I wanted to see for myself what was going on so I drove to Sands Point where there is a clear view of Manhattan. The police were there trying to keep traffic moving, and people were out with binoculars and cameras. As I rounded the point I could see the towers, smoke billowing from about halfway up and as I watched, amazed and incredulous, one tower collapsed and a tremendous cloud of dust rose up. No one expected the building to collapse like that, we were completely stunned. Eventually, I drove back to Port Washington and across Manhasset Bay I could see great clouds of smoke beyond Great Neck, so much smoke.
In town hardly anyone is about and those who are out are shell shocked. Police are at the station but the trains aren't running- all transportation has been halted. Cell phone lines are busy or down too. People are desperately trying to get news of friends and family in the city. It is incomprehensible. I return home and try to contact my relatives to let them know we are okay. I can�t imagine the numbers of people involved in the carnage and I can�t envisage the New York skyline without the twin towers, a reference point for us all.
Here is another cheat, I regularly travel to Manhattan so it can't really fall into my travels section but most of you will have to make a planned journey to see it, so I am going to put it here anyway.
We had been coming to New York for years before we moved here, usually in May. May is the probably the best month to visit as it is warm and sunny without being humid. Actually, it rained almost none stop for the last fortnight of May this year but I think that had something to do with my father arriving and bringing Manchester, GB rain with him. Otherwise September and October can be recommended.
Actually, the Big Apple (why is it called that?) is great at any time of the year. When the snow falls on Central Park and all the noise is muffled it is magical. Downtown though, the wind blows so cold from November to March, that you think you are in the Arctic, and it is too cold to stand around and sightsee. If you go into any of the buildings to warm up you have to strip off the layers of clothing that are keeping frostbite at bay otherwise haet exhaustion sets in. Add an hour to your schedule to allow for dressing and undressing everytime you enter or exit a shop, restaurant or museum during these months.
