{Our Visit to September 11 Memorial in New York City}

Of course, when we got on our New York See It All Tour,  with OnBoard Tours, we also did visit the September 11 Memorial. 

This is at the South Pool, where one of the Twin Towers used to be.

Not exactly the same size, as it is about 31% smaller than the towers' actual footprints. 

Memorial Pools Will Not Quite Fill Twin Footprints

Just click the above link...

But still, it is an impressive sight with their 176 square foot presence! Or 16.35 square meters.

Here you see the 4 World Trade Center, right behind the South Pool.

Husband Pieter stands at the North Pool...

It is so impressive and so overwhelming when one thinks about all those souls that lost their life on 9/11 and before... and so many rescue workers, who lost their lives.

It makes it into a kind of a sacred ground!

9/11 by the Numbers... you can click this link for the statistics.

All those names are inscribed in bronze on parapets surrounding the twin Memorial pools.
Learn How the Names are Arranged just click the link.
Two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools with more than 400 trees surrounding them.

Here Pieter stands near the Callery Pear Tree, that is called The Survivor Tree as a  living reminder of resilience, survival and rebirth.

It got severely damaged and burned but after its recovery and rehabilitation, it got planted back in 2010. Click the above link for the full story.

One can only admire the strength of any living creation on this planet!

We both loved to wear our caps on this very sunny short vacation in NYC.

With its branches stretched out and wounds healed, it seems to look quite happy here!

We did not have time for visiting the Memorial Museum as the bus went on after this stop.

But we both appreciate very much for having been here in person!

May God bless the many souls that lost their lives and also protect us from anything like this.

Related link:

Official 9/11 Memorial Museum Tribute In Time-Lapse 2004-2014 - 2.5 minute YouTube video
Clydesdale Horses showing us respect in a Budweiser Super Bowl Commercial - Done for the 10th Anniversary and we can all learn from them!

{Our Double Orange Hibiscus}

All summer long we have had some gorgeous double orange hibiscus.

From our bay window we can enjoy them, starting at breakfast time...

Pieter did rescue this beauty at the local Kmart store, where it had been knocked down, soil out of the pot and looking limp...
For only $ 4.00 + tax, it came home with him.

Got a bigger pot, new potting soil and LOOK how rewarding it has been to us.

Don't you like their happy faces?

Depending on the light, the color even changes...

What a joy to have! 

Do you have any double orange hibiscus as well?

{We Stayed for 4 Nights in Manhattan, our Trip to NYC}

Sorry for having been a bit absent lately but soon I will visit you again!

We did indeed make our first 'real' trip to New York City and spent 4 nights at the Hyatt Place New York/Midtown-South which is right in Manhattan.

Manhattan was taken on September 8th, 1664.

Just click the above link...

For us, being from The Netherlands, it had even more historical meaning to us as the Dutch were the first that colonized the USA!

It was called New Netherland with New Amsterdam as their natural harbor, which now is called New York City.

No, New Amsterdam was NOT the capital, neither is New York City.

The capital of the State of New York is Albany.

Yes, in 1609 the story began... and it ended on September 8th, 1664 when Manhattan was taken by the British.

We were on the 18th floor, out of 26... In Manhattan almost all buildings are high rise!

On August 29, it was 32 years ago since we left The Netherlands; on my youngest brother's birthday...

As this is my very first post written from my new Mac, I just wanted to air this in time for its historic birthday on September 8th.

Related link:

{Dutch - American Heritage Day: November 16 since 1991} | previous post by me

11 Bird's-Eye Views That Show How NYC Has Grown Over 350 Years - Very Informative photos!