CYED @ NYC: LIBERTY AND ELLIS – ICON OF FREEDOM AND NEW BEGINNINGS

Visiting the Statue of Liberty have always been a dream of ours, given that it is one of the most visited landmarks of New York, it is by far the most iconic statue in the world as it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some says that it’s just a tourist attraction in the Big Apple but we think it’s more of a National Park, and the Lady Liberty is a National Monument standing on a pedestal on the Liberty Island.

Edward and I took the Statue Cruises ferry which leaves from Battery Park- and at that time is fully covered with snow! ( Statuecruises.com is the official ticketing site for visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and you should reserve your ticket in advance!) But, thanks to our New York CityPASS  ( a good value way to see lots of sights, you can save 40% or more on NYC’s attractions) we just show our CityPass at the ticket booth and we are good to go! But if you’re in tight budget you can go with the Staten Island Ferry which offers a 25-minute free service that connects Staten Island and Manhattan.  

We consider our ferry ride a free-sightseeing cruise! Why? Because from the top level of our boat you will see the fantastic views of Manhattan and you will see the Liberty from every angle possible, no bad sides to consider! She’s a real photogenic. She’s a perfect epitome of beauty and grace and because she is Ms. United States! Very beautiful from a far and seeing her getting closer and closer is truly breathtaking and jaw-dropping. So, we stopped at the Liberty Island first where our tickets grant us access to the pedestal, a viewing platform halfway to the monument. Sad to say, we weren’t able to go into the crown because it needs to be booked in advance because of limited tickets to the Crown Reserves (the hottest headpiece in town!), but it didn’t limit our experience a bit.

To give you a bit of history, her full name is Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, and she was a gift to the United States of America from the people of France to congratulate them with their independence and abolition of slavery in 1886. The pedestal is made of granite and Liberty is actually made of copper. Fun fact: Do you know why she was always green? It is because of oxidation, a chemical reaction which causes a green film to develop when copper is exposed to oxygen and it took years before the Lady Liberty is completely covered by the green film. Another prominent feature is the seven rays in her crown , which symbolises the seven continents of the world. Furthermore, the overall height from the foundation to the tip of the torch is 305 feet and 6 inches, with a 35 feet waistline and weighs 204 tons. She holds a torch in her right and in her left a tablet inscribed July 4, 1776 in Roman Numerals, the date of US Independence and a broken shackle and chain at her feet commemorating the end of oppression and tyranny.

Our next stop is Ellis Island (we recommend to give yourself at least an hour to explore the island) And as we’re living in Ireland, we thought we should visit it to looked back from the mass exodus of Irish people during Great Famine in 1800s and followed their journey from Cobh (a town in Ireland) to NY which is carefully thought as tragic and uplifting. It is considered a poetic symbol of American dream for the reason that it was a major portal for more those millions of immigrants entering the US, but unfortunately many never made it as they we’re singled out from entering the US due to medical quarantines. It is a very informative immigration museum, beautifully restored and definitely expands our’s perspective as we walked to the evocative series of exhibits and amazing collections of artifacts from American history. Truly, a world-class experience.

We can say that NYC is a remarkable city. Visiting the Liberty and Ellis Island alone, you’ll understand why USA is so multicultural. That’s why it was such an interesting, humbling experience that fulfilled our childhood fantasies. It is MAGNIFICENT AND SURPRISING.