JP & Linda arrived on Friday morning around 9:30 a.m. at the Sonder for a full 4 days of exploration. They were here to survey the surrounding areas, scrutinize local bars and restaurants, talk about the whoas of the world, but, most especially, to simply enjoy this magnificent city at Christmastime.
This weekend began, as so many do, with a walk along the coastline to Le District. It was a beautiful sunny, but cold enough, day to enjoy the journey and the season. After looking around a bit, we found ourselves at the bar in Le District for a drink, followed by lunch. Isn’t it fun for everyone to sit on a bar stool for close to 3 hours? I believe we all felt it was the perfect way to start the weekend.
Our impetus to leave was an appointment with Richard (my favorite tour guide… and only one I know) who would take us around the Financial District; this was the same tour Mayi and I had taken. We started in the Stock Exchange area, and were taken to the Oculus and went underground right back to Le District. This photo was taken by Richard; the ceiling replicates the spine of the dove with the rib cage on either side. If you recall, the Oculus is part of the World Trade Center and depicts a hand holding a dove (on the outside). It is an incredible structure housing a huge shopping center, restaurants and hub for 12 subway trains.
After walking underground the length of this building, Richard told us about the “movers and the shakers” of yesteryear: JP Morgan (banker), John D. Rockefeller (Standard Oil), and Andrew Carnegie (steel) all of whom had their buildings in this area. After all, it was a tour of the Financial District. We went into the building next to the Oculus that has been housing the Meredith Corporation, a media company, for the past 120 years; they publish more than 40 magazines. We also learned about the co-founder of Bain & Company, Mitt Romney. Romney was asked to start an investment fund in which the company would put money into small businesses to help them grow. He applied business consulting techniques to the
investment business and was the first to do so. And this was just the tip of the iceberg. Of course, I only retained a fraction of everything I heard… even though I’ve now heard it twice.
As we headed back towards the 9/11 Museum we were on an overpass overlooking the area Richard showed in a photo taken just after the 9/11 attacks. Although it is hard to see all the rubble on the street in the photograph, it is a harsh reminder of what happened on that one beautiful fall day 21 years ago. And looking at the surrounding area from the overpass, it is still hard to imagine. To see what has been built and re-built is testament to the strength of the human spirit. This is living testament of “where there is a will, there is a way.”
Today was a good start to a great weekend. After a bite of dinner we returned “home” (first building on the left) to see the Freedom Tower.
I never tire of the view.
– Mare. E
