We Are Sailing. First stop - New York.

After six thoroughly enjoyable days sailing the Atlantic ocean,  we sailed into New York. There can be no more iconic sight than sailing past the Statue of Liberty.

Against the modern skyline it appears quite small.





There was a sense of anticipation and nervousness as we waited to disembark. We had been warned that the immigration process would be tedious, especially as a Mr Trump was visiting the United Nations that weekend. It was a long winded operation but not nearly so much as for those immigrants of a hundred years ago who had to go through Ellis Island.

Main assembly hall.

Our first trip that afternoon was to catch a Liberty ferry and visit Madame Liberty and then cross to Ellis Island.  The buildings on the island are vast, incorporating not only the buildings dealing with those who had just landed. There were hospital blocks and rooms for those who had to stay there for a variety of reasons. Obviously there were kitchens and dining halls. It was a fascinating place. The museum took you through every procedure these people had to face. We could have spent hours here. I finished by going into the museum where families had donated clothes and artefacts their ancestors had brought with them. Many had brought their beautiful national costumes, musical instruments and simple things like their crockery and cutlery. If you ever go to New York, this is well worth a visit.

The next day we walked the High Line.
This is an historic freight line, elevated above Manhattan's West Side and was saved from demolition by volunteers.

It is a lovely walk, with gardens, seats and past some typical New York buildings. We walked the two miles or so before then walking on the promenade towards the 9/11 memorials.

These are every bit as moving as you would expect. We chose not to go into the museum, time was an issue and I was sure I could cope with anything harrowing. The memorials were emotional enough, especially when we realised we were walking down the streets where we had watched people fleeing for their lives covered in clouds of dust and debrit.

Everything here is beautifully done.  The white roses are left by names of those who would have been celebrating their birthdays that day. We spoke to one couple who had come in search of someone who had been on one of the planes. There is a computer there by the memorials for such a use. By typing in their name, a photo and personal details comes up and then the place where the name is, for example Tower One, plaque N72. They downloaded this information to their phone and found the name easily.
From here we took the subway to the lovely and huge Central Park.

carriages in Central Park

You could spend hours in here and easily get lost! We went looking for the Dakota Building and I soon realised if you needed directions - ask a dog walker. They knew where they were! It is a beautiful place, with huge Ice Age rocks, large lakes, sculptures and lots of different paths and walks.  No trip to New York would be complete without a walk down Broadway and into Time Square.

Time Square

It is as busy and as bustling as you could imagine. The flashing lights, advertising goods and shows send you into sensory overload.
I can only give you a taste of what we saw and whittling down a couple of hundred photos to just a few was difficult!
By the end of the second day we prepared to sail away, Everyone was out on deck gazing at the city lights. Next stop Boston.

New York by night