Memories, Museums & Missed Sunrises

One of the recreated areas in the apartments

We HAD grand plans to catch the sunrise walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and taking cinematic Instagram worthy photos. But when the alarm went off before 6am, the body said, "No, Ma’am.” So, we traded sweeping skyline views for the far more realistic option of more sleep.

Thankfully, we’d pre-purchased tickets to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which was the only thing that got our sorry selves out the hotel door. A quick stop at Le Pain Quotidien, a chain of bakery-restaurants conveniently close to the museum, provided our morning fuel. Although everything was just that little bit too sweet and little bit too salty. We did enjoy the eggnog snickerdoodle crookie (croissant-cookie hybrid). And yes it was too sweet but for those few moment before you started feeling ill, it tasted so good...

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is powerful in its simplicity. The twin reflecting pools, set within the footprints of the original towers, are inscribed with the names of the nearly 3,000 victims as a beautiful tribute. Inside, the museum takes you through the events of that day and its aftermath with great care and respect. It’s sobering and deeply moving, but not morbid or overwhelming. We spent about 90 minutes inside, though you could easily spend half a day. There were audio guides available for a free which we opted not to do as we didn't have children with us to force educate.

Reviews seemed decent and it was close to where we had to be

Not bad. And it was warm inside

The dangerous eggnog snickerdoodle crookie

One of the reflecting pools

Inside the memorial

I'll save the photos. We all remember where we were when the news broke out

Ah the USA. They certainly do big very well!

Some quick photos and details of our hotel! Lift buttons were detailed too

Corridors of the rooms were also tastefully decorated

So hard to capture the opulence. One of the floors near the entrance

The lift door

Peacock Alley

Big spaces everywhere

Housekeeping had tidied up our toiletries...

For the afternoon, we switched centuries and stories at the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side, something we highly recommend if you are in New York. We joined the Tenement Women: 1902 tour, which brings to life the experiences of immigrant women who lived and worked in these cramped apartments. It was followed by a short “tasting” tour that stopped at a local pickle shop, the last kosher one in New York.

Dinner was at Via Carota, a much-hyped Italian trattoria in the West Village with a no-reservations policy and a cult following. We arrived at 5:30pm and were told it would be an hour and a half wait...and that they would message us to come back. Um...where would we go for an hour in the cold? No thank you. We asked if we could sit where the coats and bags were kept. They said yes. Then that question was later extended to having our meal at said same place. The answer was also yes. Score to saving ourselves an hour off the waiting time. The verdict on the food? Solid, but not spectacular. Sydney’s Italian scene could teach it a thing or two about flavor and value. Still, carbs were consumed, and that’s what matters most.

Day 18: Missed the sunrise, found the soul of the city, and replenished the body with carbs.

The Tenement Museum

A short description!

A very impressive collection of relevant books

The pressed metal ceiling 

Stairway and hallway. The banister is OG from the late1800s

One of the empty apartments

This was recreated to reflect what it likely would have looked like based on photos, items found, original furniture and furnishings left behind, as well as descriptions

Up to 12 people could share the small spaces

Sleeping area

Amenities are outside and shared

Orchard St. The outsie

Pickle shop

Where we got to sample some goods

Dinner venue

The warm, rustic room where everyone else ate

The storage nook where we and a couple of Singaporeans chose to ate to save time

Deep fried calories

This was a surprise star. Olives stuffed and fried

Cacio e pepe. OK but way too salty

Octopus, again just ok.