New York, New York (Part 1)

After a four hour train ride from Boston, and checking into our hotel, we ventured out to explore the sights and sounds of New York.  After surviving a heavy rainstorm, we made our way onto the New York Water Taxi where, despite the wind, we enjoyed views of the City from the Hudson River.

From Battery Park, we walked to the World Trade Center site to remember and reflect at the 9/11 Memorial.

Afterward, me met up with our friend Carly for some snacks and drinks.

Our hotel was near Grand Central Terminal, the largest train station in the world (by number of platforms), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

In addition to the "real" trains, lots of subways go through Grand Central and we used the subway system to get all around town.

The trains were often crowded, and although she was a little wary, Ava was fine sitting in between strangers.

A short train ride away was the Empire State Building, as seen in the film classics King Kong and Sleepless in Seattle (neither of which Ava has yet seen).

Just down the street from the Empire State Building is Macy's at Herald Square, self-proclaimed as the World's Largest Store.

We spent most of July 4th in Central Park - visiting the Zoo and Arsenal, climbing rocks, eating at the Boathouse, and trying our hands at boating on the pond.

After enjoying some of New York's natural beauty, we found the other end of New York's spectrum at Times Square where we were all overwhelmed by electronic billboards, hordes of tourists, and freaks.