Thursday 13th May 2010 New York

Hi it’s the fabulous Lauren! Today we got up at 6am to walk up the statue of liberty! So we walked to the boats and we arrived 1 ½ hours early (they said the boat leaves at 8pm and to be there half an hour early, well the first boat did not leave till 9am). Wait wait wait muffin wait wait. We went through security and hopped on the boat off we go to the statue of liberty. We arrived and put all of our gear in the lockers bye bye water. Before going up we looked at the museum. Finally it’s time to go up. First lot of steps was 182 just for the base so not in her yet. Olivia and Thomas stayed in the base with Dad. Me and mum went up 354 steps! It was so scary but fun. Huh huh huh water. The steps were so narrow. Up the top was so cool, so high and wow!!!!! Got some pics and down we went. When we got to the Crown there were some camera crew and it was rolling I said that it was so cool when we past the camera crew so I’m hoping that will be on TV! After dad went up and came down while we looked after Olivia and Thomas. We went down got our stuff and had lunch [I had yogurt cup and French fries.] We went on the boat [jammed pack] we were the absolute lucky last to get on that boat (the next one was half an hour). Next we went to the memorial where the 2 tallest Building towers fell to see the 9-11 Memorial Museum. After we went to the rv for a nap because tonight we are going to the lion king show. Zzzzzzzzzzzz. 6pm up and awake a little late. Dinner yum yum in a hurry. Run run, train train walk walk and arrived just in time. It was pretty realistic with all the costumes and affects. My fav. character was the monkey she was a great singer and really funny. It was exactly like the lion king book but way funnier. Out of 5 I give 4 ½ it was really cool. my fav bit was when the hog pig thing who was a little coo coo said I think those sparkly things in the sky are big balls of gas and romone said the smarter one said no they are fireflies stuck to a wall it was funny when you were there. It ended in a blasting finish it was soooooo cool. The boy who played samba wasn’t that good. We caught the train back at 12: oo at night to the rv and slept. That was a marvelous day. I miss my fans in NZ it was hot that day get it ha ha.
Statue of Liberty is still impressive (first visit 27 years ago) and always will be its as American Pie as it gets. It has the most elaborate security that I have come across anywhere, but Im sure it needs to be. Our timing was good as in another couple of months they are shutting her down for more renovations. Ground zero was an important visit I thought for the kids as it has changed so much in the way everybody world-wide now feels and travels. I hope they grasped the enormity of it all. I have been to the top of the twin towers (Geoff here) and was 1 day short of flying out to New Orleans which was consequently cancelled so it took on a more personal angle for me.