Month: October 2016

Virginia is for lovers. And traffic. And carcasses. Short of rush hour in Los Angeles I have never sat in traffic longer and for no apparent reason than in Virginia. I’ve done it twice now thanks to prescriptions I had to pick up at a Kroger pharmacy. You would think that all the dead deer would be the reason for the traffic but people just keep hitting them until they’re pancakes. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’d say that they don’t have anyone picking them up – but how could they? Anyone blocking a lane in that traffic would be Chris Christie-ed out of a job (or human roadkill)!!!!

I really didn’t want to put any money into the North Carolina economy (I’m a huge supporter of human rights – including LGBTQ) but did stop to get my first legitimate taste of Carolina BBQ. I’ve gotta say that I like it. It was a buffet (everything is here for some reason) and I don’t love buffets. So, I ordered off the menu – a combo plate with fried chicken, chopped pork, coleslaw, beans and “stew”. The fried chicken was unapologetically greasy and delicious. It almost had a tempura feel. I doused it in their vinegar sauce which I could drink. 

The chopped pork and coleslaw were the best – the consistency of baby food – but in a super good way. Again, doused in vinegar sauce. The stew was corn, lima beans and what I’m guessing was more chopped pork – tasty but weird. If I sleep tonight it will be a miracle – I drank a gallon of unsweetened tea. When I left, the gal serving me chased me down with a huge styrofoam cup to go (made me think of my friend Brenda)!

That was the only money I spent in North Carolina. But I did see my first – for real – cotton field. It took me a minute to figure out what it was. I always tried to identify crops that I drive by and I’d never seen such a white one! I was hauling ass by so didn’t get a picture.

I broke my rule and drove in the dark. I really wanted to make it to Myrtle Beach today and Virginia traffic fucked up my program. I’m camping in a Walmart tonight and it’s too hot to sleep (not to mention the tea). I anticipated this issue and made reservations awhile back for the next three nights in Savannah. 

I am approaching the conclusion of my journey and have decided that from this point on I’m not killing myself to get an education everywhere I go. I’m partying down! In Savannah I go on a ghost tour and may break my buffet repulsion to go to Lady & Sons (think Paula Deen). I’m going to try to go to places that we’re in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I just can’t believe that The Lady Chablis died last month!!! It makes me sick that I didn’t get to see her perform. I’m still going to Club One for a drag show.

Then on to Atlanta to see Susie. I’ve managed to hold onto three bottles of wine I got in New York for our visit. And then…..New Orleans where I made reservations at the only RV park literally in the French Quarter. No more commutes for this old lady. I’m right in the thick of it. I’m drinking, eating and jazzing until the break of day.  I fully intend to do at least one walk of shame in New Orleans – I expect you to hold me to it. 

Speaking of Jazz….one of the biggest reasons I like to travel alone? I get to listen to Jazz. Crazy, doesn’t-make-sense Jazz. It’s what my brain likes more than any other music. My heart loves rap, pop & country – but my brain digs Jazz. Jazz is music that is hard to play for a crowd. Nothing brings down a popping party faster than putting on Miles Davis. But driving down the road by myself? It’s perfect. I’ve played every Spotify playlist to death. I’ve banned it for the last month so I wouldn’t be jazzed out before I got to New Orleans. Today I allowed myself some Blues…..but that’s a slippery slope right to Pat Martino. 

Onward….♋+♊

I went on a night tour of DC monuments. It was beautiful and long. Here are the highlights:

White House

Andrew Jackson

Jefferson

Washington. It’s the best – you can see it from all the others. It’s also the tallest freestanding stone structure in the world. It’s taller than the biggest pyramid. 

Dr Martin Luther King Jr

Korea. It’s really beautiful. A troop moving through a field. 

Lincoln. I never knew his hands are signing his initials. Everything on him means something. Also it’s where MLK gave his “I have a dream” speech. There’s a mark where he stood. It’s so beautiful that I lost track of time and had to pound on the bus as it was pulling away. My bad. 

Marine War Memorial (aka Iwo Jima Memorial). It’s the largest bronze sculpture in the US. 

Because I didn’t get home until nearly midnight I’m not sure how much I’ll get to see before I head south. We shall see. 

Onward ♋+♊

Let me begin by saying…. Happy Birthday Kristi! I miss our weekend shifts like a crackhead in rehab misses crack. 

Today I took public transportation into downtown Washington DC. I got off the subway at the National Archives / Navy Memorial and headed to the White House. It was exactly what I expected. White and guarded. 

