The one with Day 1 in New York City.

Before we came we got the New York Pass which ended up being the best thing ever.  You pay a certain amount, depending on how many days you want it to last, and you an do this entire book of sites, tours, ferry rides, observation decks, so many things for "free" technically--but not because you paid for the pass, you get it.  We got to experience so many things, way more than we would have without the pass, I totally recommend it, as long as you are there for at least 7 days.  We did all the math before we got the pass to, and it saved us so much money over all. 

The first morning we got up, had breakfast and planned out some days.

Luca of course needed to be involved.

Then we went up, and got ready for our long exploring day.  Luca was ready and waiting for a while.

This is the street their house was on, Jose said he could never live in houses this close......I  laughed, mainly because our house is almost this close to our neighbors.

The house on the left is where we stayed.  It was adorable, old and had so much character, and also a staircase that could have killed me.

We headed out to the train with Leo--Joses cousin, Jocelyn's, husband, since it was our first time, he told us the ropes and walked us through things.  We wouldn't have minded him coming along the whole time to just carry the stroller around.  The train station was only 2 1/2 blocks from their house--and its right by a ton of restaurants and little corner stores--which is where we bought water and drinks everyday for our adventures--3 for $1 was ridiculously better than the $2-$3 for one in the city.

Luca tricked us into thinking that he loved the train, which would soon become not the case, but I don't blame him, it did get boring.  We usually got the iPad out for the ride just to keep him quietly occupied.  We usually became packed like sardines so we couldn't let him wander if he wanted.

The stop by their house was the last/first of the line, so coming or going we had the car to ourselves for a bit, but never long enough for Lucas standards.

Leo does construction in the city, and is working on a project just kitty corner to the new One World Trading Center--so we got off the train with him, had some pizza, and then did some wandering.

We went to the memorials for the Twin Towers first, but Luca was being such a 2 year old that I couldn't enjoy myself, and was too frustrated.  So we left, and came back later when I could.

We wandered down to Times Square and just explored a little.  Luca ended up falling asleep, which was much needed-for him.

Our tiny stroller however we realized was not so awesome for this.

We were going to go to Discovery Times Square that had a bodies exhibit, and a random hunger games one, but it was when Luca was asleep--and guess what, no strollers allowed.  So we didn't.

We walked with him tipped, and rode the train with him tipped so that his head wouldn't fall forward.

After that we went back to the 9/11 memorial and museum and went through that.  Luca was awake, but much more behaved so I could enjoy it.

It was amazing.  I am so glad we waited to come back so that I could really enjoy it and not worry about Luca.

^^^ that is a piece of the tower hanging on the wall, and you can see a little of the fire truck downstairs.

Dedication Corner Stone.

This is that same piece of the Tower from the other picture.  It was seriously massive--I never really could grasp the enormous size of these buildings until I saw these things.

Part of the Satellite at the very top of the tower.

And the fire truck that was buried by the rubble.

That same piece again--and the picture shows you where it came from.

We weren't allowed to take pictures in the main museum area, and I totally know why, so I respected that.  It was incredibly touching, tragic and horrible.  I just don't know what to think.  Even now.

This past anniversary of 9/11 I watched the live coverage on youtube of the attacks, and I was talking to Nicole the whole time.  Before the 2nd Tower was hit,  I just kept questioning why they hadn't evacuated yet--there was some time to get people out, but they nobody came out--why didn't they do it??
I learned why at the museum.  They were told not to evacuate, they were told that if they were in the process of evacuating, they needed to go back to their desks, because they were safe.
Obviously some people still left, but that is why.  They still believed it was an accident, they didn't know what was happening, and I am sure they just wanted to calm people down.
I can't imagine being that person, that would take a ridiculous amount of therapy I am sure, if he survived, which I have no idea if he did.

This whole museum was just quiet, peaceful, and completely full of the spirit.  I know everyone there could feel it, even Luca was quiet for the most part, just watching.  I'm sure he could feel the sacredness.

There were heroic stories of those people that risked their own lives to help save others, survivor stories, phone calls made from the towers, from the planes, and quotes from witnesses.  It was truly a horrific day, and I cannot imagine what it took to be involved.

They had this virtual map of the world, and you could write your message to anyone there and it would show up in the area you live.  There were very touching messages.

Luca chose to get a police car in the gift shop there--and man are the sounds annoying, but he loves it, and it occupied him for a long time on several days of the trip.

^^the death stairs. 

We went to dinner with the family later that night, we called it a day early, around 5:30 for Lucas sake, and it ended up being a good idea.  We had so much fun--Luca and Scarlett--next to Leo--were buds.  And again, iPads for the children who should have been in bed.