Day 3 - The first snow in the Big Apple

What white thing is swirling outside when I look out of the window this morning? The first snowflakes of the season in the Big Apple. Fortunately, no blizzards are expected. About 6 inches of snow is predicted, but it would not stay on the ground. 

Fortunately, because today we have a big walk on the program. But that is only for later this afternoon.

Today we start at Ground Zero with a visit to the 9/11 museum. It has begun to snow heavily in the meantime and this creates a white scenery at the water basins that were erected as a memorial for the events of   September 9,  2001. The water basins fill the ground surface of the two collapsed towers of the World Trade Center. The blood has been washed away over the years and the white layer of snow creates a warm and cozy coat of love for all victims of the tragic events of that day. Those events, on a day that began under a cloudless sky but ended under a black ash rain, are all brought to life once again in the museum. The footage that went around the world, voicemail messages from employees who were stuck in the towers or from passengers on the hijacked planes, calls to the emergency services, the orders from the dispatch of the emergency services themselves. 

Personal belongings that were recovered in the ruins, the last column of the WTC still standing, a piece of the original wall of one of the towers, stairs through which the last survivors could flee 

and finally the pictures of the 2977 victims of that day . In this way, all those killed get a face, a voice and every victim comes with their own story. Despite their different background, their lives have the same end: they all became heroes on 9/11. Meanwhile, a new tower was built on Ground Zero. 

He was first named the Freedom Tower but is now officially called One World Trade Center. On the 100th floor is the Observatory from which you have a wide view. That is to say in good weather of course. When we arrive at the top, the snow sticks in a thick layer against the windows. But even without the view we are in the highest building of the American continent. The building is 541m high, which corresponds to 1776 feet. That height is no coincidence. 1776 is the year of the American Declaration of Independence, a symbolic meaning. The experience of being shot to the 100th floor in just a few seconds with the elevator is already worth it. The walls of the elevator are a technological highlight because it looks like the elevator has glass windows from which you have a view outside (and then in the sun J. Nicely done.

From the south of Manhatten (Financial District) we head north to Greenwich Village, more specifically West Village. We meet the first participants in the  SantaCon on the subway. SantaCon is an annual pub crawl where the participants dress up as Santa or as a Christmas figure.

I have mapped a 5-kilometer-long walk through the beautiful streets of West Village.

We start in SOHO (South of Houston) with Spring, Prince, Mercer, Greene, Wooster and Broome Street. Every street has houses with cast-iron facades in beautiful colors and with the well-known fire stairs.

For me, the real New York and the real heart of the Big Apple. What is also real is the snow. Is it me or are the flakes becoming thicker and falling more and more? What is certain is that the snow provides an idyllic framework. Bare trees suddenly turn into trees decorated with shimmering diamonds. Cars get buried under a blanket of snow crystals. The snow creates a beautiful white curtain for our eyes ... but also for a winter landscape on the footpath. Because in contrast to the weather forecast, the snow remains on the ground. Our walk will take a little longer, because we have to be careful. It is very slippery. But that does not spoil the fun. Snow in  New York at Christmas time enhances  the experience. We cross Houston on our way to NOHO (North of Houston) also called the new SOHO. With Bleeker, Carmine and Bedford Street they  have a few gems (or rather snow crystals) in their hands. It is beautiful in the dark of the evening and with few Christmas lights. Participants to SantaCon are also making the streets unsafe here. They walk from bar to bar, café to cafe, pub to pub. In some cases I would call it more stumbling or almost crawling. Because yes, all that drinking has its effect. Not everyone likes to see them because excessive drinking often leads to aggression and vandalism.

In the quiet Bedford Street covered with a thick layer of snow, we stop at number 90 which was used in the series Friends  as the exterior view of the apartment where our friends lived. 

A little further we find Perry Street. At number 66 is the townhouse located used in the series Sex And the City. Carrie Bradshaw lived here, so to speak. 

In the series she spoke the for me legendary and the once on me applicable words : Maybe some women aren’t meant to be tamed. Maybe they just need to run free till they find someone just as wild to run with. 22 years ago I found my running buddy 😉.