Everywhere you go in the National Mall area there are classes of kids. What a privilege. I hope someday they understand their experience is one that the majority of people (let alone children) in the United States will never get. I’ve got some thoughts about something I saw – but I’ll tag that rant onto the end of my blog so you don’t have to read it. 

From the White House I caught a bus to the Smithsonian air and space museum. I really wanted to see the space shuttle. Duh. It’s at the other space museum out by the airport. Still, I did enjoy looking around. I’ll try to get to the space shuttle on Friday – along with Arlington and the changing of the guards. 

Then I walked through the National sculpture garden. 

​​
The last video is a Lichtenstein- completely flat. I know my video is bad but it does capture the remarkably clever illusion. 

Then on to the Smithsonian museum of natural history.  Soooo good. It breaks down everything from beginning to end. There is no way to absorb all of it in a day or even two. I really enjoyed the rocks and gems and jewels, the photography, the butterflies and animals (I had no idea that an aardvark is as big as a regular sized pig!). I skipped humans and ocean and probably much more. 

I left, got a beer and sat a while. I must look like I belong here because people asked me for directions a lot. I like it. I like it a lot. Washington DC is very, very clean and organized. At least what I’ve seen so far. I’m proud to call it my capital. 

You know how to get your bus to come after waiting 40 minutes in the cold wind? For me it used to be lighting a cigarette. Now? Calling an Uber. Tomorrow I’m taking a tour of all the memorials at night. Whoop!

Onward ♋+♊

🏃 Nasty Boys 🏃

Today was a non-holiday regular school day. I guess maybe Boy Scout type groups could all take time off from school – but that doesn’t seem reasonable. So I deduced that all groups of kids were school-related. There were groups ranging from elementary school — 9 & 10 year olds — all the way up to college kids. Most groups were boys and girls – and perfectly normally behaved (slightly rude, unfocused, in your way). My problem were a few all male groups. All male and all white. 

What kind of school would have all white, male students? Religious? Military? Some of these kids had on freshly purchased Trump garb – t-shirts and hats. I just don’t understand. If they go to a religious school, where is the separation of church and state? I assume they’re getting either tax breaks or tax money. 

Military school? I find it hard to believe that a military school would let their students buy political attire during a learning experience. Or be so misbehaved. It’s vexing. 

These were clearly chaperoned groups. The older kids were allowed to choose their museum led by one chaperone. Little kids were herded with like 20 kids and two adults – perfectly reasonable. 

Several groups collided in front of the White House. At first it was interesting to watch this group of prepubescent boys all riled up for Trump. Like watching animals in a zoo. But then a large group of voting aged African American people joined the group in front of the White House. We were all taking pictures and watching peace performers. Taking it all in. 

The little boys started chanting Trump. Then they started aggressively yelling – one side hollered Donald and the other side yelled Trump. I began to feel uncomfortable. Then I realized the people around me were feeling the same way. A few tried joining the chant. One of the advisors looked me in the eye and said we gotta get out of here. 

The kids started grouping up and confronting their elders. It freaked me out. In my life, I have never seen a more disgusting display of racism. Why did these kids think that the people they were screaming at: a) were going to vote for Hillary (some were Trump supporters) b) were an acceptable target at whom to scream c) were going to change their mind because of a misbehaved 12 year old? And shouldn’t their teachers be teaching them this principle?

AND WHO WAS IN CHARGE???? There were adult men in charge. They seemed pleased with their wards. I hung around for a long time chatting with the fellow manning the White House peace vigil (24/7/365 since 1981). These kids kept up their crap for a full 30 minutes! My biggest fear is that my tax dollars went to pay for those little beasts’ “educational” trip.

I drove thru Pennsylvania Dutch country today. Didn’t take a single picture – didn’t see anything. It’s Sunday. Time to pray I guess. There was horse poop along the road and signs to watch out for horses and buggies. Oh well. I wasn’t looking too hard. I also had a cheesesteak from Tony Luke’s. Pretty good. Long peppers are spicy!

For anyone keeping track, I’ve been to 25 states on this trip…. in order:

Nevada

Utah

Idaho

Wyoming

South Dakota

Nebraska

Iowa

Kansas

Missouri 

Illinois 

Kentucky

Indiana

Ohio

West Virginia

Pennsylvania

New York

Vermont

New Hampshire

Maine

Massachusetts 

Connecticut 

Rhode Island

New Jersey

Delaware

Maryland

Of course some of these states I visited multiple times and some I barely poked a toe into. I have less than a month left on my trip and only six highlights left – Washington DC, Savannah, Susie (Atlanta), the blues highway, New Orleans and Austin. Soon I’ll be headed west again. It unbelievable that I have been traveling for 54 days! I bet Bird stinks…. I’ve gone nose blind!

