New York Part One

Both Lauren and I have been fortunate to do a lot of traveling in 2015. At the end of April, Patrick and I went to New York for a week with our good friends Michael and Grayce.

On our first full day we walked miles and miles around Brooklyn. We started by meeting up with Grayce's sister and her boyfriend, and together we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and explored Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Our hardest decision of the day was picking between all of the delicious food vendors at Smorgasburg.

After lunch we took the subway out to Prospect Park. It was an unbelievably idyllic Sunday afternoon in the park. 

Next we wandered through Park Slope, stopping for drinks and snacks at Blueprint.

We had such a good day in Brooklyn.

The following day we took the ferry to Ellis Island. We admired Lady Liberty from the boat. 

It was fascinating to learn more about the island where so many of our ancestors first arrived in the United States. Ellis Island had exhibits that broadly covered immigrants' journeys as early as the 1500's, but I was most moved by the images of people waiting to be processed through Ellis Island and begin life in their new home, whether striking out on their own, or reuniting with loved ones.

After Ellis Island, we walked the short distance from Battery Park to the 911 Memorial and One World Trade Center.

It's hard to find the right words to write about the Memorial. To me, it felt appropriate. It felt vast, and sorrowful, and eternal. 

The reflections of the sky on One World Trade were beautiful.

We ended our day on an upbeat note at the Top of the Rock. 

Next time I'll share the rest of the highlights from our trip in Part 2!