Liberty Park New Jersey/Statue of Liberty

A new form of Transport today we caught the Light rail. Only three short quick stops to Liberty Park New Jersey where they have a World Trade Centre Memorial for all the people that were from New Jersey that got killed. It was also a large train station in its heyday but now all the tracks have been ripped up and it is just derelict apart from the One building. I can only imagine that after the immigrants were processed on Ellis Island they were put on trains to other places in New Jersey and further afield. The ladies found these sound shields and had to practice their voices there.

Restored Old Railway Station
Inside the Old Railway Station

There is also a memorial here in Liberty State Park for all the people in New Jersey who were killed on 9 Eleven. Very sad.

Par of the Original World Trade Centre and the Empty Sky Memorial

I had bought tickets to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty. When I went to collect the tickets the man said he needed to see Viv as well and also our photo ID. I had left our Passports back in our Airbnb and had my licence with him. Asked my better half if she had hers. Looked in her Phone Wallet and no she thought Polly our granddaughter had pulled it out. I looked in my wallet and I had an old Licence for Viv that had expired. I wasn’t sure if they would accept it. Viv prayed that it would be like Brother Andrew who used to smuggle Bibles into Russia that she would pass. Amzingingly he accepted it and we got our bands to climb the crown. We then had to go through security to get to the ferry boat.

As we were catching the boat from New Jersey the ferry stopped at Ellis Island first. The problem was he wouldn’t give us the tickets until a later ferry. This meant we didn’t have enough time to see Ellis Island before our booked time for the Crown. The ferry back from the Statue takes you back to New Jersey. So you would have needed to take the New York ferry from the Statue back to Ellis and look around. Then get the ferry back to the Statue and then back to New Jersey.

Old Ferry piers that used to operate between New York and New Jersey
First View of the Statue of Liberty

We landed on Liberty Island where the Statue was located and we knew they had lockers there to put your stuff in. Glad our American friends had a quarter. The Statue is a pretty impressive close-up and is a bit on the old Fort which was an 11-pointed star. Once again we had to go through Airport-style security again to go to the crown. There was a huge line and I thought oh no but turned out it was for the lift and it only took 4 people at a time. So we took the 176 steps up.

After reaching the pedestal we had to get processed again to go up the crown. As the Staircase is very narrow really only one person can fit. Think of the stairs as a circular spiral that goes up one way and down the other side. Speaking to the National Parks Employees they said that if you are taller than 5′ 10″ you pretty much have to bend your head as you climb up. To be honest with you you also wouldn’t want to be too large either as you may not fit either. There were resting spots about every 20 or 30 steps from memory where we let people go past us. I kept joking with a German lady who nearly knocked me over on the Ground level.

You can see the Spiral on the Left-Hand side of the Photo.

Upon reaching the top of the Staircase we were again stopped by a National Parks person who controls when you can make the final ascent to the crown. You can see the inside of Lady Liberty’s face here. At the Crown, you can see through the Windows to New York. But the Light for us wasn’t great to take photos from. Then on the way down, we saw a sign that said Emergency Elevator for Medical Emergencies. We all thought how would anyone get up there to rescue anyway.

At the crown
The Bolts that hold the Statue to the Pedestal. There are more than two.

After we got back down to the pedestal we had a walk around there where the views were totally open and great. The weather for us was very overcast though and so the clarity wasn’t as good as a Blue sky. We also found the Foundation Stone of the Statue.

Finally, we explored the bottom of the statue and looked at the Museum. It would be quite easy to spend a whole day here if you were reading all the info in detail. You can see the Original Torch that was on the statue until the 1980s.

The original Lantern was removed due to wear and tear in the 1980’s.

This is how all the pieces were made. They first made a plaster cast of what the piece should look like. then they would make a Wooden mould around the Plaster. the copper was laid into the mould and hammered into shape to create the final piece. I just can’t imagine the amount of work and talent that they had.

Lady Liberty Head in original copper. it must be sealed to stop the Oxidation process. I can highly recommend a trip if you are in New York. If you want to go to the Pedestal or Crown. Book well in advance.

