New York - Day 6

After a late night seeing "Maybe Happy Ending" on Broadway and then wandering around, shopping and eating in Times Square, everyone was pretty tired so our Saturday morning didn’t start until 10:30 AM. This was quite a popular choice.  

~ Click Here To See All The Photos From The Trip ~ 

(Note: "Maybe Happy Ending" got really good reviews from our students.  It's a sweet story about two Korean robots - 'helper bots' - who fall in love but must navigate the fact that they both have a shelf life that is coming to an end.  The set design is quite impressive and the story is very bittersweet.  It brought several of our students to tears. The show certainly gets a thumbs up from us) 

We left the hotel on the subway and got off at Rockefeller Center for some browsing around and the requisite stop into the Lego store. Who knew?

 From there, we walked up 5th Ave., past Trump Tower and the Plaza Hotel before entering Central Park. The city is preparing for the New York City half marathon on Sunday that starts in Prospect Park (Brooklyn) and finishes in Central Park.  Joggers, vendors, first aid tents and sunny blue skies added an extra vitality and life to the park today.  It was great.

Once in the park, we walked up "Literary Row" to the Bethesda Fountain and then over to Strawberry Fields and the Dakota building. It was leisurely, but a must do and see when you’re in New York. 

We then hopped on the subway and came back to Midtown for lunch and a bag drop at the hotel. After lunch, we walked up to Grand Central Station where the Summit at One Vanderbilt is located.  Summit  is a fairly new destination spot that has a four-story observation deck located on the 91st floor of the One Vanderbilt building. With 360° panoramic New York City views,  mirrored rooms, glass ledges, and an outdoor terrace and café...  it feels like a perfect Saturday afternoon activity. 

 We spent about an hour and a half there taking in incredible views of the city along with plenty of pictures before heading back to the hotel. Tonight, people want to do some shopping and have dinner here in Midtown near Herald Square.  Tomorrow morning we depart for the airport and home.

Our trip to New York has been great, but my sense is that we’re starting to get tired.  Kalifiah pointed out that we had consecutive days where we walked 12½  and 11½  miles.  After a week, it’s starting to show 😀

New York - Day 5

Our day started in downtown Manhattan at Battery Park with a pretty decent view of the Statue of Liberty. I’ve been out there and seen that statue dozens of times, seeing her standing there with lifting her lamp next to the Golden Door, welcoming people from all over the world into America. Somehow, it felt a bit different this time given our world and what’s going on.  I was glad we went out there and talked about who she is and what she represents standing there in the harbor.

~ Click Here To See All The Photos From The Trip ~ 

After that, we walked up and took some funny, goofy pictures with the Wall Street bull before heading over to the corner of Wall and Broad Streets - right out in front of the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall.  

I love standing at that intersection and telling the story of George Washington being inaugurated at Federal Hall in 1789; of the Sons of Liberty and the Stamp Act Congress meeting there in 1765 and first uttering the phrase "No Taxation Without Representation"; and of the infamous Wall Street bombing of 1920 that set off the 'Red Scare" of the decade that resembles our own immigration hysteria today.   The students obliged me and were kind and attentive in their listening. I gave them all very high marks and appreciated that 😀

We then walked over to Trinity Church and the graveyard outside - where Alexander Hamilton, the Scheyler sisters, Hercules Mulligan, and some of the other characters from the musical 'Hamilton' are buried.  

We then went over to the Ground Zero site and took in the memorials of the North and South towers, the 'Survivor tree", and the sanctuary that is and belongs to that area. Hard to believe that the students wouldn’t be born for another six or seven years after 9/11. For us adults, that day still is still very vivid, and very fresh in our memories.  

 We then hopped on the subway into Brooklyn and had lunch on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. After lunch, we walked along the Promenade for some of the most spectacular views of lower Manhattan that exist. Plenty of great picture taking for sure. 

We then braved the cold and strolled across the Brooklyn Bridge. For all the grumbling and complaining about having to "walk all the way over the bridge", I think the students actually enjoyed it.

Tonight we’re going to a Broadway show ("Maybe Happy Ending") and then we'll have some free time in Times Square. Tomorrow we’re going to go through Rockefeller Center and Central Park among other things. 

New York - Day 4

Leaving Boston was bittersweet. We certainly had a great three days in Boston.  It’s quaint, charming, historic, and certainly full of “Boston Pride."  I don’t think anyone in our group had any complaints about visiting Boston. 

~ Click Here To See All The Photos From The Trip ~ 

 

Still, as we left the excitement to finally get to New York was evident.  We boarded Amtrak at about 10 am and 3½ hours later we were in New York. From Penn Station - as we came up the escalator and out onto the busy, bustling Manhattan street - I overheard one of the boys say “I like Boston, but I think I’m more of a New York guy." 😀

After checking into the hotel and getting some lunch, we took the subway down to the Village/Washington Square Park/NYU.  The weather has certainly changed from the first day we arrived in Boston. I think it may have been below 30° and lightly snowing, so needless to say Washington Square Park and the streets around NYU were pretty empty.   

Still, I think the students enjoyed being down there; hearing some of the stories about the history of the park and visiting the site of the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist fire. 

 From there, we walked through Soho and down to Little Italy for dinner at Sofia‘s. It was really nice having a group dinner together. Plenty of lively talk and plenty of debate.  Much of the spirited debate seemed to feature Rumi and Will on one side and the entire rest of the group on the other. I'm not sure what the topic was... but it was priceless.  

