Happy 4th (on the 5th)

Last night when we were watching the fireworks from NYC and DC I realized I had some pix that would have been ideal to share on the 4th of July.  So what the heck, no biggie that I am a day late... right?!

Grand Central Station

Ellis Island: Registry Room

Statue of Liberty & Lower Manhattan

A quick note on the middle photo... if your ancestors emigrated via Ellis Island that was one of the first stopping places in their new home.  Believe it or not, this was my first trip to Ellis Island (it re-opened to the public shortly after I moved to Arizona).  Both myself and Todd agreed that it had a very heavy unsettled spirit (almost creepy) feel to it.  I guess your initial thinking or looking back revisionism views it as a "happy" place.  But reading some of the stories and hearing the voices of some immigrants you quickly realized how scary and confusing those first hours (and often days and sometimes weeks) must have been, especially after what had to been a traumatic trans-Atlantic journey.