Liberty Park New Jersey/Statue of Liberty

A new form of Transport today we caught the Light rail. Only three short quick stops to Liberty Park New Jersey where they have a World Trade Centre Memorial for all the people that were from New Jersey that got killed. It was also a large train station in its heyday but now all the tracks have been ripped up and it is just derelict apart from the One building. I can only imagine that after the immigrants were processed on Ellis Island they were put on trains to other places in New Jersey and further afield. The ladies found these sound shields and had to practice their voices there.

Restored Old Railway Station
Inside the Old Railway Station

There is also a memorial here in Liberty State Park for all the people in New Jersey who were killed on 9 Eleven. Very sad.

Par of the Original World Trade Centre and the Empty Sky Memorial

I had bought tickets to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty. When I went to collect the tickets the man said he needed to see Viv as well and also our photo ID. I had left our Passports back in our Airbnb and had my licence with him. Asked my better half if she had hers. Looked in her Phone Wallet and no she thought Polly our granddaughter had pulled it out. I looked in my wallet and I had an old Licence for Viv that had expired. I wasn’t sure if they would accept it. Viv prayed that it would be like Brother Andrew who used to smuggle Bibles into Russia that she would pass. Amzingingly he accepted it and we got our bands to climb the crown. We then had to go through security to get to the ferry boat.

As we were catching the boat from New Jersey the ferry stopped at Ellis Island first. The problem was he wouldn’t give us the tickets until a later ferry. This meant we didn’t have enough time to see Ellis Island before our booked time for the Crown. The ferry back from the Statue takes you back to New Jersey. So you would have needed to take the New York ferry from the Statue back to Ellis and look around. Then get the ferry back to the Statue and then back to New Jersey.

Old Ferry piers that used to operate between New York and New Jersey
First View of the Statue of Liberty

We landed on Liberty Island where the Statue was located and we knew they had lockers there to put your stuff in. Glad our American friends had a quarter. The Statue is a pretty impressive close-up and is a bit on the old Fort which was an 11-pointed star. Once again we had to go through Airport-style security again to go to the crown. There was a huge line and I thought oh no but turned out it was for the lift and it only took 4 people at a time. So we took the 176 steps up.

After reaching the pedestal we had to get processed again to go up the crown. As the Staircase is very narrow really only one person can fit. Think of the stairs as a circular spiral that goes up one way and down the other side. Speaking to the National Parks Employees they said that if you are taller than 5′ 10″ you pretty much have to bend your head as you climb up. To be honest with you you also wouldn’t want to be too large either as you may not fit either. There were resting spots about every 20 or 30 steps from memory where we let people go past us. I kept joking with a German lady who nearly knocked me over on the Ground level.

You can see the Spiral on the Left-Hand side of the Photo.

Upon reaching the top of the Staircase we were again stopped by a National Parks person who controls when you can make the final ascent to the crown. You can see the inside of Lady Liberty’s face here. At the Crown, you can see through the Windows to New York. But the Light for us wasn’t great to take photos from. Then on the way down, we saw a sign that said Emergency Elevator for Medical Emergencies. We all thought how would anyone get up there to rescue anyway.

At the crown
The Bolts that hold the Statue to the Pedestal. There are more than two.

After we got back down to the pedestal we had a walk around there where the views were totally open and great. The weather for us was very overcast though and so the clarity wasn’t as good as a Blue sky. We also found the Foundation Stone of the Statue.

Finally, we explored the bottom of the statue and looked at the Museum. It would be quite easy to spend a whole day here if you were reading all the info in detail. You can see the Original Torch that was on the statue until the 1980s.

The original Lantern was removed due to wear and tear in the 1980’s.

This is how all the pieces were made. They first made a plaster cast of what the piece should look like. then they would make a Wooden mould around the Plaster. the copper was laid into the mould and hammered into shape to create the final piece. I just can’t imagine the amount of work and talent that they had.

