National September 11 Memorial, New York City

I didn't want to go.   In discussion about it this summer I emphatically said "NO!"   Somehow my mom convinced me that we HAD to go.  To not go would only make us feel worse.  So reluctantly I agreed.  

It is free to get in but you must make a reservation well in advance.   I booked our tickets for October 21st way back in August.   By the time of the anniversary celebrations and grand opening of the memorial on September 11th they were saying that they were booked up until December so I guess it was a good thing that I booked the tickets when I did.

Our visit started with a long queue.    That was when I realized I'd forgotten our printed reservation back in the hotel.   duh.   Guess I'm not the only one to do that since they had a booth where you could show ID and get them reprinted.   

The line up to get in was really long and winded back and forth across a big city square  6 or 7 times.    From there you were herded down alongside a construction site and inside a security building.     All bags, coats, belts and watches had to go through an x-ray machine and then you had to walk through a metal detector.   Security was pretty tight, but nobody complained. Once through security there was a narrow  fenced in area about a block long to walk until you got to the memorial and there were with multiple security checks (tickets and ID) along the way.  

   

In the line I wasn't sure how I felt about being there.  How was I was going to feel inside the memorial?  Would I be upset?  Would I feel a connection to the horrible event that took place here and the thousands who perished?  What if I didn't?  Would that make me a bad person???   I really wasn't sure what to expect from myself and from the experience.  

In the end, I'm not sure how to describe how I felt there other than to say I was moved to tears and beyond.   We stayed in the memorial for over an hour.  We didn't talk much.  We walked around the footprints of both of the WTC buildings.   We read the names of all the people who died.  We cried. We hugged.   This is pretty much what everybody else was doing too.    

Views from the Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry is a cheap-o way for tourists to see the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline.   It is FREE!!!!!  

We took the subway to the South Ferry Station and then boarded the big orange ferry.  They leave the terminal about every 30 minutes, more often during rush hour.   I was advised to go in the morning because in the afternoon the sun is behind the Statue of Liberty and it can make pictures difficult.  

As I was boarding I kept thinking about the documentary I saw about 9/11 and how the ferries and other private boats were used to evacuate people fleeing Manhattan that terrible day.   People were so terrified and panicked that they were jumping off these very piers.   O.k. enough sadness...

It was a beautiful but cool day.  The ferry was so filled with tourists that I was afraid that it might list to one side, but I guess they are used to that!  We all wanted to be on the right hand side in order to see the "green lady."  And here she is  ========>

It also gave us a great view of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.  

The new World Trade Centre Building is still under construction.  It is the tallest building you can see on the right hand side.  The top 1/3 of the building does not yet have windows, that is why it appears so dark at the top.  

Once we arrived at the Staten Island terminal we had to disembark the ferry.  We didn't want to do anything in Staten Island so we quickly ran through the terminal (with all the other tourists too) and back to the departure lounge to re-board the same boat for the return trip. 

It was kind of fun to do! 

 

Afternoon Tea with my Mom in Manhattan

 I always try to take an afternoon tea when I travel with my mom.  I knew I wanted to find the perfect tea for our trip to New York City so after much research and debate we settled on tea at the Pembroke Room in the Lowell Hotel.   What can I say....excellent decision!!!!   

The Lowell Hotel is located in a townhouse in the Upper East Side (East 63rd between Park and Madison Avenues).    One night in their cheapest room was equal to the cost of our entire 5 day 4 night trip to New York City travelling by bus and staying at an economy hotel.   LOL!  What can I say but it was pretty "swishy!"

Everything about the afternoon tea at the Lowell was delightful.   It was a relaxing respite in our hectic NYC itinerary.  A heavenly oasis in the middle of the chaotic city. 

  
The opulent room is beautiful and well suited to afternoon tea.  The walls are covered in antique mirrors imported from France.  There were fresh roses on the table and the meal was served on fine china.  There were only two other tables in use which meant it was quiet and private too.  

