So far, this has been one amazing trip! I've seen some beautiful sites, and had some wonderous (and some not so wonderous) experiences already. This is our last night in the Villa in the upper tip of PA, then we head out in the morning to Niagra Falls, then onto Ontario (or just outside of it anyways.) The beast has only bashed my head a couple of times with whallopers, but mostly just shadowing. It's me leg and back killing me - not liking the changes in atmosphere & climate I guess. I have to say - I'll miss the villa. This is an awesome place.
Yesterday we went to NYC!!! I have always dreamed of going to NYC and now that I've been, I'm over it, lol. No really, it was breath-taking (literally with the smog) and I had a major anxiety attack at one point due to sensory overload, but survived.
Riding the Staten Island Ferry to NYC was awesome, looking at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Jersey all at once, but what was beyond the coolest was standing in Times Square! I saw Broadway. I saw Radio City Music Hall. I saw things I never dreamt I'd actually see - though we missed the naked cowboy. I DID get my pic taken with Morgan Freeman. saw NBC studios and the 'Today Show' window...
...but out of everything I saw, nothing was as stirring as actually being at ground zero. Seeing the buildings that were effected by Sept 11th and still show some wounds, and also got to see some of the artwork sculpted from actual scrap metal from what remained at ground zero. We were told that the building to fall hardest sunk down 13 floors. I saw the memorials for the firemen and police who lost their lives that day, as well as tributes to those killed. We also got to go through the catwalk to see what is being built right now to replace one of the buildings. It was something I feel very honored to have seen with my own eyes. I was told of a bicycle that was chained to a signpost where a man ran into the WTC to drop off a package. We were standing right next to the same post. The man never made it back to his bicycle - but as a memorial the bike remained there several years, and he said almost every other week there'd be a whole new set of flowers, pictures, cards... for months signs hang on buildings and street poles with "Have you seen my husband?" and such, it was a long time before people could bring themselves to take these things down.
If you can find a pic of the "Charles Atlas" made out of scrap metal as a 9/11 tribute online, check it out. I took a pic of it, since I forgot to bring the camera charger like a doofus, will have to get a disposable camera, as we still have more to go.. and hope to meet up with Iddy and GSB.
Been an inspiring trip indeed as a much needed getaway. I'll hate having to go back home, but look forward to next month in St Louis.

Peace,
Carl D