Enlightening the World

So, the Statue of Liberty is no less striking in the rain.
Maybe more so, for the ominous clouds that seem to lighten around it*.
The ferry stopped at Liberty Island.
Got off for a wander, camera in one hand, umbrella** in the other.
Tickets up to the crown are sold out months in advance, so stayed at ground level.
No great loss on a bleak day like today.
Seems the main advantage of getting up that high is for the views it affords of the Manhattan Skyline rather than of the Statue itself.
Back onto the ferry.
Over to Ellis Island.
For twelve million immigrants, this is where they first set foot on American soil***.
For two percent of all arrivals, it was the only place they set foot - being send back to where they came on the next crowded ship.
Imagine.

Was hoping to see a little more today, but the rain and icy wind got the better of me.
Back in the hotel warming my freezing feet.
Was up at six this morning****, so early to bed tonight.
But not before I make use of this extremely fast internet to put up some of the missing blips from our Kimberley trip, starting here.


*And, no, I didn't photoshop it to make it look that way.
**Turned inside out twice, but still the best ten bucks I spent today.
***And where, as part of the immigration process, they received a six-second health check which was supposed to determine everything from a hernia to 'mental deficiency'.
****Jetlag ongoing; took the opportunity to do some work.