WA N D E R L U S T
Day 3
It was finally time for the ferry ride to Staten Island! The ferry,
free to all, takes visitors and commuters from lower Manhattan to
Staten Island. Due to shortage of time, I decided to not spend time
on the island and instead took the next ferry back. The main reason
for this ride was to view the Statue of Liberty, albeit from afar. In
my sister’s opinion, to which I agreed, the solo trip to Liberty Island
to see the sculpture wasn’t worth it as there isn’t much else to do
otherwise, and the view from Staten Island Ferry sufficed. The crisp
blue sky with the water reflecting the sun and light bouncing off
the buildings was breathtaking. I also got to witness the sun set on
the statue, the phrase sun-kissed taking a literal meaning, another
memorable moment. Taking advantage of the location I headed
towards the financial district of Manhattan to see the Charging
Bull and Fearless Girl in person, a mere 5 minute walking distance.
They say touching the bull brings you good luck, yet another reason
to visit! Roaming around Wall Street was intense, not going to lie.
You could almost feel the flow of money running through all the
buildings and the urgency to top that stock market.
Wanting to make the most of the day, I opted to go and see the 9/11
Memorial and Museum as well. The design, by architect Michael
Arad, is a great one to commemorate the tragic incident. The two
places where the Twin Towers stood are turned into reflecting pools
surrounded by white oak trees and the names of all the victims are
written on the edges of the marked pools. The quiet flow of water and
the rustle of leaves create a soulful aura, honoring effectively all
those involved. The museum, which holds remnants of the previous
towers, is right next to the site alongside the very expensive, and
in my opinion an architectural masterpiece, The Oculus. The latter
is basically the main transportation hub in that area consisting
of trains and subways including a fully fledged shopping mall
within. This white beautiful structure is designed by a Spanish
architect called Santiago Calatrava. According to him, it is supposed
to resemble a winged dove but to me it looked more like a Pokemon
character! The interior is as unique as it gets, all white with a spine
like chord in the middle of the ceiling, as if holding all the sides
together.
With majority of the landmarks conquered, it was time for
some relaxation and shopping, and what better place than SoHo,
standing for South of Houston Street, a treat for all the fashion
lovers. Initially known for art galleries and preferred locations
of artists, it is now a retail hub containing stores ranging from
trendy couture to high-end international chains. Much like the
entire of New York, SoHo has its own architectural presence by
having the most cast-iron buildings, creating an artistic and
urban feel. If you keep walking west towards Mulberry Street
from there, you will hit the cutest neighborhood comprising of
Italian stores and restaurants called, naturally, Little Italy.
Furthermore ahead, you hit Chinatown, bigger in size than
the former, showcasing delights from the country.