so we were trying to use our own memories to fill in some blanks whilst we waited to start. Callan for example knew plans were involved but hadn’t realised there were people on board. The hijacking element was something he didn’t know.
As you descend the foundations of the towers still exist. They are like vast, flat 5 storey buildings with enormous ground anchors still holding them steadfast into the island. With all the destruction that happened above they are mostly unchanged, just eerily excavated into view.
I took one photo of an art installation wall that reflects the sky on the day of the attacks. It does give you some scale of how the museum extends underground and around where the towers would have been.
You are fed through a chronological account of the day. Maps on the wall depict where the flights had come from and then tragically ended. CCTV footage shows the hijackers coming through airport security at Boston for the two flights that hit the towers. There are pieces of the TV mast from the North Tower and a mostly destroyed fire truck that was hit by some of the early fall debris when the second plane struck. You see an engine from one of the 737s and are gradually led through huge photographic images of the first impact combined with various CCTV and video accounts.
The whole mood is hugely somber. The lighting is low, the visual exhibits disturbing, shocking but hugely representative. I’m not sure I’ve been to a museum where I’ve wanted to read all the text relating to exhibits before.
It would have been really easy for it to over focus on the emotion, the terror or create an overly inflated sense of hate about what happened on that day. I felt they got it right. It was at time distressing, hearing and reading accounts or phone call made by those who were trapped. I found it difficult seeing many items of clothing and personal possession, particularly of first responders that bravely did their jobs but then didn’t go home. There were images of people in shock and terror but also of those who stepped forward and ran in to help others. If that had been London, that would have been my job.
I really felt the boys took something away with them. They had an idea of what had happened which was now more clear. They also had far more understanding of how it happened and more importantly why. These were concepts they’d not explored before and both had opinions. It was a truly though provoking experience that was worth risking Amy and my personal emotion and recollection to give them meaningful insight and appreciation.
The day was now over. The mood could now lift and thoughts turned immediately to a requirement to eat. With it being late on a Sunday it meant grabbing some food and going back to the room. Both Harrison and Callan once more fancied Burritos so we collected them on our way back.
Last full day in New York will be Harrison’s most anticipated trip to the USS Intrepid and I’m looking forward to that one too.
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