We were in New York City for Labor Day 2024, having gone east to join my Ardovino cousins’ reunion the day before. We were staying in an Airbnb in Palisades Park, New Jersey and needed to get across the Hudson River to Manhattan. We chose to drive down to Jersey City and take the ferry to the WTC. Once at the port, it is only a ten-minute walk to the memorials and new buildings. It was a good decision. The warm temp and partly cloudy sky made the ride a treat. The river scene was a fine introduction to the day.

Because we had taken the first ferry of the day and it was still fairly early, the crowd at the WTC was light. Janet suggested that we ride up to the observation deck and see the sights. We did. The elevator is smooth and it takes only 45 seconds to climb to the enclosed deck. The views on a good day are stunning. It’s only at altitude that one can get a real appreciation of how the small island of Manhattan and the adjacent areas have developed. Tall buildings now stretch north to Central Park and beyond. Brooklyn and Jersey City have joined in the fun. Wow!

It was close to another anniversary of 9-11. The crowd around the memorials was subdued. Some couples and groups spoke in almost a whisper. The names etched in stone that ring the location of where the two towers formerly stood almost call out. It’s a very moving experience, one that I had avoided for many years. This time we were ready and I am pleased that we went.

The WTC is a most interesting structure. Its angled glass surface reflects both the sky and the buildings that surround the nearly 1,800 feet tall mirror to the world. As we walked about the WTC, first up close and then some distance away, we had the sense that we were looking at more than one building. I had seen pictures of the structure before. They were impressive, but they did not capture all of the beauty that we saw that day. Go see it. Ride the ferry. Take the elevator to the observation deck.