Our first stop today was Liberty Island State Park where we got spectacular views of the NYC skyline. Then boarded a ferry, where to quote John Hancock "We are about brave this storm in a skiff made of paper." Only our skiff was made of steel. The ferry took us to Ellis Island, the main port of entry for thousands of immigrants in the late 1800's and early 1900's. As students walked through the Great Hall, and the exhibits, they could find out exactly what those arriving to the new world went through. After Ellis Island we boarded another ferry to go to Liberty Island and see the Statue of Liberty. The weather, being cool, rainy, and windy did not dampen the spirits of the group when we arrived on Liberty Island. This symbol of America stands tall and serves as a beacon all those who visit or emigrate here. If you listen as you walk around the Island you hear different languages from all around the world. One can't help feel inspired by Emma Lazarus' poem The New Colossus:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Following Liberty Island we found our bus, back in New Jersey and headed once again through the Lincoln Tunnel into Midtown Manhattan to tour Radio City Music Hall. We were originally scheduled to tour Madison Square Garden, but no one Billy Joel was performing there Thursday night, and would be doing sound checks, that he apparently didn't want 41 people from Central Wisconsin to see. Because of this I included a Billy Joel song in the bad songs about a place we visited list. We adjusted and the tour of Radio City Music Hall was good, the group even got to meet one of the Rockettes.
Those looking to shop in Times Square were given about an hour and a half to do so before dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. Following dinner we headed over to and up 5th avenue to Rockefeller Plaza, where we could see where they broadcast The Today Show and explore the Plaza before ascending 67 stories to the Top of the Rock. One history teacher was overheard to say "I'm taking you to new heights." Unfortunately with the weather many of the buildings were occluded, but it was still amazing to look out high above the city. The fortunate side was with the weather was that we were almost the only ones up there. Those brave enough to go to the very top, myself included, were met with a strong wind and could see and feel the fog drop in and roll over the Top of the Rock. After that we headed down to the street and said goodbye to New York City one last time.
This is the third time I have organized and conducted a trip like this. Every time without fail, the day we visit Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty, is the day I am the most proud of the students, and proud to be a Wildcat. We encounter many other school groups, and I look at those groups and realize how fortunate we are to not have to deal with the behaviors exhibited by others in those groups. It was and always will be A GREAT DAY TO BE A WILDCAT!!
Photos from NYC coming in a separate post.
Friday features a stop in Hershey, Pennsylvania and long haul back to Eastern Ohio.
Trip Stats:
Steps Taken today - 17,850
Steps Taken Overall - 57,748
States Visited - 07
Movies - 03 (Should increase beginning tomorrow)
Cups of Coffee - 07
Purple Powerade Zero's consumed - 02 (I have run out of these and cannot find more)
Mr. Yeska's Cribbage Record against Mr Barbarich: 1 Win (that is correct), 6 losses, and 1 win in a doubles game.
Links to another bad song about a place we visited: Billy Joel - New York State of Mind
Golden Earring - 42nd Street
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