Ferry Ride

One of the best free things to do in this expensive city is to catch  the Staten Island ferry. Most people just go for the ride and for the view of the Satue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. It takes about half an hour, after which you disembark and wait for the next ferry back. I will be catching the ferry several times over the next few days as I'm going to be staying on Staten Island. Just as well that I love ferries..

back on the mainland and after an iced coffee (the temperature is in the 90s today), we went to the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero. Rather a surreal experience. The footprint of each of the two towers is now a huge square pool with water cascading down the sides. The names os all those who died (and in 1993) are engraved around the outside. It's a reverent and moving memorial, but odd that it has become a popular tourist attraction where people take selfies.

Early this morning I had visited the cathedral of John the Divine, north of Central Park (see extras). Building began in 1892 and it is (like the Sagrada Familia) unfinished. When completed, it will be the largest cathedral in the world.