I was waiting for the perfect day, but by the week of May 23 it was too late to wait. I had to take the classic ride from Manhattan to Staten Island and view all the sights of the harbor that I had previously seen from my Eyrie window. So on Thursday, May 27 I took the #4 train to Bowling Green and finally the "transfer to the Staten Island Ferry" as I had heard the conductor announce on so many other MTA rides. I vaguely remember taking the ferry when I visited NYC as a 12 year old and one of my strongest memories is that it was "such a deal" at only 25 cents for a ride. Well, reader, it is an even better deal now. It's free! So those of you in the city who haven't yet taken the ferry at least once are urged to do so. What a great way to get fresh ocean air, see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Governor's Island, compare the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island with Manhattan.
On the ferry one can visualize the role of maritime geography in New York's past and present. The New York Public Library had a wonderful exhibit on Mapping New York's Shoreline that Greg and I saw a few weeks prior to this trip. Where barges now line up to wait for their turn to head out to the Atlantic, the harbor had been filled with sloops, privateers, pirate ships, clippers, steamships and battleships all navigating the Narrows to get to the Atlantic Ocean. New York developed because of the trade in tobacco, sugar, rum, agricultural produces and mercantile products. The China trade in teas, silks, opium, porcelains resulted in great wealth for many New Yorkers, including our "neighbors" Mr. Pierrepont and Mr. Low, whose brownstones were part of the Brooklyn Heights boom. New York City became the largest shipbuilding center in the world in the 19th century. And we can't forget New Jersey, which now has the bulk of shipping in the area with its massive containerized terminals at Port Newark-Elizabeth.
So on this overcast day, as I snapped poor quality photos along with all the other tourists, I relished a view of New York that many commuters may take for granted. Next time I go to New York I won't wait so long to take the best free ride in the area.
Note to my readers-as you've noticed I've not been adding many entries. I have about 2-3 more entries in my head that need to get blogged but I'm no longer in the Eyrie having returned to pastoral Ithaca.
