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I was curious
about the clean-up progress in Lower
Manhattan, so I took a trip to the area. The closest
subway for me is the Lexington Avenue 4 and 5. This is a
picture of the John Street stop where I get off. The streets in the
area are rather narrow, but the police barricades make it more difficult
to maneuver. Some streets are completely blocked off.
The Century 21 store is located on the left side of the street, right
beyond the scaffold. The store has been closed since the September 11th
tragedies and just re-opened on Thursday February 28, 2002. This
symbolizes progress.
The open area at the end of the street is where
World Trade Center One and Two once stood.
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click for large image
in a SEPARATE WINDOW
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click for large image
in a SEPARATE WINDOW
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A viewing platform for the World Trade Center has been built to
accommodate the large numbers of people who visit the area to see the
disaster site. To gain access to the platform, a ticket is required.
The tickets are available only at South Street Seaport, seen here on the
left.
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South Street Seaport is located approximately 8 blocks East of the former
World Trade Center site.
The ticket booth is situated at the Seaport to help create
more pedestrian traffic in Lower Manhattan. Merchants in the area are
hurting economically since September 11th because of a decrease in
pedestrians. Viewing times are assigned to each ticket, and there is
often a two hour waiting period. During this time visitors can shop in
the area.
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click for large image
in a SEPARATE WINDOW
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click for large image
in a SEPARATE WINDOW
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To reach the viewing platform, pedestrians must walk West again. The
viewing area is surrounded by police barricades, and policemen and guards
stand ready to collect the tickets.
While waiting to gain entry to the platform, you can observe a
collection of posters and t-shirts in memory
of the September 11 events. People from all over the world have written
personal messages and prayers, and have sent them to New Yorkers.
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click for large image
in a SEPARATE WINDOW
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I will now try to give you a 270-degree view of the viewing platform area
and its surroundings. Behind the fence where the Salem, Oregon flag hangs is
St. Paul's Chapel,
which was built in 1766 and is part of the Parish of
Trinity Church.
Although the Chapel is located right across the Street from the former
World Trade Centers, miraculously no damage was sustained. St. Paul's,
where George Washington once worshipped while President, is a twenty-four
hour relief center for the World Trade Center rescue workers.
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click for large image
in a SEPARATE WINDOW
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This is a front row view of where the World Trade Center once
stood, from the top of the viewing platform. There
isn't really much to see because the viewing platform is not high enough
to closely observe the clean-up crew and machinery . Still, there is
something comforting about being on the platform and at the site.
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This is as close a view as I can get from the platform. |
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