The Hopewell House

For our second day in the city we had tickets for the new 9/11 Memorial and the new Freedom Tower that afternoon, so we decided to take a lazy morning, grab some coffee, and figure out our route on the subway station. Speaking of which, if your visiting the city and need some assistance on what routes you should be taking, check out the NYC Subway APP for the Iphone. I used it during our trip and it really helped us out!

The 9/11 Memorial was absolutely incredible and saddening all at the same time. Where the original Twin Towers use to stand, they had created fountains that appear to be never ending because of their design. The water continuously appears to flow into a black abyss. Around the edges of the fountains are all the names of the individuals who were killed during the horrific attack. The most heartbreaking name to me was a woman and her unborn child listed on the wall of those deceased. To this day, I still remember that day back in 2001 when it felt like the world I had known was changing forever; the sad truth is, after that day, I was never completely the same. That moment in time hit this sense of vulnerability and fragility of life that never seems to leave me. Walking the memorial brought back those memories and moments and it stood as a reminder that our time on Earth is limited and we should live each day loving and appreciating all those we surround and making those moments matter. At the memorial, they also had the Survivor Tree which was a tree that was planted back in 1970's and survived both the attacks of 9/11 as well as the recent hurricanes. This tree has stood strong through thick and thin and even this Spring began to bloom again. This tree stands at the 9/11 site as a reminder that perseverance and the ability to thrive and survive lies deep within our American roots. Even though we are vulnerable and fragile, we  are still strong and we can make it through even the most difficult of times. Together, we stand strong.

 After the memorial, we were all starving and decided to head into Brooklyn to see what we could find. We came across this delicious little Caribbean place called the Soul Spot. After a cold walk, warm comfort food was the best option for our little troop and the food was absolutely amazing. My sister found a new love for Oxtail and I thoroughly enjoyed my beans & rice and my mac & cheese. After eating, we then decided to work off calories by walking the Brooklyn bridge. 

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge is probably one of my all-time favorite things to do in NYC. Although there are a ton of people on it, it really has such a beautiful view and the bridge itself is spectacular in its design. My favorite way to walk the bridge is to start in Brooklyn and head into Manhattan. I just loved seeing the city skyline as I walked. Also from the bridge you can see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, it's just a really neat experience.

Once we finished our walk, we took the subway back to hotel to get a run in through the downtown area as well as to get ready for our evening  that was full of adventures.