Probably because of the jet lag, I feel extremely tired when I woke up on my first day in the US. I couldn’t move around much when a friend visited me in the hotel. He told me that the only way to get rid of jetlag is to hydrate and walk around New York.
One World Trade Center as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey
Escalators at Exchange Place PATH Station going to Lower Manhattan
After settling in we hop onto a PATH train and headed to Lower Manhattan. Exchange Place station is quite clean and the vending machine for MetroCard works well enough for a tourist like me. Being a first timer of PATH trains , I was amazed how they built such tunnel railroads linking Jersey City to Manhattan. Shaking off every bump as the train moves along the sharp curve railroads we arrived at the World Trade Center PATH station.
One World Trade Center
As the train doors open it's like a scene from your favorite spy-thriller movie as people dash to the turnstile exits. People coming at you and coming from behind, be prepared to do your quick dodge steps to avoid nudging them. By the time you’re at the turnstile, you need to deal with the long escalators – make sure to stand on the right side if you’re not going to climb the stairs.Finally getting out of the station I was lost for words when I saw the Ground Zero, former site of the World Trade Center. Being there it gave me a glimpse of what it must have been like to be in New York on that fateful day of Sept 11,2001. I couldn’t see anything on the open space but tarp surrounding them and cranes. Still we pause for a minute and paid respect to those who lost their lives in during 911. Wandering across the street, visitors can see the rebuilding of the World Trade Center. The One World Trade Center (1WTC) may be still undergoing construction but looking at it from the ground it beams a sense of union and pride that symbolizes the whole of America.
St. Paul Chapel
Across the street from the World Trade Center towers is the church of St. Paul, built in 1776 which was modeled after St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. It is said that the first US President George Washington worshipped here on his inauguration day.
St. Paul churchyard
Baring witnessed to the horrific events of the 911 attacks, the church was spared from the devastation. In the weeks following the incident, the church served as a vital refuge for people searching for their family and friends.