Lady Liberty Head in original copper. it must be sealed to stop the Oxidation process. I can highly recommend a trip if you are in New York. If you want to go to the Pedestal or Crown. Book well in advance.

USA/UK Prayer Trip Day 1 and 24 September 2024

Day 1

Ringo & Samson

We left home and it all started with a small Miracle.  Our daughter’s dog had 9 French Bulldog Puppies.  The morning, we were leaving there just happened to be a Dog washer next door.  I asked her if she wanted to see our puppies’ Our other daughter’s dog also had 5 Pomeranian puppies.  So, at that stage, we still had a few to sell.  The lady came in and fell in love with one and so she bought one.  Says Rigo and her Great Dane Samson our now best friends

Got an Uber to Airport seamless check-in process, flight and so happy for our daughter.

Day 2

I had hurt my back the previous week helping to get of our old Dishwasher and wasn’t looking forward to the long flights. 3 Hours to Auckland and then 15.5 to New York.  Lots of occasional twinges.  Lots of Deep Heat and Voltaren applied.  The Uber driver didn’t even get out of his car to help us with bags even though I had said I hurt my back.

We walked from the Sydney Domestic terminal to the Hotel and again another small blessing two free drink Vouchers and was Happy hour on food so half price.  Had a great pie for $4.  Viv then conned me into walking to another hotel to get her a Gluten Free Meal. Great nights sleep and I felt way better in extra time even though Viv prefers more risk. 

I had previously tried to check in online, but it said I need to see a Qantas person.  But thought well since I am at the Airport, I will try machines again.  Same story.  I saw a few people with their hands up waiting for a staff member and two service booths with people waiting.  It looked like a wait so I just went and lined up at the booth.  It seemed that many people were having issues and after about 30 minutes we got seen.  Seems like as I made two separate bookings for the flights it didn’t like that.

Next Drama.  I see all the bag drop machines and head to one.  I scan the Boarding pass and nope doesn’t work.  So happy see a Qantas lady and she said USA Bag drops are around the back.  On the way there they have a tiny sign that says USA bag drop.  A screen message would have made it so much easier.  Anyway, seems you must still give them to a real person.  LOL.

When we were going through security all of a sudden, a Qantas Flight Attendant pushes in and starts putting all these people stuff in front of ours.  I recognized Penny Wong (Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister) and she was traveling with a bit of an entourage. I asked her if she was off to see our PM Albo in Delaware.  But she said no off to New York to present at the UN General Assembly.  First clue why we were going to New York.  Nothing is ever a coincidence for us.   I also see a Kiwi All Black Player and so congratulate them on their win. They won the Bledisloe Cup again this year.

Trip to Auckland was easy only 3 hours with a 2-hour layover in Auckland.  Then it was all on board again.  I put on a heat patch on my back and apart from the seat being a little uncomfortable the attendants were very lovely and helpful. Food tasted better than it looked.

After landing in JFK we got through Immigration very quickly and at the Baggage carousel My bag was 2nd off and Viv’s 4th.  What a blessing.  I checked the Uber fare to the Accom, and it was going to be about $170 I said let’s take the Public Transport.  This led to another small special meeting.  We bought a ticket for the Air train and subway. First part was smooth Air train.  Got off to walk to Subway and Wha laa escalators not working.  I just went down and lost Viv.   She said she was going to take lift.  I waited and waited no Viv.  Went back up the Escalator no Viv at lift but people were getting in.  So walk back down Escalator with bag again.  Lift opens and Viv pops out.  Said she had to wait ages for Lift.

We get to subway station and meet a nice couple who ask where we are going.  I was going to get off at the World Trade Centre ad then get an Uber.  They suggested Washington Square with a big Arch.  Yep, it was another clue for Viv so we followed their instructions.   

Found the George Washington Arch and then we got out Uber.  Was supposed to be about $66 US we got stuck in Traffic jam.  Ended up over $90.  LOL.  Got to our Accommodation about 8: 30 PM and caught up with our Travel Partners Debbie and Rich.  It was a long day.