Saturday, June 16, 2012

5:30 am

Usually we would expect some resistance from the kids when we ask them to get up so early. However, today is not an ordinary day and through the last several days of anticipation, the kids’ behavior has been anything but ordinary. Especially Chloe!

With very little nudging, Chloe and Clark are out of bed, dressed and asking if it’s time to get in the car. After one back-to-the-house turn around for a battery charger of some sort, we are headed to the airport.

7:30 am

Here we go! Anna and Clark find their seats (12B & 12C) together and Chloe and I settle in as well (7B & 7C). Chloe is quick to start her sticker book which has been reserved for this occasion because it’s travel related. She’s extra excited because one of the girls in the book named Chloe travels to NYC! In Chloe’s world of logic and order, she HAD to work on THAT sticker book on our trip to NYC.

10:30 am

The WISH team enjoys a “picnic” lunch at LaGuardia Airport.

11:35 am

Taxi from LaGuardia to Marriott Marquis

Mom: Clark, what do you think about your 1st cab ride?
Clark: Well, it’s kinda unusual and kinda cool.

a few minutes later. . .

Chloe: (as we pass Rockefeller Plaza) It’s like a different world.

12:15 pm

Times Square – Marriott Marquis

 

The view from our room

 

The WISH team in Times Square

 
As soon as we dropped our luggage in our room, we boarded a tour bus and took a tour of Midtown and Downtown. Touring the city from the top of a bus allowed us to see much more of the city (from a better vantage point) than we otherwise would have been able to see. The tour guides were able to provide helpful context for the history of the city and various other interesting tidbits.

 

 
The next few pictures were taken during the downtown bus tour we took on Saturday afternoon.

 
This is MACY’S. It takes up an entire city block. The ornate front entry was added in honor of the owners, after they perished when the Titanic sank.

 
This is the view of the Empire State Building from 34th street directly in front of MACY’S.


 
Since the bus tour was a hop on and hop off style tour, we hopped off around lower mid-town and walked a few blocks to the birthplace and childhood home of Teddy Roosevelt. During our study of US history, Clark has adopted Teddy as his favorite president.


 
This stop turned out to be a highlight because we actually met President Roosevelt himself. Wow! Who’da thought?


 
As we were also planning to visit the Museum of Natural History, we were thrilled to learn that Teddy’s father had created the museum and that the museum’s founding charter was signed in the parlor of this home.



 
New York City is a city of architectural contrast with a large and thriving commitment to historical preservation in the midst (or in the shadow) of cutting edge high-rise construction.



 
As you can see from her smile, Chloe enjoyed herself.

 
Sunday, June 17, 2012

Getting some breakfast before boarding the bus to Battery Park. We are scheduled for a visit with Lady Liberty herself. I can’t believe she found time in her busy schedule for the WISH Team.
 






 
After meeting with Ms. Liberty, she introduced us to her favorite designer. Auguste Bertholdi was very interesting to talk to and he explained how he felt as he arrived in NYC with Ms. Liberty as a centennial gift to a young nation.




 
After completing their Junior Ranger workbooks, Chloe and Clark were sworn in as Junior Ranger, pledging ON OATH that they will serve and protect Lady Liberty.

 
Next we headed over to Ellis Island. . .