Onward ♋+♊ 

Today I went to Gettysburg. It wasn’t in my plans and out of my way… but I’m so glad I went. I only had one day but could have spent a week, easily. I started in the military museum and then did a car tour with cds I bought. 

The museum has this thing called a cyclorama – the movie’s predecessor. It’s the largest oil on canvas painting on display in America. It’s in a circle and then they’ve added stuff to make it seem 3-D. That, and I watched a great film about the 4 day battle narrated by Morgan Freeman. with Sam Waterston voicing Abraham Lincoln. It’s was the perfect way to prepare to see the actual battlefields. I went out with fresh history of the many thousands upon thousands who died in the fields I was about to visit. The largest battle ever fought on US soil. 

In the museum they have over a million artifacts that have been collected from the area. Not all are on display – but it’s amazing what they are showing. Can you imagine having your leg amputated with this? Oh and when they got to your leg, the hatchet was covered in the blood of the hundreds of men before you. Bacteria wasn’t a concern just yet. 

Larry (and Trump) constantly bitch about the biased media. Why? It’s been this way since…. there was press? Just look at what the two Chicago papers said on the same day, November 20, 1863, about the Gettysburg Address:

Then off the see the battlefields. It’s overwhelming – the number of statues, memorials, monuments are in the fields and hills and in between trees and next to streams and tracks. There have to be hundreds if not thousands. 

I found the one to North Carolina interesting. Their troop of 32 men all perished. The memorial was carved by Gutzon Borglum – the same guy who did Mt Rushmore.  

There is a wheat field where 100,000 men fought on day 2. The field changed hands three times in one hour. There were in excess of 20,000 casualties. No wonder the top of the wheat is crimson. 

I thought the Virginia memorial was the most beautiful with Robert E Lee high up on his horse, Traveller. Underneath him are examples of all the different men who fought – boys, business men, farmers……  Did you know that Robert E Lee’s home was converted into Arlington National Cemetery? I didn’t. 

Pennsylvania has the biggest monument – fitting since Gettysburg is in Pennsylvania. 

The battlefields are stunning. They all seem to have a slight glow – maybe from all the lost souls. 

Oh… and look who else was in Gettysburg. He pulled right in front of me. I seriously doubt that Trump was on board. Do you think he’s ever seen the inside of his own campaign bus? I don’t. I did see a car with a giant inflatable screw attached to the top of a car. It said SCREW TRUMP. Hahahahaha!! Sorry I couldn’t get a photo. 

Tomorrow I’m going to attempt to get into Delaware so as to check that state off (and buy cheap beer and wine – after noon on Sunday!). Then Maryland where I’ll stay tonight. Monday I hit Washington DC until Thursday and then down to Savannah where I bought a ticket for a ghost tour on Halloween night! In the most haunted city in America! Whoop!!

Onward ♋+♊

19oct2016

This one’s for Emily…. I went to Sleepy Hollow. Really, Emily, you should live in Sleepy Hollow – at least in October. I really wanted to go to the cemetery but they wouldn’t let Bird in. Grrrrr. She is so tiny, I just don’t understand why she can’t be considered a van. And, there was nowhere else to park at all. I did a slow drive by and stopped in the turning lane to take a few photos. 

I also drove around some neighborhoods – such interesting homes and all decorated. The town is also decked out – every single light post decorated with corn stalks and scarecrows. 

I’m glad a took a quick tour. 

Then I headed west to see my friend Rose… but I had a few errands to run first. I crossed the Hudson River on the Tappen Zee bridge. They’re building a new one and it’s impressive. But, not as impressive as the Hudson. It’s so immense – to me it seems to me bigger than the Mississippi. I guess not as long but come on, manhattan is an island in the Hudson.  And it’s pretty and blue. 

I had to go to a Walmart in New York before I leave to pick up the rest of a prescription they started but couldn’t complete a month(!!!) ago. Of course they couldn’t take care of it for a few hours so I did laundry and bought the ugliest old lady shoes you’ve ever seen. But they’re so comfy. Clarks. 