We each chose Earl Grey Tea to drink and were glad to see that it was loose leaf as it should be with any proper tea.   I think our server's name was Vernon.  He was friendly and attentive, always quick to bring us more hot water or fresh tea leaves when we needed it.  .   

We started with sandwiches such as quail egg, lobster salad, smoked salmon and cucumber.   They were lovely.    Then we were on to the warm cranberry and blueberry scones with Devon cream, lemon curd and strawberry preserves.  The lemon curd was a really nice touch as it is not always offered with afternoon tea.  It was delicious! 

  

   

If I had to find a complaint it would be that I had indicated in our reservation and again to our server in person  that I was allergic to strawberries and as such the strawberry preserves should never have been offered.    Some of the empty tables were set for breakfast with mini jars of jams and I'm sure they could have found raspberry or currant or any other flavour to offer us.   We moved the strawberry preserve away from my side of the table and my Mom ate some on her scones but made sure not to contaminate the Devon cream by accidentally getting some strawberry on the spoon.     This was disappointing but a minor problem in the grand scheme of things.  

We ended the tea with a variety of tiny petit fours.  Each time I bit into one of them I'd say "Oh 
is my favourite."  Then it would be "Oh this is my new favourite," and so on...  Though they were small, we simply couldn't eat all the sweets and we ended up with a little take out box, elegantly housed in a fancy Lowell Hotel shopping bag, to take home with us.

    

We were not rushed out the door, in fact I think we were there for about 2.5 hours.   We had a nice chat with the Food and Beverage Manager, Patrick,  in which I indicated that I had researched where to have tea and had looked at several web reviews before deciding on the Pembroke Room.  He had an interesting comment that he tries to impress on the staff the fact that with websites such as yelp and chowhound every customer is now a potential reviewer.   Quite right!

We reluctantly departed feeling thoroughly rested and relaxed.  My Mom and I both agree that it was quite possibly the nicest afternoon tea we had ever had (and we've had lots).      

Afterwards, we strolled down Madison Avenue and my mother was quietly singing to herself.  "It's De-lightful, It's De-lovely, It's De-Lowell!"   

It really was delightful.  A special tradition with my Mom and a perfect ending to our trip to New York City.   

Muskoka Lakes Museum Pumpkin Muffins

Description:
Thanksgiving has always been an important weekend at the Muskoka Lakes Museum. Being in cottage country, this was the weekend when the summer visitors came for one last hurrah before closing the cottage for the winter. When I worked there the museum would celebrate the end of the season by offering visitors free admission and hot apple cider and pumpkin muffins. The volunteers would bake hundreds of muffins. This is their recipe. I think the original recipe had raisins in it but since I think raisins are evil, I've omitted it.

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup oil
1 cup cooked pumpkin
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 brown sugar


Directions:
Cream together eggs and sugar, add oil and stir well. Stir in pumpkin puree. Blend together with flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and pie spice. Stir well. Spoon into baking cups. In another bowl combine chopped walnuts and brown sugar. Decorate top of muffin with a spoonful of the walnut mixture. Bake at 325 F for 20 minutes.

Kona Inn Banana Bread

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
3 bananas, ripe and mashed
2 eggs, well beaten
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

Directions:
Cream together butter and sugar. Add bananas and eggs. Sift dry ingredients. Blend wet and dry mixtures but don't overmix. Bake in a loaf pan at 350 F for 45 minutes or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

Description:
I was given this recipe about 30 years ago. It is still my favourite chocolate chip cookie. They are deliciously soft and chewy.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 6oz package chocolate chips (scant)
1/4 cup walnut pieces

Directions:
Mix together oil, sugars, egg and vanilla. Sift in flour salt and baking soda. Stir in chocolate chips and walnut pieces. There will be so many chips you will probably have to mix them in with your hand. Drop spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake at 375 F. for 8 to 10 minutes.