 After dinner, we got dessert at Ferrara around the corner and then got on the subway and headed back uptown to Times Square. 

 Times Square is... well, Times Square. People dressed in Spider-Man outfits, Elmo impersonators, Mickey Mouse costumes...  I mean, how many times consecutively can you hear Beyonce's "New York" blaring out of a boombox or from a passing car? 

 But, the energy and excitement seems to be made for teenagers. We spent about an hour in Times Square before walking back down Broadway - turning left on W. 35th - and arriving back to our hotel.

Tomorrow morning, we’re going all the way downtown for a viewing of the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Federal Hall, Trinity Church, and Ground Zero. We'll also have lunch in Brooklyn, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, and enjoy a Broadway show. Should be fun.  

Boston - Day 3

Our second morning was timely and smooth. We left the hotel on time and headed for our 9:30 AM tour of Fenway Park. For those who don’t know, Boston is a BIG sports town and I’m not sure there’s any team more adored by Bostonians then the Red Sox. I mean, it feels like Bostonians REALLY love the Red Sox. 

~ Click Here To See All The Photos From The Trip ~ 

Our tour guide was an old Irish guy named Joe who knew more about the Red Sox: the stadium, the team, their history, the players, the traditions, the heartbreaks, the triumphs, etc., than anyone I can imagine.  Coupled with his thick Boston accent, we couldn’t have had a better tour guide. 

 

Joe told us stories past and present - from the type of grass they use to re-sod the field each year, to the longest home run ever hit in the stadium, to the visitors locker room sponsors, to the line of people who have owned the team,  to the type of wood the stadium is built with, to where the steel used to build the seats is imported from, to the history of the Red Sox announcers, to the reasoning behind the architecture of the stadium and the "green monster", etc...  Basically, he knew everything and loved everything Red Sox which made our tour all the better. 

 

 I think even the non-baseball fans in the group enjoyed the tour. After we left the park, we walked a few blocks into Boston University, where we stroll through the campus briefly before walking down the Charles River Esplanade.

 

 After a stroll along the Esplanade, we found lunch at the "Timeout Market".  The food market is compromised of 15 eateries with a variety of foods from some of Boston’s top chefs and restaurants. Apparently, all the eateries are handpicked by an editorial team of Bostonian foodies. It was perfect for our group. 

 

 After lunch, we took the subway back to Boston Common, where we started our "Freedom Trail" tour. The tour takes us from Boston Common (the park) to Granary Burying Ground (cemetery) to the Old State House & the site of the "Boston Massacre" to the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church (lanterns: "one by land, two by sea") to the Bunker Hill Monument. 

 

 Along the way you see the gravesites of John Hancock, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams; places where the Sons of Liberty met to plan the Boston Tea Party, balconies where the Declaration of Independence was first read to Bostonians in July of 1776, the site of the old school attended by Benjamin Franklin, Sam Adams and John Hancock, and the meeting hall that the Marquis de Lafayette called the "Cradle of American Liberty."  

 Essentially it’s a U.S. history teachers' dream... and I think most of the students got at least something out of it 😀. We ended the afternoon with a pastry at the famous Mike’s Pastry Italian bakery followed by a short rest before dinner tonight.  Tomorrow morning board Amtrak - headed for New York City.

Boston - Day 2

We woke up on our first full day in Boston to sunshine, which turned into mid 70° spring-like weather. It couldn’t have been better. After several alarms apparently failed to go off (??), which made a few people late 😠, we finally got ourselves out of the hotel and headed towards Harvard University. Former student, 2014 alum, and former Saint Mary’s teacher Aureo Mesquita ("Mr. Mesquita") was our tour guide for the day.  

~ Click Here To See All The Photos From The Trip ~ 

He showed up with Panthers gear on his body and nothing but love and excitement for our group in his heart. Mr. Mesquita actually taught six or seven of the students on our trip, which was a big, added bonus. He's currently studying public policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. His tour through Harvard - his storytelling about Harvard Yard, his knowledge of some of the history of the campus, his access to campus buildings, and his genuine interest in our students – all made the visit nothing short of incredible.  No doubt that Saint Mary’s loss of Mr. Mesquita was certainly Harvard's gain.  

We also visited the Natural History Museum, which seemed to be a hit for the students. After having lunch around Harvard, we hopped on the red line and came back in town to the Massachusetts State House for a guided tour.  

The state house was built in 1795 on land bought from the John Hancock family. It was reported that Sam Adams and Paul Revere actually laid the cornerstone of the building. I was surprised at the level of access we were granted. We were able to enter both the House of Representatives and the Senate chambers.  We were even able to enter the governors office area. 

The style and grandeur of the building is such a reminder that buildings like that are no longer built. Sad. 

After our house visit, we walked over to the museum of science and took in an IMAX show on "Deep Space." 

It was the story of the building of the James Webb telescope and the stories behind the images it has sent back.  The theater was spectacular as was the presentation. However, when teenagers are put into a dark room with cozy chairs in the middle of the afternoon not all of them are able to stay awake :-)

Tonight we are going to the Boston Burger Company for dinner, followed by a trip to "Kings Dining and Entertainment" – a place that has neon bowling, an arcade, Jenga tables, foosball, billiards, etc. it should be fun? 😀 Tomorrow we have a tour of Fenway Park in the morning, followed by a Boston University campus stroll before we come back in town to walk the "Freedom Trail."