Unfortunately I didn’t get to Rose’s until after dark. What a great family she has… a firefighter captain husband, a super handsome and well-spoken teenage son with a firm handshake and the cutest grandson you’ve ever seen. They let me park Bird in their driveway and medicated me for the debate with apple whiskey. We visited through the debate – which I thoroughly enjoyed. 

20oct2016

Rose took me to a real New York Diner, Capital Diner for breakfast then to the village of Neversink which was flooded in 1955 (think O’ Brother Where Art Thou). There is an extreme drought in New York and the reservoir is so low she thought we might be able to see some of the town peeking out of the water. She forgot her camera and my zoom sucks so we couldn’t tell if what we saw was a church steeple or not. Did I mention that Rose is a professional photographer? You should see the photographs in her home and studio. She is really good. http://www.roseschallerphoto.com/

I did see a tap system in a copse of maple trees. It’s interesting, how all the trees are connected. 

Then we went to the America’s oldest winery – Brother’s Winery started by monks. It even remained open during Prohibition. I did a tasting and Rose was the designated driver. Best. Host. Ever. They make some dang good wines. I bought a few bottles but neglected to take a single photo. Duh. 

I had such a good visit. They have a dog, Katie who got along with me just fine. It was so good to get some dog time. I really needed it!  Also – they win best tree contest – hands down.  Hopefully the Schaller family can visit Las Vegas sometime. Thanks for showing me a good time!

21oct2016

Today I headed for Gettysburg, PA leaving the Hudson Valley – wow is it pretty. 

I thought a few days of sightseeing would be good before I hit Washington DC. Give the old dogs some time to heal!  I didn’t make it to Gettysburg because I came across Hershey (and, randomly a tank). If yard signs are any indication, this is Trump territory. I thought I saw Hilary for President signs – but they were Hilary for Prison. Haha. I’m not for either BTW. 

 I stopped at Hershey’s for Chocolate World and took a goofy tour ride and bought a milkshake. It was good clean fun. I’m staying the night in Middlesex PA – and thank Jesus it rained to break the humidity. It was sticky!

Onward ♋+♊

I checked off a few boxes today…. I finally finished Under the Dome. I think it’s the longest book I’ve ever read – even longer than the extended version of The Stand! Whew! What a beast. 

I also had white truffles. By mistake – but what a delicious mistake! I went to a fancy late lunch / early dinner for my last day in NYC. A place that is hailed as having the best pasta in the city. The lunch menu was set up so that lunch included a first and second course. My first course was grilled octopus with tiny potatoes, pickled onions and two incredible sauces. 

For my second course I chose tagliatelle with Parmesan and truffle (oil I assumed). I had noticed an up charge but thought that was if you asked for the shaved truffle. I knew I was in trouble when they (THEY) brought my plate. One guy carried my dish. The other guy carried a locked wooden box. Yup. I did it. He shaved truffles all over my pasta. 

I know that nothing phases New Yorkers. They don’t look sideways for anything. The two fancy attorneys sitting next to me stopped discussing cases and watched. Then watched me take a bite. Then asked me how it was. Hahaha! I’m a total baller! I am so embarrassed that I spent so much money. But…..I am not sorry. It was the best plate of food I’ve ever shoved down my gullet. BEST. I seriously wanted to lick the plate. 

I also accidentally went to Queens. I went to Apple Fifth Avenue which is just a glass block on the sidewalk with a capsule to take you down to the store. No phone for me. I got a Gray’s Papaya for breakfast just because of Seinfeld – and it was there. I fed most of it to pigeons – thinking of Home Alone 2. I went to Central Park- such an unexpected piece of heaven in the midst of concrete. I thought of Home Alone 2. I saw The Plaza and thought of Home Alone 2. Then I thought about how Trump owns The Plaza. Then I remembered he was in Home Alone 2. Ugh. 

I wandered around. Got lost. Left. Drank a beer on the train. Tomorrow I move on. But, I’ll be back. For sure. I’m in no way done with New York City. We got along just fine. 

Onward ♋+♊

Today I had three goals. Katz Deli, Staten Island Ferry, and a new phone. 

I began with Katz Deli. It’s one confusing, wildly busy place. They give you a ticket when you go in and whatever you buy gets put on the ticket and then you turn your ticket over and pay on your way out. 

I ordered the Reuben with pastrami. You order at a counter and the guy carving the meat and making your sandwich cuts off a little for you to try. I consider myself a connoisseur of cured meats. Although, after cooking corned beef every single day of my life for eight straightn years made me wonder if I’d ever be able to eat it again. Katz’s pastrami? The best I’ve ever, ever had. I couldn’t believe how it melted in my mouth. 

