I like hanging out in Battery Park, especially Castle Clinton. I like to imagine that my great grandparents passed through there while it was an immigration hub. I know what you're thinking, "But Max, the New York Public Library should have those records, go forth and find your ancestors!". I tried. I did not find them. It is possible that they changed, or was forced to change, their names when they came here from Poland. I did find a few couples with the same first names as them, but I couldn't be sure past that small similarity, that it was my great grandparents. I can't ask my grandma, due to her Alzheimer's.
Battery Park is a great place for People-Watching. I like to see all the tourist families buying tickets to the Statue of Liberty, watching couples argue about where to eat dinner, watch the rats fight over who gets the lion's (or rat's) share of the pizza dropped by a child. My dad used to work on Wall Street, so I would spend a lot of time there, waiting for the market to close so he can take me somewhere new and exciting. I miss you, Dad.
I snuck to the top of the World Trade Center today! I'll use that photo as the thumbnail for this blog post, but here is a picture of the statue at the base of the buildings.
I heard this thing weighs 45,000 pounds! Incredible!
I read a bit about Fritz Koenig's life, too, and he is incredible. A World War II survivor; he was a P.O.W. in Germany. After the war, he studied in Munich, Paris (I wish!), and Rome. I would love to see his art installations in Germany.
Enough of the history lesson. "Today, I didn't even have to use my A.K.... I have to say it was a good day". Sorry for the Ice Cube reference but that is how I felt.
Max
mors certa, vita incerta