New York City | Monday

Monday morning we started our day out by visiting the 9/11 Memorial. We had reservations for the first time slot so we didn't really have to wait in line. It was a very humbling experience. It's hard to believe what happened there 11 years ago and how it changed our daily lives.

Freedom Tower...when it's completed it will be the tallest building in the United States

Pretty morning

This is the South tower memorial - the names of all those killed go around the 2 waterfalls

The memorial with the museum they are building in the background

Freedom Tower

More construction 

The survivor tree - a callery pear tree that was planted in the 70's that survived the attacks even though it was badly burned and had only 1 living branch. It was replanted in the Bronx after it was recovered from the rubble. The tree was then uprooted in 2010 during a storm but also survived this :) It will be the only tree on the memorial site that is not a swamp oak tree.

Memorial Museum that is being built

After walking through the memorial site we walked down to Battery Park. Unfortunately there is still damage that can be seen from Sandy. The park and the subway station was closed and I had awful cell reception. After walking around for a little bit we took the subway uptown and went to Eataly.

Battery Park

While walking down the block to Eataly we came across the fanciest Home Depot ever!! I guess New Yorkers have stuff to build too :)

Eataly is an Italian market that also has restaurants. It's really fun to look around at all the different products imported from Italy - as well as all the fresh food they sell - such as gelato and homemade pasta! We shared a pasta for lunch (because we were pizza-d out) and then shared a peppermint gelato - Yum!!

Eataly - Clever name!

It was so nice - there was no one there! When my mom and I went last year it was packed!

mmm...some of the homemade pasta!

Flatiron Building...NYC icon!

Madison Square Park

After Eataly we took the subway back to Rockefeller Center because I wanted to get some pictures of the tree without the scaffolding!

Such a cute little reindeer!

Justin

Me

Our 2nd & last pic together!!

Overall we had a wonderful trip and I loved not having a schedule and doing a mix of touristy/local things! I never get tired of this city and Christmas time is my favorite time to go...this is the 3rd year I've been around that time...maybe next year we can make it 4?