I asked for something other than rye (vile seed) and got a huge soft roll. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Two inches of meat, house sauerkraut, cheese and the best Russian dressing I’ve ever tasted. We were doing it all wrong at Jam. This wasn’t a mayonnaise based sauce but vinegar based. It soaks into the bread and the tang cuts through the richness of the sandwich. They serve pickles on the side – both barely pickled and fully pickled cucumbers. So yummy. 

I also got two beers. I mean, come on. A sandwich that big was gonna take two beers. I had zero intention of eating the whole thing. I really didn’t. Then suddenly half was gone. I was reading while eating. I thought I’d pick through the second half. I finished it, too. Literally the best sandwich I’ve ever had. And I’ve had A LOT of sandwiches!  

Off I went to catch a ferry. That involved a bus. I was happy to see that my subway ride to Second Ave transferred to the bus – so it was free. As was the Staten Island Ferry. It’s AWESOME. It’s huge and takes you out to Staten Island – turns around – and comes back. Everybody does have to get off in Staten Island and then you can get back on. It goes by the Statue of Liberty (not close – but close enough for me) and then the return trip gives you the BEST cityscape. Plenty of seats, $4 Heinekens – and it’s a free ride! My kind of entertainment. 

From there I went back to the World Trade Center to buy an iPhone 7 plus. This was at 5pm during peak commute. The subway train was so crowded and so hot I thought I’d die (it was record breaking hot in NYC today plus humidity). Then it stopped and didn’t start for way too long. I felt like Elaine on the Seinfeld subway episode. I was mentally willing it to go. Sweat was pouring down – everywhere. Then the loudspeaker said “This train is…..” Nothing. This train is WHAT????? “Out of service, please disembark and wait for the next train. NO! Can you imagine how awful that was for actual commuters who had worked all day?

I decided to get out of that hot box and walk. It wasn’t that far and I got to see the fountains again. The Apple Store in World Trade Center is enormous and two stories. But, of course…..sold out of the iPhone 7 plus. Have no idea when more will be in. “I just work here.” My least favorite snide remark from a “genius.” Meow. 

I took the subway back to Grand Central to catch the train back. But I really wanted to sit down and have a beer. Fortunately there are many choices. Downstairs is all restaurants. Like a huge food court. Then, at one end of the main terminal there is a store full of every kind of delicious meat, produce, spices, cheese, pastries….. My idea of heaven. I sat downstairs and had a beer while charging my dumb, dies in six hours, phone. I have a Goal Zero charger – thank Jesus. I’ll tell you about my obsession with Goal Zero sometime. 

Then I thought about getting something to snack on back in my room. What!?!? How could I think of food after that monstrosity of a sandwich? My only defense is the amount of exercise I’m getting. One mile is a big day in Vegas. I’m averaging six every day – not to mention all the millions of cocksucking stairs in and out of subways. 

So, I bought two cupcakes – one yellow with chocolate frosting and one chocolate with buttercream frosting. I also bought a super crusty Parmesan baguette at Zabars. I thought maybe I’d save them for tomorrow. Hahahaha. 

Tomorrow I’m going to The Met and Central Park. That may be it for NYC. There is just so much to see and it takes an entire day to get from one end of the city to the other plus one activity. I wanted to get to Rockefeller Center, China and Korea Town, Brooklyn, and so much more! I’m definitely bringing Larry back here. He won’t like getting around but he sure will like the food!

Onward ♋+♊

Larry knows I’ve been struggling to get from my campsite to the train. Why? Because I’m a whiner! Especially to him….isn’t that what husbands are for?
So, he surprised me by getting me a hotel for Monday and Tuesday nights. He got the hotel to rope off a parking space for Bird!  He even made sure they have a shuttle to the train so it’ll be easy for me. Now I can stay another three days! Maybe even see another matinee on Wednesday! 
What an amazing man I have. For all the fun I make of him (come on, he’s an easy target – the one right in front of me), Larry is the best. 

New York is exhausting, exhilarating, intense, huge. I wouldn’t want to live where I’m camping and commute in every day. First, it would be expensive. Second, it would be soooo time consuming. I know people do it all the time. I used to commute into San Francisco from Concord. That was a gnarly commute, too. It is definitely a young person’s game.

