Statue of Liberty

HAPPY TO BE IN THE BIG APPLE

We were so glad that our accommodation worry was finally settled. Luke, who is one of Brent’s friends in New York, had offered to put us up for the weekend. A man of sweet and kind nature, he provided us not only a very nice room to stay but also warm hospitality. He welcomed us right at the front door upon our arrival. Although he had to cut his sleep short and wake up early, we could still see a warm, friendly smile on his face. As for his parents, they were also no different. I felt as if I had known them for ages although it was my first time meeting them. They had given me a real sense of “home sweet home away from home.”

After dropping all our bags and belongings at Luke’s, Brent and I decided to head to our first destination, the Statue of Liberty. Again, a very special thanks to Luke, who was truly a great host. He guided us around New York’s complex subway lines and accompanied us all the way the Statue.

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

One of the most recognizable icons of the United States, the Statue of Liberty is formerly known as Liberty Enlightening the World. It stands on a small island in the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor.

According to Wikipedia, the copper-clad statue was presented to the United States by France in 1886 to commemorate the centennial of the United States. It also reprents a gesture of friendship from France to America. The sculptor was Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, and Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower, engineered the internal structure. Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was responsible for the choice of copper in the statue’s construction and adoption of the Repoussé technique.

The statue shows a woman standing upright, dressed in a robe and a seven point spiked crown representing the seven seas and continents, holding a stone tablet close to her body in her left hand and a flaming torch high in her right hand. The statue is made of a sheeting of pure copper, hung on a framework of steel with the exception of the flame of the torch, which is coated in gold leaf. It stands atop a rectangular stonework pedestal, itself on an irregular eleven-pointed star foundation. The statue is 151′ 1″ (46.5 m) tall, with the foundation adding another 154 feet (46.9 m). The tablet contains the text “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” (July 4, 1776) commemorating the date of the United States Declaration of Independence.

WHAT DID WE DO?

Hop on a ferry to island…

Fellow visitors enjoy the scenic view of downtown Manhattan.

On the left side of bay stands the skyline of Jersey City.

A yacht sails lazily in the distance, adding more beauty to the already wonderful view.

Me, Luke and Brent

Statue of Liberty here we come!! Feel our excitement!

Luke, look and reflect…

Gentlemen Freedom & Lady Liberty

A closer shot of the world famous Lady Liberty…

Eating apples in the Big Apple

Bostonians and New Yorker unite!!!