Today, in an effort to cut several miles of walking to – and especially from the train, I rode my bike. I saw a marked path through the train yard and thought maybe there was a shortcut for pedestrians. So, I blew right by the guard shack and kept pedaling. I rode and rode….by cops, working dudes, guards. Nobody said a word. Eventually it became apparent that I was somewhere I shouldn’t be. I asked a guy and he informed me I was indeed in a restricted area! Of course! I turned around a rode back by all the guards and police. Again, nothing! 

I swear I would be such a good spy. I get away with everything. Something about the way I look is not threatening. A random person should definitely not be able to ride a bike by guarded gates to train tracks. Even a fat lady on a rainbow cruiser! Just saying. 

That adventure added quite a distance to my bike ride. So, since there doesn’t seem to be bike parking at the train, I locked my bike to a fence on the park side of a huge overpass to the station (what I was trying to go under). I crossed my fingers that it would still be there when I got back. I caught the train back into the city. I only had the 911 Memorial and pizza on my agenda. I decided to go to Lombardi’s because it was in the direction I was already going. 

But, first a little subway mariachi music – wait until the end. The accordion player catches me taping him and I get embarrassed and quickly stop!
​

​

I only wanted a slice but somehow found myself sitting at a table being rushed into ordering — because they were going to close the oven doors???? I didn’t understand. I guess their oven is 1000 degrees and they cook pizzas in batches. If you miss it, your pizza will take a long time. I don’t know what I was thinking but I ordered a small pizza and a salad. It was not a small pizza by any stretch of the imagination! But let me tell you, it was delicious! Charred crust that was just perfectly chewy. Fresh mozzarella and great meat. 

I could only eat two pieces. The server suggested I take the rest and give it to someone on the street. I swear…..I lugged that pizza all the way downtown and never saw a single panhandler. Not one. Another thing: I always heard that there was garbage everywhere in NYC. Not only have I not seen or smelled garbage, it is darn hard to even find a trash can. So far I’ve found New York very clean. Not urine soaked like San Francisco. 
I like it. Everything about it. Living in Las Vegas prepared me well for the prices. I find it very easy to navigate. All I do is go to maps on my phone, put in where I want to go and select the transit option. It tells you exactly where to go, what mode of transportation to take – including train number and arrival time. It’s awesome!
I made my way to the World Trade Center and the 911 Memorial. The new World Trade Center is magnificent. Stunning. 

Outside are the two reflecting pools. They’re beautiful each one is nearly an acre in size and are the largest manmade waterfalls in North America. The names of victims are cut out of the iron surrounding the pools. At night the names are lit from the pool beneath. It’s so thoughtful. 

Then I went into the museum. I really didn’t know what to expect. The first part was the South Tower which holds artifacts like the last column, a piece of the huge antenna from the top of one of the towers, a fire truck from Ladder Company 3 who lost everyone. I watched a time lapse movie called Rebirth that showed the rebuilding – pretty spectacular. They set up cameras from three angles and left them there for the duration of demolition and rebuilding. The movie was shown on three walls. 

From there I made my way to the North Tower. This is where shit got real. No pictures are allowed. You go in and it’s a maze of integrated video, art, graphics, recorded statements. It takes you through from the first plane, step by graphic step. It’s important that there are no photos. The things you see are incredibly disturbing. There are dark viewing rooms with video of everything. I lost it when I went into one and it was showing people jumping to their deaths in up close, graphic detail. Recordings of witnesses to this horror where playing over the images. It was very hard to watch. 
There were personal items found and collected – everything you can imagine. Shoes, helmets, ID badges, notes, bicycles, car doors, pictures. They even preserved a portion of a clothing store where the clothes are exactly how they were and still covered with layers of dust and debris. 
There was a room with a picture of each victim. Another room is in an area above the final resting place of so many unrecovered victims. The floor is clear (you can see the ground below) and on opposing walls are projected photos of victims, one by one, with audio of loved ones remembering them. 
I’m very, very glad I went. I would recommend it to anyone. There’s a lot to see so plan on at least four hours. I left the museum and went back to the reflecting pools – because by now it was dark. I think they were more beautiful at night. 

​

​

I then began my trek home. I’ve got to say, that bike saved by barking dogs! Woof! It was one of the best rides of my life! Almost all downhill. I think tomorrow will be Central Park and maybe one museum. I don’t know which one… The Met, MoMA, Guggenheim, Frick Collection? I don’t know. The Met may be too much. It’s after 1am and I’m still wide awake – something tells me I’m gonna get a late start….if I can even move!  Fiddle Dee Dee – Sunday is another day! 
Onward ♋+♊